Best Wisconsin MBA Schools and Programs

Narrow your schools of choice methodically. First of all, think about choosing a school that is within driving distance. Although you’ll be taking your classes online, you may wish to use the school library or labs at some point, and there may be informational seminars, workshops, and other events that can only be accessed in person.

Look for schools that offer the concentration you’ve chosen, but if you really like a school that doesn’t offer it see if you can take the same courses that will give you the knowledge-base you want. Just because one school has a titled concentration, and another lacks it, doesn’t mean you can’t get the same education. Make sure the school has the courses you want. For a good comparison, look at schools outside your area and compare the curriculum so you know what’s available at other schools.

See if the MBA program includes an internship or global program that may be difficult for you to complete. If so, don’t eliminate the school immediately; check with your employer, family, and the school to see if there are options available.

Search Programs Offering MBA Majors

Make sure the program you’re considering has enough support in place to meet your personal needs. There should be several open lines of communication between your professors, aides, and student counselors so if an issue arises you can immediately address it with a person in charge.

Ask your employer if there is flex time available in case you get overwhelmed by your classes. For example, take a close look at each class syllabus and see if you’ll be writing multiple in-depth research papers at the same time.

Check with the school for a detailed estimate of the hours needed to successfully complete each class. They should be able to tell you if you’ll spend about three hours reading and two hours doing homework per week for each class. This will allow you to roughly plan your time according to your class schedule.

Although you won’t answer in person to a professor, you’ll have to have the time and discipline to complete your work in a timely manner. Not everyone can do this, so be honest with yourself before you enroll.

The tuition amount you see on a school’s website doesn’t tell the whole story. Look on the admissions page for a complete breakdown of costs for your program of choice. You’ll see additional costs such as books, lab fees, student fees, and similar add-ons. Remember to calculate the costs for each semester you’ll be enrolled; often those who work full-time can only take one or two courses at a time and may take three to five years to complete their MBA.

On the other hand, don’t eliminate a school just because the tuition is twice the cost of another college. Check with the financial aid office and fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form; even if your income is too high to qualify for federal aid you will use the same form for most scholarships and grant applications. You’ll need to give your personal and financial information on the FAFSA form; it is a secure federal website, so your information should be safe.

Check with your employer to see if the company offers tuition reimbursement to employees. Often a company will pay for schooling in exchange for a number of years of employment post-degree, so you can have a free, or less expensive, education while gaining on-the-job experience.

Before you commit to a school program, do some research for careers within your MBA concentration. Look for employment openings in your area to gauge how much need there is for your dream occupation and think outside the box. For example, a position in charge of an assisted living facility often requires any type of MBA and is not specific to a healthcare concentration. Likewise, although Menards is one of the biggest employers in the state, you don’t have to become a store manager to take advantage of the company. If your concentration is supply chain management, look at support companies that supply corporations like Menards.

Visit the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a good idea on job growth projections in the next few years. You can get an excellent picture of what the job market will look like when you graduate and also find alternate titles for your preferred position.

Consider your home life and how it will be affected by your school enrollment. If you have children you may need a babysitter in order to have enough time to complete your studies and homework, and if you have kids in sports you may need to arrange a carpool to practices and games.

Likewise, you’re not going to impress your boss if you’re sleeping while at work because you were up late studying. You’ll need to be able to find a good life-school balance if you’re going to graduate successfully. If you think your schoolwork is going to be strenuous, ask your employer if they will consider allowing you to work flex time while you’re taking classes.

The most important thing to remember is to take that first step. Whether you earn your MBA in one year or five, the sooner you enroll the sooner you’ll graduate.