What I Did on My Summer Vacation

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  darraghy09/04/07 Report as spam
  1

  good luck

  My husband just finished and we are now off onto our next adventure. While he was at school I worked full time and raised our 2 children. I also took classes, but only part time. I'm going to take much longer to complete my MBA.
  
  The full time job, 2 children and a couple of classes a semester are enough to make anyone go insane. HOWEVER, it is AMAZING. The amount you learn that you always knew but didn't have a compartment to put the information into is the best part. I've been out of school for 12 years and have worked at the same company for 9. Someone once told me that the kind of company I went to work for 9 years ago would give me all the MBA education I would need. Although I have learned quite a bit about everything, working for a small start up, the MBA education is a MUST.
  
  good luck to you

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  pwnvds@...09/04/07 Report as spam
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  Communication

  For me, a huge part of the experience of getting my MBA (from Regis University's online executive program) is the discussion board interaction between students and teachers, as well as the case study analysis.
  
  A lot of the concepts you learn in the classes are things you also learn while working for a business and reading business books. But in a university program, you are forced to discuss, explain, justify, analyze, defend, etc. This is the true value - developing the thought process, sharing ideas and stories, learning from other's mistakes and successes.

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  nikki197309/04/07 Report as spam
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  RE: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

  My story starts here...I have been out of high school for 16 years and, after 4 years, I am finally just three months away from completing my first undergraduate degree in business management. After high school, I entered the work force. Two years later, I tried going to college, but I had my first child and couldn't juggle working full time, and being a first-time mom.
  
  But more than 10 years after graduating from high school, thanks to the person/people who invented the world wide web and the Internet, I was able to pursue my college degree 100% online. After taking a break between high school and college, I don't have a lot of time to waste. If I plan to pursue my MBA -- and I do -- I have to start as soon as I complete my BS/BA.
  
  Again, thanks to the guys who invented the Internet, I can pursue my MBA 100% online. Many AACSB-accredited universities offer such programs online. I am in no rush to finish (I hope to be done in approximately 5 years), but I am committed to starting right away.
  
  Despite what some may think, taking classes online is not an easy feat. It is just as challenging -- if not more -- especially if you are someone who needs to be engaged in face to face conversations with other classmates or instructors.
  
  It is also challenging because, not only is the syllabus the same as what one would receive in a traditional classroom, but you have to be a deadline-oriented, highly organized, project-oriented and self-motivated person. There are many nights when, after spending an entire day managing multiple projects, writing proposals, sitting in meetings, and commuting, I could not bare to look at a computer screen for one more minute. But, I had to squeeze a few more hours of brain power out of myself, when it seemed humanly impossible.
  
  At any rate, I am a woman with a plan...a woman on a mission. I am going take the necessary time off (hopefully, not more than two months) to study for my GMAT and to take one class over (to bring my C up to a B or better), so that I can waive my lower level Accounting course requirements and I'll be jumping right into my MBA program.
  
  As far as suggestions go, I would encourage anyone interested in going back go school for their MBA or any other Masters program, to do some careful research. There are many schools that offer waiver programs (either for required courses or for the GMAT or other entry exams). Do your homework, and you may find that you can cut the time it takes to get that MBA in half.
  
  Nichol Meredith
  Lifetime Learner

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  ddavids7509/04/07 Report as spam
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  RE: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

  I fall in the been there, done that category. Much to my surprise, this story sounds just like my life: I got my undergrad degree in 1998 and my husband and I just completed our MBA together in April 2007. First and foremost I can tell you that you will survive. It is possible. We own a growing software development and technology products company and we have three children, one of which was born during the course of our MBA studies. We did have to adopt a new motto to get through it: Sleep is for wimps. I'd love to follow this blog as you go and offer help/suggestions/encouragement when I can. Best to you both!

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  Pnopoes09/04/07 Report as spam
  5

  RE: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

  Good luck to you guys. I am about to finish mine (still working on the final paper .
  
  My experience was that it is much more interesting than when I was in school 10 years ago. Everything I recently learned was put in perspective of my past work experience. Thanks to the maturity gained through work, I am now able to see more clearly the links between all the elements, and although is a bit tough on balancing between Family life, work, and the master, it is a great, very fulfilling experience.
  
  I'll stay tuned on your blog !
  
  Cheers
  Eric

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  elotte09/05/07 Report as spam
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  RE: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

  If there is anything that I am pleased to have done after becoming a widow, it is enrolling in MBA. After spending some time grieving and just wanting to die, I picked myself up and told myself to live again and do something that I will enjoy doing. I did some sports, badminton and biking, but soon found out I wanted to do something else that will excite and challenge me. Enrolling in MBA was it for me. I am now into my first semester of Economics, Quantitative Approach to Management and Business Environment. Quanti. is killing me but it I did want a challenge when I started, so....

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  beraducci09/05/07 Report as spam
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  RE: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

  5 Page paper due in two days... In my master's program I write a minimum 23 page paper in a few day period atleast once a class... expect a little more work than 5, and good luck.

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  Joannek09/05/07 Report as spam
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  RE: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

  I know what it means about being enrolled in an MBA program and having a full time job. Sometimes it is so hectick that i feel i would drop everything both my job and my studies.
  
  Put putting aside the hectick days where there is a project to finish at work and team meetings to abide by in the evening for a project in class, it is amazing how many things one can learn in an MBA program.
  
  Good luck in your program.

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  jlrobins09/05/07 Report as spam
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  Been there... and good luck to all that try!!!

  Graduated college in 1985 with an MA in Sociology. Returned for my MBA in 1995, working full-time, wife working full-time, 3 and 13 year old boys, active in school and community organizations. I was averaging 5 hours of sleep per night and 2 liters of Mountain Dew a day. I finished in 1997.
  
  I actually had my picture on the inside cover of ComputerWorld for an article on IT people returning for an MBA. Especially with kids, it stretches every moment into a critical choice of which thing do I do.
  
  A BIG issue is whether your employer is supportive and allows any flexibility in work hours, etc., to help out. Most of my vacation those years was scheduled around finals and paper due dates.
  
  Again, good luck to all.

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  JennaMiller09/12/07 Report as spam
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  Thanks for weighing in!

  Thanks to everyone for weighing in with their thoughts! I'm glad to know that we've got BNET members on both sides of the coin, and I know we'll all benefit from sharing experiences.
  
  I've enjoyed reading everyone's comments, and I look forward to responding more frequently and in a more timely manner in the future. Right now, I'm still trying to get a handle on my new schedule -- and figuring out a balance between school, this blog, and my "day job."
  
  However, I've just finished my third week of classes, and so far, so good. I've taken two quizzes, written a short paper, and turned in three Excel assignments. (More on all that down the road.)
  
  Thanks again for posting!
  
  Jenna Miller

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  Alek1205/13/09 Report as spam
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  RE: What I Did on My Summer Vacation

  Last summer vacation I visited the Caribbean for a singles vacation for two weeks. Unfortunately, I could not find out an affordable erotic adult vacations resort, I than found an all inclusive resort called charlisangels where I spent time with beautiful European and Russian escorts in luxury ocean view villa. I enjoyed the spent there at the sex vacations resort, look forward to another visit.
  
  good luck to all,
  Alek