The Financial Times<\/em><\/a>\u00a0also release rankings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSchool rankings are controversial. And although they can be useful tools in comparing programs, it’s important to recognize their limitations and put them into proper perspective. No rating system, no matter how sophisticated or complete, can capture the full measure or worth of a program\u2014and the issuers of these reports are generally the first ones to point this out.<\/p>\n
In addition, each ranking uses a different methodology, so be certain that you understand the criteria they,re using and how this affects their rankings.\u00a0U.S. News and World Report<\/em>, for example, bases their ratings on a school’s reputation among professors and academics, its reputation among recruiters, and its “student selectivity ranking” (consisting of GMAT scores, GPA, and proportion of students admitted), among other things.<\/p>\nThe U.S. News and Wall Street Journal rankings do not gather any input from students, although some others do.<\/p>\n
The b-school you attend should be based on the strengths of the individual program in which you are interested, its campus environment, and what you see as the best overall “fit” between your needs and the benefits of the particular program.
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Full-Time vs. Part-Time<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nLet’s face it: any quality MBA program\u2014part-time or full-time\u2014will demand a significant amount of your time and energy. Finding one that fits comfortably into your life and schedule will be challenging at best. Deciding on going full- or part-time will be based mainly on your situation; however’ each offers specific pros and cons.
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The Full-Time Option<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nThe most cited advantage of attending business school full-time is that students can devote as much time as possible to this extraordinary amount of coursework without being stretched too thin by other competing demands.<\/p>\n
Immersion and Networking<\/strong><\/p>\nA full-time program means that you and your classmates are fully immersed in coursework’ group projects’ and out-of-class activities’ so you get to know them extremely well. Networking among classmates is one of the greatest benefits of attending full-time. B-schools generally admit students with significant prior work experience. Consequently’ your fellow students often become invaluable contacts who can help you throughout your entire career.<\/p>\n
Internships & Job Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\nFull-time programs also provide an opportunity to gain significant professional experience through summer placements or internships. Through these important programs’ participants can try out an interest in a particular field and determine if it’s right for them. Most schools’ placement services generally focus on helping full-time students conduct their job searches for the often dramatic leaps in job responsibilities and salaries and the unique disruptions that go along with it.<\/p>\n
Juggling School & The Rest of Your Life<\/strong><\/p>\nThe intensity of being a full-time student can exact a price. This is especially true for those who have been working for a while and recently returned to school. In addition’ there are competing demands for time for those with families. Finally’ attending business school often entails relocating to a new area and the unique disruptions that go along with it.<\/p>\n
Cost<\/strong><\/p>\nPaying for two years of full-time school is often the biggest disadvantage of being a full-time student. While financial aid is available for b-school\u2014usually in the form of loans’ although some programs offer grants and scholarships based on GMAT scores<\/a> and other factors\u2014you should plan on accumulating significant debt as a full-time student.
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