Business school doesn’t come with an easy button. You can’t just tap to make your schedule magically line up. And “easy” also does not apply to an online format, says S. Ryan Newcomb, a 2021 Rice University MBA graduate who studied online while working as a project director.

We know that Rice Business programming is 100% the same and students are in class in person, ”he says. “Plus we have the added level of difficulty of navigating remote communications and complex time commitments sometimes across multiple time zones and very late at night. “

Online MBAs can have it all, but they also do it all: work, family, school, and interests – full-time and full-time. These commitments require compromises that sometimes mean missing out. Ultimately, success depends on two key factors: planning and community.

“AN MBA IS A TEAM SPORT”

Lucy Nguyen, USC (Marshall)

“With little time available, successful students are organized and disciplined about class, reading, and homework,” he writes. Lucy nguyen, a recent USC Marshall MBA who spent part of his studies online in South Korea. “Beyond group homework, going through a graduate program together is a ‘team sport’, where students draw on the knowledge and expertise of the cohort and learn from each other. “

What does it take to excel in an online MBA program? This spring, P&Q took up this topic with 54 graduates from top online MBA programs. The question asked: What is your best advice to a candidate for success in an online MBA program? For this, the University of Florida Kevin neff offers a concise answer: “You get out of it what you put in it.” “

“It is extremely important to stay engaged and actively participate, whether as part of a team or even just on discussion boards for your courses,” adds Neff, who recently moved from media planning to engagement. customer. “Actively engaging with your classmates gives you many different perspectives and allows you to better understand the business world. I made a lot of friends and connections from my time in the program by doing this. I have invested a lot in this program and gained so much more from this transformative experience. It was the best decision and the best investment I have made in my career to date.

What else can current and future online MBAs do to set aside more time for themselves and improve their academic and professional performance? Here are the top tips from this year’s best and brightest Online MBAs:

1) Define your non-negotiable: “Balancing a full-time job and a high-level MBA program is a challenge. Choose a non-negotiable activity to recharge your batteries, which for me was road cycling on Saturday mornings. In addition to stimulating motivation, this time really improves professional performance; it allows for full reflection and integration of MBA material with implications and applications at work.
Lindsay case, University of Michigan (Ross)

2) Prepare in advance: “Form new habits before you start the course. I admit that I am more of a visual person and less of a reader. So in preparation for the start of the course, I might suggest that you cancel your TV streaming subscriptions (optional but recommended if you’re like me) and start reading 1-2 hours a night 5 days a week instead. When the course started, I simply replaced what I was reading with the course texts, articles, etc. In the end, I had made this learning time part of my day and it was a good ramp to get back to school.
Graham Alltoft, Warwick Business School

Jono Hirsch, University of Arizona (Eller)

3) Blocking time: “While an online program offers incredible flexibility for your busy life, you still need to devote a regular time to study and work. Normal life will also take priority sometimes, so coordinate your schedule early not only with your team members at school, but also with your team at home and at work. This will be a constant priority balancing exercise, so establishing study times, due dates and meetings in your calendar is essential for success. I have also found it helpful to maintain my own Kanban board to manage class activities each week.
Jono Hirsch, University of Arizona (Eller)

“Schedule a few dedicated blocks of time where you can fully devote yourself to studying each week. And create a backup plan to account for extra study time or when life is going on! Also, don’t get too comfortable on your breaks between classes. Celebrate the completion of your last class, but remember the next semester is fast coming! You can use this break to get a head start on your next class.
Andrea Cerulli, Jack Welch Institute of Management

4) Know what you want: “Be very clear about your priorities and what you want to get out of a program. Do you care about building relationships or networks? Is it important to finish your degree quickly? If you go for a work-friendly program, are you going to have the mental and physical bandwidth to be successful in all of your endeavors? Also, make sure you have sound boxes, support systems, and mentors. When the going is good, it’s easy to feel capable of taking on the world – your MBA included. When the going is tough, it is so important to have people who motivate you and put things in perspective.
Tiffany shen, University of Washington (Foster)

“Make sure you understand your ‘why’ statement. An online MBA program requires you to truly surpass yourself. Trust the process and re-prioritize your life. When the going gets tough, you need a rock solid “Why” statement to lean on and hold on to.
André Salomon, Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)

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