Pursuing My MBA

Pursuing My MBA

May 6, 2008

Introduction One of my many dreams has always been to completing my education. As a single parent raising two boys, and working fulltime, it was a dream of mine to earn a college degree. Finally, I had the courage to get my undergraduate degree at the age of 49 from Jacksonville University. I considered myself lucky because several professors truly made quite an impact in my life. They advised me to pursue the MBA after one year of rest, in order for me to get some of my personal affairs in order. My former professors perceive me to be an outgoing person with a vision and a low tolerance for incompetence. They often refer to me as a natural leader. Possible career as a manager, I did not want to risk having my plans ruined. I thought long and hard to analyze the time it would take me to complete the MBA and the time I had to give up to accomplish my dream. My decision to pursue an MBA degree was more on considering the benefits of an MBA degree and the opportune time to do it. I decided that it made more sense to wait a year rather than pursue immediately after earning my undergraduate degree. I knew that choosing to pursue an MBA would basically open up new career opportunities. Some of my concerns were getting back into studying and test-taking mode, which doesn't always come naturally after some time away from it. I’m fully aware that attending work and taking classes at the same time can be a heavy burden. Juggling these priorities will certainly require sacrifices in other phases of my life. However, I am strongly committing to my new career both at work and in class which will impress my employer and push me ahead of my competition. Also, I might find that working and going to school complement one another, as my work experiences add dimension to what I’m learning and my coursework gives me new approaches to implement on the job. I’ve gained work experience that helped me determine how I want to concentrate on my MBA courses. I’m considering eventually starting my own business, and teach me to advanced business skills focused on the challenges of starting a business. My work experience helped me determine whether I can reach my goals under my own power or if I will need the extra help of an MBA degree. For one thing, the MBA program is expensive, with tuition as high as tens of thousands of dollars per year. My employer offers education benefits, paying some or all of our employees' continuing education costs. I decline the offer because they have a clause in the employee policy handbook that states: if an employee quits, terminated or released due to company restructuring; then that employee will need to pay the full amount of the tuition reimbursement back with in fifteen day of leaving the company. I’m aware that an MBA degree covers many disciplines and will require many long hard hours of study. This is a hard enough challenge, especially with caring for my elderly mother and my current job obligations to maintain. Luckily having to work my studies around pre-scheduled classes, a requirement to attend at University of Phoenix, makes it easier for someone to pursue their education objectives.
I believe that obtaining an MBA will change my life for the better and put me on the right track to my dream career. In the past, existing obligations and commitments may have made getting an MBA seem like a dream. The other real value of returning to get my MBA, as a manager is that I’m introduced to a new collection of peers that usually becomes a critical part of my "network" for the future. Just as in Jacksonville University the additional exposure to the typical faculty members that teach in MBA programs represents another set of prospective mentors and networking opportunities. These faculty members are also usually involved in research and with organizations as consultants that could be another door opener for me. Finally, the courses in an MBA program and the deliverables require a level of analysis, research, and teamwork that can be an invaluable learning experience for me. The majority of MBA programs have a Capstone course that applies all of the course material that I would learn in the typical MBA. And to really top it off, there is also usually an Entrepreneurship elective where you can develop a business plan. I’ve had an idea for a business for quite awhile, which is another great opportunity to apply what I have learned during my MBA experience. I have also realized that once I have my MBA I need to do something with it other than have it framed and hung on the wall. Unfortunately, the achievement of getting my MBA does not automatically qualify me for an immediate promotion with my current employer. More than likely I will have to look elsewhere to capitalize on the value of my MBA degree.