In my previous post, I listed what I thought were the top online MBA programs. Somewhere I saw it advised that one should apply to at least 8-10 business schools. I think that is pretty excessive. Application costs can be close to $100 per application, plus transcript costs and rounding up people to act as references for your application. I narrowed down my list to three schools and applied to those:
- Indiana University - Kelley
- Penn State - Smeal
- Thunderbird
Looking through all the rankings and program materials, I felt that Arizona State, Penn State, and Indiana have program that are somewhat similar programs to each other. Arizona State's application deadline was a little earlier than I was ready to commit to and I felt that I would get into a similar program by applying to one of the other two schools.
Brief pros and cons of each:
Penn State:
Pros: portfolio based application process, rolling admissions, rigorous curriculum, variety of payment options, distance is drivable.
Cons: Perhaps not as well known.
Indiana:
Pros: well known program, dual degrees offered, some choice as to elective coursework.
Cons: pay by the credit hour
Thunderbird:
Pros: very well known for international focus, very large and active alumni organization, program includes international coursework
Cons: less quantitative curriculum, known for international focus, expensive application fee ($120)
All of the applications were online, pretty simple to complete.
1 comment:
Hi there -
As someone who has also applied to Penn State's iMBA program, I just wanted to point out that the MBA is not administered or conferred by the Smeal School of Business, which is Penn State's premier business school. Instead, the intercollegiate (hence the "i" in "iMBA") degree is conferred by the Pennsylvania State school system.
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