Hey,

Lots of helpful advice floating around on these boards.

For those of us working on R2 essays, what is the single best piece of advice you would give as we near crunch time?

-js

Hey js,

Hmm, a few come to mind - but I'll try to stick the rules and keep it at one :)

At this point, I imagine most of R2 applicants have already started on their essays. This means they've got their pitch ironed out, but they're working on turning ideas into strong essays. One piece of valuable advice during crunch-time: be confident, but not arrogant.

Keep confident that you can put together a set of essays that will show who you are - don't let the stress prevent thoughtful, creative writing. But beware of over-confidence. For example, be sure to address the weak parts of your application instead of rationalizing them away (e.g. 'I have a poor gpa but only because the teachers were unfair'). Be sure to take criticism that you receive from your friends and family who review your pieces instead of becoming stubborn and defensive. Keep an open mind through the crunch time, as it will help you improve your final drafts!

Best of luck,
Corey

Hello,

I would appreciate your thoughts / suggestions on part-time MBA vs Full-time MBA and inputs on B-Schools.

I got a 680 / 5 in my GMAT. Have almost 3 yrs of work-ex. Have a Masters & Bachelors in Computer Science. Don't have a great GPA in my Masters. (3.2)

I am unable to make a decision on whether I should pursue a Full-time MBA or a part-time MBA. Considering the present job scenario, tuition & other expenses and the fact that I will have almost 2.5 yrs of additional work-ex by the time I graduate if I pursue a part-time degree, I am starting to lean towards a part-time degree. But, I still have my doubts.

Is a part-time MBA considered on par with a full-time MBA? (Probably not). Are the job opportunities as good with a part-time degree or should I opt for a full-time program? Schools: I would like to get into BU incase I opt for a part-time degree. I prefer it to BC or other schools in Boston. The curriculum is pretty good.

I believe I have put in a decent effort researching various B-Schools. (curriculum and employers) I believe BU is good for a part-time program. (Also, I work in Boston) I'd really appreciate if I could help me with your suggestions.

Cheers.

In my opinion, the single most important decision factor in your case is whether you plan to make a career transition.

If you plan to make a major career transition (e.g. technology->banking, technology->strategic consulting, technology->consumer brand management), you're much better off to do your MBA full-time.

However, if you plan to continue your current career path, then part-time probably will be a better choice, given the money you'll save, and the opportunity cost for leaving your current industry for two years (especially given the fact that things change very rapidly in technology.)

There are other factors you might want to consider as well -- how much time will you have if you do the MBA part-time? Are you going to be able to balance work, school, and personal life? Are you one of those people who really like schools, and have been hoping to go back to academic environment since they left college?

But, again, the single most important factor is whether you plan to make a career transition.

GeekMBA360

Hey,

In addition to the points above, I recommend speaking and visiting with a couple students of the full-time and part-time programs you're thinking about. They'll have good advice, first of all, but this will also give you a feel of the classroom settings and student body. You might realize that the full time group is a little older, and that might be a good thing (great experience to learn from) or a bad thing (harder to connect with your classmates).

At a full time program, chances are good that you'll have more time to establish stronger relationships with a larger number of people. First, there's all the group projects - it's easier to schedule time to work on projects, in person, in a full-time program where everyone lives nearby. Second, going to class AND living with the same group of people really helps build a community feel. While you'll still have access to a school's network through part-time programs, you'll likely have more meaningful direct connections via the full-time program.

Also, to second what was said above, think about your career path - there are some companies that actively look for people out of full-time programs. Not only that, but the full-time program will give you an opportunity to take part in mock interviews, etc., when you're not in class. If you're staying put at your current job, though, these things wouldn't be a big deal. Best of luck!

Corey

I'm also seeking some advice on the full time v. part time. I am interested in a career change. I want to go full time for the obvious reasons, but my stats are not in alignment with my top (stretch) school. I guess that's why its called a stretch. I am competitive with their part time / evening program though. Ideally if I enrolled part time, I would want to transition to the full time program or finish as quickly as possible. Or should I just go the full time route at one of the other schools I'm interested in.

Hi JSmith,

Not sure what your ideal stretch school is, but I had the same question about Chicago. According to their website, transferring from PT (evening) to FT is not allowed:

"...you have the flexibility to increase the number of courses taken per quarter; however, there is no option to transfer to the Full Time MBA Program and not a guarantee that you will be able to take classes during the day in the Full Time MBA Program."

http://www.chicagogsb.edu/parttime/faq/index.aspx#pr3

If your numbers come up short, you could take the GMAT again or take some non-degree courses to remedy a lackluster GPA.

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