Part 10 (1/2)

As a part-time student, am I authorized to use the school's facilities?

Although most schools will not prohibit the part-time student from utilizing the school facilities, such as the gym and the library, there may be fees a.s.sociated with some amenities. Also, you may find that due to scheduling obstacles, certain facilities are inaccessible.

How much time apart from the cla.s.sroom should I expect to spend on my M.B.A. activities?

This will depend on you (are you a speed reader?) and on the cla.s.ses in which you are enrolled. You should probably budget on average an extra 4 or 5 hours per week for each cla.s.s for study time. You also have to allow for commuting time and hiccups, like when you can't find the book you need at the library or the printer's down.

If I am required to travel for business, can I make up cla.s.ses?

It's never a good idea to miss cla.s.ses. You may find that for every cla.s.s you miss, you will wind up spending more than double the normal amount of time trying to catch up for the missed lecture. However, you will probably miss some cla.s.ses, so here's some advice: * If you know in advance that you may miss a significant number of cla.s.ses, talk to the professor and review your schedule before registration. Knowing the syllabus may a.s.sist you in determining when to take a specific cla.s.s.* Pick a ”buddy” or two and ask them to take meticulous notes and record the lecture in your absence, if your professor agrees. Be sure to agree to cover for them when they are away.* If you will miss just one cla.s.s, be sure to notify your professor in advance. This can serve two purposes: It's an introduction to your teacher, and it may unearth some additional insight on the missed cla.s.s (will it be focused on the exam? is the lecture material covered in the readings?). Your professor may in fact offer his or her notes.

How important are grades once I am admitted to business school? Isn't the degree the only thing that counts? the only thing that counts?

This is a loaded question. Many companies offer tuition reimburs.e.m.e.nt based on results, and therefore you have additional financial incentives (and your pride!) to perform well. Also, your employers may consider your grades when evaluating your work performance. Realizing that most students enroll in B-school to learn and not necessarily to get the grades, there is a degree of satisfaction though from achieving good scores. Many schools will apply a course towards your degree only if you have received a ”C” (or the school's equivalent) or better. Additionally, if you plan to leave your current job, many new employers will check your records and may only consider the top 10 percent from a graduating cla.s.s for their job openings.

As a last note, if you are in school solely to get the degree, you may want to rethink your motivation for going to B-school. You should apply for the education and the experience-grades are part of the process.

What is the difference between full-time faculty and adjunct professors?

Full-time instructors are academics by profession. They may be tenured or under contract. Adjunct professors usually work in business as well as teach several courses. They are able to successfully blend theory and practice. Visiting professors may only be on the teaching staff for a short duration; perhaps they are from a specific industry or ”borrowed” from another program. A good mix of these teaching staff will ensure that you have a well-rounded B-school experience.

Are my chances of gaining admission to a school better if I get my application in early? early?

The earlier you apply, the earlier you should find out if you are accepted. Additionally, the sooner you submit your application package, the sooner you will be notified if you are missing any required doc.u.mentation such as recommendations and transcripts. Here's a good piece of advice: If you are happy with your application package, submit it once it is complete. Do not send in a sloppy package just to get it in on time-this will ruin your chances of acceptance.

Is there any advantage or disadvantage to submitting my B-school application over the Internet?

There should be no favoritism in terms of acceptance to a program. Applying via the Internet is a marketing tool used in order to facilitate the application process for the prospective candidate. Some schools may offer to waive the application fee if you apply online. Check it out!

I have three great references for my application package, but the school I am applying to requires only two. Will it help or hinder my chances of admission is I submit all three?

This will vary from school to school, so ask the admissions department. Some may say that the more information about yourself you can submit, the better. Others may require you to stick to the letter of the law.

I was not born in the United States but am fluent in English. Am I required to take the TOEFL test?

If English is not your native language, the TOEFL test will be required. The TOEFL test is now a computer-based test and is offered frequently. A TOEFL is valid for two years from the expected entrance date. Although you should check with each school, the test is usually not required if a candidate satisfies certain requirements, some of which are: 1. Citizens.h.i.+p of Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, and Anglophone countries of Africa or English-speaking countries of the Caribbean.

2. A college or university degree earned in the United States or in one of the countries listed above.

3. A degree earned from American universities abroad.

These are general rules. You should confirm your status with your school before a.s.suming you are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.

APPENDIX A: PART 2.

Useful Resources We have just addressed some of the most common concerns about M.B.A.'s, but most likely, you still have some issues you'd like to research further. To get all your questions answered, check out these resources. Following some of these guidelines will help steer you though the often confusing task of selecting, applying, and successfully completing business school.

Listed in this section are some of the resources you can use to obtain information such as the location of schools in your area, available part-time programs, school and program rankings, and student discussion groups.

Visit the Schools/M.B.A. Forums The series of M.B.A. school fairs known as M.B.A. forums, sponsored by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) each year, are a wonderful resource and an excellent way to browse the programs. Representatives of more that 75 graduate management schools from the United States and abroad are on hand at each Forum to answer questions about their programs.

These events can be helpful in numerous ways: * They are a source of general information about M.B.A. programs that will help you to identify the attributes of a program and if it will meet your needs.* Once you have decided which characteristics of a graduate management program are most important to you, they can help you find schools that meet your profile.* If you have identified a group of programs to which you plan to apply, it may be possible for you to arrange an individual meeting with a school representative before or after an M.B.A. Forum to talk at greater length about the program and your qualifications.

The schedule of M.B.A. Forums typically includes eight cities in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Canada. U.S. sites include New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C. The exact calendar of sites and dates is determined annually. In past years, more than 16,000 people registered for-and about 200 schools partic.i.p.ated in-forums in North America and Asia.

You can register for the MBA Forums either before the event or on the day of the event, at the venue. Go to /mba/FindYourProgram.

Kaplan, Inc. holds several events and seminars throughout the year on the secrets of the GMAT, how to get into business school, women and M.B.A.'s, and several other topics. At these forums, attendees will meet representatives from individual business schools, learn about the application process, and listen to panelists discuss how an M.B.A. has enhanced their career. Go to /gmat Graduate Management Admission Search Service The Graduate Management Admission Search Service (GMa.s.s) is a free service that makes your name available to schools whose specifications for applicants match the profile you furnish when you register for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). This automatic service will send you mailings from many schools about their M.B.A. programs, admissions procedures, and financial aid.

Schools: Program Brochures and Material M.B.A. programs prepare a wide variety of materials to a.s.sist prospective students in learning about them. When you request information from a school, make sure to ask for a brochure as well as an application package. If you are requesting information via the Internet, be advised that some schools will reply automatically and will put your name on a list for their next mailing. Go directly to the school's website, where you will be able to access more up-to-date information without being prejudiced by the beauty (or lack thereof) of a glossy brochure cover-remember never to judge the book by its cover. A school's website also contains a lot of informative data such as cla.s.s offerings and schedules. As a part-time student, the cla.s.s schedule will be a major factor in determining which program is right for you.

Once you have narrowed your search of schools to a small handful, visit the campuses, and determine the atmosphere and facilities. Ask for a guided tour and visit the library. Oftentimes there are student evaluations of the professors and courses available in the reference area. If there is no student available to give you a guided tour, ask the admissions office if you can contact a current student to discuss the school from an insider's point of view.

Guidebooks A wide variety of guidebooks have appeared on the shelves of bookstores in recent years. Although many are oriented primarily towards dispensing advice, they often include pieces of both objective and subjective information about M.B.A. programs. However, most books cover only a very small subset of the programs you can consider. It is important that you not limit your search to these few profiled programs, since there may be many more suited to your goals and aspirations.

Nonetheless, various guides may offer new perspectives to you, or they may contain a quote or piece of data that will shed some light on a specific area of interest. In using these sources, you need to remember that admissions officers providing advice to any guide are doing so in the hopes of expanding their marketing reach to qualified and eligible candidates.

Library Reference Section Check your local library reference section (or your favorite bookstore) for a variety of books that detail the programs available nationwide. Here are some books of particular interest: * How to Get into the Top M.B.A. Programs, How to Get into the Top M.B.A. Programs, by Richard Montauk (Prentice Hall Press). by Richard Montauk (Prentice Hall Press). A detailed overview of the top M.B.A. programs nationally and internationally with admissions strategies A detailed overview of the top M.B.A. programs nationally and internationally with admissions strategies* Marketing Yourself to the Tops Business Schools, Marketing Yourself to the Tops Business Schools, by Phil and Carol Carpenter (John Wiley & Sons) by Phil and Carol Carpenter (John Wiley & Sons) How to develop a personal marketing program to get into business school How to develop a personal marketing program to get into business school* Gravy Training: Inside the Business of Business School, Gravy Training: Inside the Business of Business School, by Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove (Jossey-Ba.s.s). by Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove (Jossey-Ba.s.s). A critical look at the past, present, and future of B-schools A critical look at the past, present, and future of B-schools Here are some t.i.tles that focus on distance-learning or online programs specifically: * Bears' Guide to the Best M.B.A.'s by Distance Learning, Bears' Guide to the Best M.B.A.'s by Distance Learning, by John Bear, Ph.D., and Mariah Bear, M.A. (Ten Speed Press) by John Bear, Ph.D., and Mariah Bear, M.A. (Ten Speed Press) * * Get Your Degree Online, Get Your Degree Online, by Matthew Helm and April Helm (McGraw-Hill) by Matthew Helm and April Helm (McGraw-Hill) * * College Degrees by Mail and Internet, College Degrees by Mail and Internet, by John Bear, Ph.D. and Mariah Bear, M.A. (Ten Speed Press) by John Bear, Ph.D. and Mariah Bear, M.A. (Ten Speed Press) The Internet These days there is very little that you can't find on the Internet. The following is just a sampling of some useful M.B.A. sites.

The M.B.A. Program Information Site. An international business school site containing a database with details on 2,500 M.B.A. programs from 1,290 business schools and universities in 123 countries as well as advice pages for the prospective candidate.