Should a College Student MBA Expect Founders Stock in a Startup High Tech Company?

Not long ago I met an intense young man, college student working on his business degree and he decided that he really liked a project that we were working on. He decided after many emails that he in fact wanted to be a co-founder along with myself and another gentleman and asked the unreasonable question, can I be a founder too, entitling him to Founder's Stock and a hefty paycheck. The answer might surprise you, as I replied:

If your expertise and creative genius shows thru then it makes sense to have you on board as founding member. I do not have the final say, it must be mutually agreed upon with the other founder and if we are set on slicing the VC (venture capitalist) into huge chuck of the Pizza, we ought to be talking to him as well pretty early on. Of course, all this discussion is based on performance, therefore if your abilities, hard work ethic and great ideas fit the entrepreneurial start-up scenario, that makes sense of course.

The fact of the matter is that indeed, I would love to clone myself and once I think it is feasible that will be a start-up business for me in the future, right now, I have to find out of the box thinkers who can still live in the real world when dealing with all the rest of the business community and the persnickety customer base we will surely generate - easier said that done.

If I like his ideas and they are good, then it makes sense. These ideas must also allow for making money, providing a world-class product and good strategies to dodge the landmines and exit smoothly, then we definitely need him in a big way. Of course, the other founder needs to make that decision, if he asks me what I think; I think then yes, I believe the college student would be a good team member.

When reviewing this scenario, it seems the if we come to a good understanding, solid plan and agree to the plan then the college student will have lots of control. The funders of this project also have control and they are very much part of the success of the team, because they come with a team of their own which may have done this 50 times before and they know the ropes.

When using this as a case study we must remember that no one is part of the Team, since there is no team yet, we have to work out a plan and sit down and agree upon it, if the college student is volunteering to help design the plan and tailor it then it makes sense. Indeed we must be cognizant of the needs of the investors too, as we can use their team of lawyers, human resource people, industry contacts, then it surely makes sense to have an "inside guy" of the VC on the executive team. We have to work with them; most start-ups get the money, and hold the check until they talk to their lawyers; that is no way to play your investors, especially down the road when the going gets good.

Do you know why the US will not go to war with China? Our economies and mutual goals are intermingled; think on it, again, sorry for all the philosophy on this simple case study, but my mind just does that.

You know the other founder may simply say he does not like the way it is being planned, if we cannot come to a strategy to agree on, he might decide to opt out, then plan B. In reality, as far as I am concerned, I have enough friends, contacts, etc. to get all this done on my own, but I have been down that bumpy road before, it takes a lot out of you, sure you can do it. Why re-invent the wheel when you have a VC who has cleared a four-lane highway on the cover of Ayn Rand's Fountain Head re-prints. Remember Together Everyone Accomplishes More.

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.netCurrently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

Master Your Career with an MBA Distance Education

Someone has to take the lead; someone needs to take charge; is that someone you? Do you want to be in a position to effect change within your community? If you are leadership material, want to take charge, or simply want to make a difference, Master your career with an MBA distance education in less than two years of study.

Although the world is full of dreamers, leadership requires more than a desire to be the boss. Individuals in positions of management need credibility. People are more like to follow, if the boss has the education and credentials to back up his/her decisions. Thus, an online MBA degree is available through distance education, for aspiring leaders. Alleviate any doubts; utilize a search engine using “Online MBA degree”. For example, Grand Canyon University came up with 162 hits. Essentially, colleges across the United States are offering MBA distance education programs. Institutions understand; tomorrow’s leaders need to retain current employment, while gaining the necessary MBA degree for advancement up the corporate ladder.

Maybe leadership is not a personal career goal; you simply want take charge of your career and not become restricted by educational limitations. Perhaps you are looking forward to the future and considering your long-term options. You cannot afford to quit your job, sell the house, and uproot your family; but, with a tightening job market, you do not want to be in the soup line, if your company decides to downsize or go another direction. With an MBA distance education, you will gain the knowledge and experience necessary to increase your career options.

While increasing your career options is probably the main reason individuals choose to obtain an MBA distance education, many people want the education to give them the knowledge, credibility, and expertise to effect positive change in today’s society. For example, with an MBA in education, you can be in a position to promote positive changes in the educational system. In business, instead of complaining about office policies and procedures, you will have the background knowledge to successfully suggest improved working conditions for both employees and employers. Maybe you are interested in improving healthcare for the elderly, but patient care is not your cup of tea. (You faint at the sight of blood or needles.) You have realistic ideas to keep quality care up, and patient costs down, but you need the education to give your recommendations voice. Thus, if you want to make a difference within your community, consider mastering your career with an MBA distance education.

In summary, regardless of your personal motivations, an MBA distance education will help you master your personal or occupational goals. Maybe you aspire to a position of leadership like a future presidency. If so, online courses are available to reach your leadership goals. However, for the majority of career-minded individuals, job security is a concern, or the career is a venue for effecting positive changes within a community. Promote your potential and master your career with an MBA distance education.

Dana Stephens is a freelance writer for several online publications and websites. For more information on MBA distance education programs please visit http://www.eLearningTips.com today

MBA Guidance - Why is Work Experience Important?

Work Experience:

Work Experience is an important part of an MBA application. Almost all of the Top 20 US universities require 2-3 years of work experience on an average. Why do they require work experience? I am not sure of their specific reasons, but I got a few which make sense:

- Experience entails maturity: Mature people make better professionals.

- Clarity of goals: An experience individual would have better clarity of his goals than the person who is fresh out of college. Fresh graduates tend to be fidgety about their career options, if you tell them that Doing X is a great career option, they start considering X.

- Competent Program: The competence and quality of program depends upon the quality of students in the program. Experienced professionals offer specialized perspectives along with professionalism and maturity to the program. As a part of MBA program dont expect to learn everything from a text book, students learn from each other. In my MBA program, I would definitely want to work with an experienced individual because then we both have something to offer each other.

- The Genius Factor: Geniuses usually make better scientists and lousy managers. If you have excellent Acads, how would the universities know you are not a genius suitable more to technology than to MBA program? Your work experience in the corporate world allays some of these doubts and helps make you a better candidate.

- The Average Factor: Responsibility and Sincereness of a person with average/poor acads is always in question. If you have bad/average acads, only work experience can pacify these questions.

Now I hope you see the importance of Work experience for MBA programs. The next question is How much experience is good enough?.

According to me 2 years of work experience is minimum for a good university, however for Top 20 universities this has to be backed up by excellent GMAT Score, superb Profile and neat Essays (for application). Needless to say this is not an easy combination. Work experience of >=4 years relaxes these limitations a bit or actually contribute quite a lot to profile and hence Essays.

http://www.scorechase.com

MBA Schools Essential for Business Professionals

Aspiring business professionals will be wise to obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from a top MBA school. A Master Degree is considered very desirable for those interested in acquiring positions in public service or business management.

MBA schools specialize in exposing students to all aspects of business with the aim of developing skills necessary for effective management in areas of human resources, accounting, finance, insurance, information systems, administration, project management, and more.

To gain admission to a good Master Degree Program, it is important to score well on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). The prime candidate for admission to an MBA program has also written a strong essay on the application, as well as considerable work experience, an undergraduate degree with a high GPA (grade point average), good references, and has impressed the admissions team during the personal interview phase. The candidate's character, which is determined by active participation in extracurricular activities and community service, is also very often important to an admissions committee.

MBA schools (also known as Business Schools) emphasize the building of practical skills and strong concepts of business structures, functions, and operations. Students will find that they are strongly encouraged to specialize in one or two areas of business, such as management and information systems or management and accounting. However, general degree programs in management are also common.

Once admitted, students in MBA schools can anticipate gaining practical management skills while sharpening their decision-making, improving their creativity, and developing effective business ethics for leadership in business environments. Students will focus on developing proficiencies in management, assessment, and applications of theories and principles that affect successful businesses.

If you are interested in learning more about MBA Schools, or Online MBA Schools and other programs of study, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Master Degree Programs and Online Master Degrees, as well as Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Natural Healing Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

MBA: The Master of Business Administration And Your Career

Holding an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree used to be a virtual guarantee of a good job and high paying salary.

While the benefits of holding an MBA don't necessarily guarantee that you'll get a better job and more money anymore, holding the designation can certainly help you in more ways than one.

I graduated from an undergraduate business program and found myself in the same classroom as MBA students during my senior year. We essentially took some of the same classes and I got to see firsthand how MBA classes operate.

Generally, classes were based on course work, case studies, exams, projects and class participation.

Verbally participating in class can be a big component of your final mark in MBA programs.

As a recruiter, I've worked with plenty of companies who won't hire a new staff member if they don't hold a certain level of education ie. a university degree.

In some companies, advancement to senior management could be at least somewhat dependent on holding a post graduate degree such as an MBA especially if other managers in the company already hold one.

In that regard, holding an MBA might help to qualify you for certain jobs that might otherwise be unattainable.

Among other things, an MBA can also help prepare you to compete in the business world by developing your communications and presentation skills, improve your ability to debate and get your point across in a business setting, and expose you to various business functions ie. finance, marketing, HR, etc.

Further it helps you to understand how each of these business functions work together and are correlated in the business world.

o learn more about the MBA program, visit http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/mba.html

Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who has written an ebook for career-minded individuals: http://www.RecruiterSecretsRevealed.com

Recruiter Secrets Revealed sheds light on job search and career management "secrets" that you can use to supercharge your career and distinguish yourself from other job searchers.

How To Find A Good MBA Program

As important as it is to establish proper fit in your applications, you must first select the schools to which you will apply. The game is reversed, as you must decide which schools fit you rather than having the schools decide that you fit them.

Selecting schools should be an introspective process. You should be warned, however that people who don't even know your name will have an opinion on where you should apply.

Also remember that school rankings are just one piece of information to consider. Certainly rankings can be helpful tools in getting familiar with the schools' perceived strengths and weaknesses. Still, it's important that you do your own research.

After all, no magazine or newspaper knows what really matters most to you. Do not be enticed by prestige alone. While it certainly may be a factor in making your selections, there are plenty of other criteria that should be considered.

Some of the selection criteria that you may want to use in evaluating schools include:

• Curriculum emphases
• Typical career paths of graduates
• Teaching style
• Student culture
• Compensation upon graduation
• Financial aid opportunities
• International perspective and access
• Geographical location
• Facilities
• Diversity
• Cost of tuition and living
• Class size
• Use of technology

So how exactly do you determine what a school wants in its applicants? Fortunately, there is an abundance of resources available to help you evaluate these criteria. Some of the steps you should undertake are:
 

The school's Website
 

This is a no-brainer these days. Here you can get high-level information on the school, learn about its curriculum and faculty, and start to get a sense for what it's known for (or what it wants to be known for, which is sometimes more important).

Third-party Websites
 

For different perspectives on business schools and the application process, check out Websites that dedicate content to the b-school applicant audience.

Brochure and application
 

These are readily accessible on any school's Website. It can be painful to look at brochure after brochure of what seems to be the same material, but you should really spend some time with these. More than many applicants realize, schools are fairly explicit about what they are looking for, and these materials are a natural starting point for finding this information.

Rankings
 

Rankings are notoriously overused, but they can give you a good high-level flavor for each school. While the brochures may tell you what the schools want to be known for, the rankings issued by periodicals are sometimes a good reality check that let you know what a school is actually good at.

Campus visit
 

You should plan on visiting each school in which you're truly interested, unless geography makes it impossible. Walk around, meet some current students, sit in on a class, and at least visit the admissions office to let the school know you came. Whether or not you get any good face time with an admission officer, make sure to mention your visit somewhere in your application to show your sincere interest in the school.

Current students
 

Students are probably the most underutilized resource. Find one with whom you have something in common and send her an e-mail. Some students are just too busy to have a real heart-to-heart with you, but odds are that you'll easily find someone who's willing to give you the skinny on the school. Think of a few things you want to know about life at the school and fire away. This is a safe way to ask candid questions about the school.

Alumni
 

Alumni are especially helpful in answering questions about what life will be like after business school. Ask them about their experiences in school, but realize that schools evolve over time. Someone who graduated 15 years ago probably had a pretty different experience than what you would face.

MBA Forums

Martin Chandra www.mbalive.net runs an informational website that provides guides to business school and business education. To take advantage in preparing your MBA admission, make sure you visit www.mbalive.net/admission

MBA Forums, hosted by the GMAC, provide applicants with an informal environment in which they can learn more about business schools and the admissions process. Over 200 b-schools typically attend these forums, which take place in cities around the world. MBA Forums also host workshops that assist applicants in selecting their target schools and in exploring their career options.

How to Choose Your MBA Specialization

Most students getting their MBA in popular fields such as finance, marketing, and management, but these are not the only the specialization of MBA programs offered by colleges or universities. There are far more specializations in MBA offered for individuals in various industries; any fields that you can think off, there will be an MBA specialization for it. By knowing the full range of MBA options, you have better chances to pick the best MBA that best fit your career goal.

In most career paths, people are planning to achieve their highest career achievement in managerial positions or become entrepreneurs who are going to run their own business. Although an MBA is not the ultimate requirement for managerial positions, employers generally prefer to promote or hire people with an MBA degree for higher position because MBA degree holders generally have better leadership and communication skills which are important in managerial position. MBA programs also prepare students to have the ability to think analytically and strategically. Hence, if you are combining your undergraduate degree or non-business degree with an MBA in your career field specialization, you will sure obtain higher marketable skills that are desirable to employment of your career field.

Let's look at some of common MBA specializations:

MBA in Health Care Management

Health care industry is one of highest growth fields with 2 digits growth rate projected toward 2010 by US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This indicates a good career opportunity if you are interested to start your career in health care field.

An MBA specialized in health care management will prepare you for mid- to upper-level management positions in health care facilities, pharmaceutical firms , insurance companies, long-term care facilities, and public health agencies.

MBA in Marketing

If you are working in marketing, advertising or public relations, you know that these fields are very competitive. You need to have good marketing knowledge and skills in order for you to be success in this challenging career. MBA with marketing specialization can increase your knowledge and enhance your skills so that you are well prepared to face the challenges along your marketing career path.

MBA in Communication

If you work in communication fields such as media & advertising, journalism, public relations and you are looking to advance your career to next level, an MBA that specialize in communication will prepares you for mid- to upper-level management positions in these communication career fields.

MBA in Entrepreneurship

You don't miss understood that MBA in Entrepreneurship is only for people who want to be an entrepreneur. Many organizations especially companies in dynamic industries such as technology and media require degree holders with MBA in Entrepreneurship for their managerial positions to lead the companies toward continued development. Basically, this MBA courses will focus on business administration strategies that encourage innovation and flexibility.

MBA in Hospitality & Tourism

Beside the health care industry, service industries such as hotels, restaurants and tourism focus areas are booming as well. The high demands in these fields require people with expertise that can employ management techniques in all levels to lead the industries to go inline with the boom. MBA in Hospitality & Tourism can be your open door to move your hospitality or tourism career to a higher level with better earnings.

MBA in Human Resources (HR)

Employees are the most important asset for an organization. HR department is responsible to select, recruit, train and cater to the needs of employees. Hence, management personnel in HR department require to good management of people, effective communication with employees, and good labor relations.

An MBA in Human Resources will combine the generic MBA with specialized human resources training such as employee training & recruitment, planning and mediation. You will also learn how to integrate HR strategies with the company overall human resources allocation plan.

Summary

You must select the right specialization in your MBA program in order for your MBA degree to carry the most value that can help in your career move. By knowing the options of MBA program's specialization, you will have better chances to select the best MBA program that best fit into your career goal.

Amelia Turner, an educational article writer for http://www.your-online-degree.info You can find more details information and free resources about online MBA programs, distance learning universities, financial aids and other online education programs that can help you to make decision to earn your degree online.

What's More Important: an MBA or Experience?

Experience is definitely one of the most important factors in a recruiting process. Actually, enough work-experience is also a requirement for all good MBA programs.

The MBA is the certification that you have also learned all the important tools that are necessary for a management position. Of course, through years of experience, through self-documentation, failures and successes you might have learned what others learn during 1 or 2-year MBA programs. And, of course, one can become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company without an MBA, or even without complete studies (see Mr. Gates).

In the end, it all depends on the person. For a person which is less entrepreneur and not planning to start his/her own business but to apply to a large company, I would definitely recommend doing an MBA.

The HR departments get hundreds of applications a day, many of them are automatically selected by using database searches, so for certain jobs, CVs not containing "MBA" might not even pass the first recruiting step. We're living in a global world with thousands of applications, from everywere and world ruled by technology, where people are often preselected by a computer.

On the other hand, MBA without experience, is also not the ideal candidate which companies want, maybe for an entry-level management position or traineeship.

So, as always, balance is the solution, but it is recommendable to first have the experience before deciding upon the strategy of an enterprise or the faith of hundreds of employees.

Ioan Hepes - Technology Consultant, Hamburg, Germany

Is An MBA Necessary For Managers?

Do MBA’s make better managers or business leaders? The MBA debate continues furiously. So is the popularity of MBA programs worldwide. Though popular the management studies might be they make a very miniscule percent of successful CEO’s and business leaders compared to legendary leaders of business who are non MBA’s.

An MBA degree is at best a degree which due to its expensiveness and academic entry barriers attracts the top 5% of the students who are generally good in disciplined academics. The HR fraternity mistakenly thinks because they constitute the top of the academic populace, especially the premium Management Educational Institutes in the world, they must be good.

The usefulness of the management education program has been hard to measure and evaluate. While it cannot be denied the stress on analytical abilities and concepts does give a broad view of what constitutes management, one can also learn the same through self studies easily if one can only exercise the disciplines of the academics into one’s own lifestyle.

While we may have some big names who are business management graduates from the top global institutions, we also have the legends like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs to mention a few while no major names who are MBA’s come to mind as easily. Even Jack Welch of GE fame is a non MBA.

If business success is a matter of knowledge which is what the expensive management education business is touting, the knowledge industry itself is dominated by people who have hardly been to a management school and made a big success of it.

The legendary Peter Drucker does not come from a management educational background. Most of his management thought comes from practical observation of the business in action as a consultant and researcher. The management principles and theories propounded by him are taught in the management schools. His managerial thinking is at least 30 years ahead as some of his thoughts written even in the 50’s is only now recognized as indispensable to running a business.

On the other side of the coin is the MBA’s running companies like the GE, entire nation as in the case of President George Bush or the top global consulting organizations. How successfully is a moot point?

While the contribution of the MBA’s cannot be denied in the mid levels, the leadership abilities are questionable. The phenomenal salaries and perks associated with the MBA’s and the HR skewer towards them ignores the potential available and learning ability of the entire workforce. If the same amount of money and resources are spent in training and developing the non MBA workforce, organizations may be able to develop more leaders at a lower cost.

R.G. Srinivasan is a managerial professional, Writer and Author. He writes a regular blog on management thoughts with interesting articles, resources, personal experiences and links useful for any manager at http://management-thoughts.blogspot.com

The MBA Conundrum

A colleague on my MBA programme here at the BI in Oslo questioned me somewhat aggressively the other week: “You seem very relaxed about the process of studying. Is this something you really want to do?”

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of scepticism surrounding the true value of MBAs once inside an organisation. As the first term of my MBA programme comes to a close, and I begin to look forward to a week absent of work and full of long Mediterranean dinners and hot evenings, I can’t help reflect as I sit in class now on the validity of all the scepticism. First of all, I am sympathetic to the cynics. For a long time I was a cynic myself of the validity of MBAs – after all, they are usually twenty-somethings like myself who think they know all the answers based on what has to be a fairly limited amount of real, practical experience.

From my experience on this MBA programme here at the BI in Oslo, the scepticism is not unjustified but it is misplaced.

When I chose to study an MBA, it was predominantly for the intellectual process of reasoning and studying that I wanted to do it. Unlike some, for me graduating in the top ten of the class is not an all-consuming goal – it is rather the acquisition of knowledge and the opportunity to be back in one of my favourite places, the classroom, again that are the pivotal reasons I am studying for this degree. It seems I am part of a minority, however. I may be fortunate in not finding the task of getting high grades overly demanding and actually enjoying the process of studying, but putting it diplomatically, there are certainly a number of less than congenial individuals on the programme who are clearly studying an MBA for one sole purpose: because they can’t rise any higher in their careers without one. The problem with these individuals is that studying an MBA is not what they need: what they need is a lesson in how to get on with people. Most of the types I am speaking about ironically have quite outstanding qualifications already; it is certainly not for lack of academic kudos that they have encountered a limit to how far they can rise within their respective organisations.

The problem is in the classification of “MBA’s” as a general categorical statement. It is immediately evident on this programme at least that those who are going to climb the ladder in an organisational context would do so anyway, without an MBA. All the programme does is to sharpen the intellectual process so that those who have been “winging” subjects like accounting for the past four years, like myself, can now talk about it with a sense of meaning. On the other hand, an MBA won’t teach those who have a personality disorder how to acquire a personality. Ironically, it is these students who are the most “grade” focused, and who therefore immediately, at least, come across as the most ambitious: because they have found themselves in the unenviable position of having to be. However, once these individuals assume management positions, they quickly find themselves at square one.

Management is more of an intuitive process than an intellectual one. The problem with studying an MBA for the students who are doing it with the sole purpose of advancing their careers in mind is that, while being somewhat more intuitive perhaps than most degrees, it is still predominantly an intellectual pursuit. MBA’s are great degrees, they are just being used for the wrong purpose.

Daniel M. Harrison is currently studying for a MBA at BI, Oslo. Prior to this he was Head of Private Client Services at St. Helen's Capital, and has been responsible for a number of small company fundraisings and IPOs in the U.K.

Daniel has written and lectured in the United Kingdom on Corporate Finance in the small company market as well as on cultural issues including the literary and music scene.

He has a blog at http://danielmarkharrison.blogs.com

MBA Sports Marketing

MBA sports marketing is a post graduate program designed to provide students with an understanding of the products and services applied in sports events and contemporary marketing principles. Basically, MBA sports marketing is a specialty of general marketing providing an in-depth knowledge in the sports industry.

Nowadays, sports marketing is one of the fastest growing industries. With an aim to provide students with a solid foundation in sport marketing, an MBA sports marketing program offers a comprehensive curriculum which combines both classroom and practical experience. The curriculum is approximately same to that of a general MBA curriculum, but the exception is that, additional subjects in marketing of sports are included. In addition to competitive and creative business tricks, the curriculum covers accounting, decision sciences, management, finance, and general marketing. Year long weekly sports programs and strategic planning projects are also included. Besides this, the sports marketing students can participate in internship programs and learn the economic aspects of sports marketing and law.

The program is specially designed for those students who are planning to enter the sports management positions in the private or public sectors. Many positions are waiting for these MBA sports marketing graduates in professional sports, education, recreation, and leisure fields. These professionals will be able to pursue careers in intercollegiate athletic departments, conferences, sports agencies, professional sport organizations, sport marketing firms and various other organizations. Some of the major functions of sports marketing professionals are planning and facilitating exchange of sports related properties and non-sports property items, creating opportunities to promote sports and sports-related activities, and handling of the business angles of sports. The program enables the students to efficiently manage a wide range of sport-related programs including amateur and professional sports, intercollegiate athletics, special-event management, and facility management.

There are a number of schools and universities offering specialized MBA programs in sports marketing. Most of them offer flexible time schedules for students, including full time regular course and evening classes. Throughout the year, these schools arrange sports events by coordinating fellow students, alumni and industry professionals.

MBA provides detailed information on MBA, Top MBA Programs, MBA Online, MBA Programs and more. MBA is affiliated with Online Business Schools.

The Global MBA

Imagine visiting the Nestle headquarters in Switzerland, learning about capital markets in New York, meeting your team members for a project in Rio de Janeiro, attending an exports seminar in Shanghai, discussing NAFTA regulations in Mexico, or discussing an intercultural marketing case study in Spain. This is the new curriculum for Global MBA students. Whether you are looking for financial, marketing or information technology expertise, a global Master of Business Administration is a program that will develop skills that are extremely necessary in today’s world.

Not only will you travel and experience new cultures, but you will also learn to collaborate with other fellow students who come from distinct cultures in foreign soil. Outsourcing, international trade, and new potential markets are all valid reasons to get a global MBA. However, even if you are not planning to work for a multinational corporation, global skills are extremely useful and necessary in today’s day and age. For example, companies are now hiring “diversity officers” to offer advice on how to integrate their employees (on the positive side) and how to deal with ethnic intolerance and discrimination (on the negative side). Entrepreneurs are trying to find ways to leverage the Internet and other communication technology to shorten distances and acquire untapped foreign markets. Businesses that target the new generations – generations that are becoming more and more bilingual and multicultural - must adapt and change with their marketing strategies. It is very clear that a global vision and global expertise are fundamental assets now more than ever.

A Global MBA will give you the opportunity to open your eyes and meet the world. For those who have spent years learning in a classroom listening to endless lectures, the global MBA offers a newer and fresher experience: Hands-on experience working on international projects in international cities with international classmates. It can definitely be the experience of a lifetime or one that will open your eyes and allow you to experience new visions, cultures, friendships, and experiences. Your perspective of the world will change. You will no longer have nothing in common with your Chinese co-worker. After a course seminar in Shanghai, you will be able to relate to him and talk about your cultural experience. A global MBA should be able to provide you with the platform that connects you to the world while inspiring you with a new vision for you career and your life.

Think you haven’t got time for a global MBA? Nonsense! Instituto de Empresa (IE) and Thunderbird offer high-ranking global MBA programs online. IE, ranked #11 by Financial Times, offers an 18 months Global MBA program for English and Spanish speakers. The program allows students to connect to the virtual classroom from anywhere in the world. In addition to virtual lectures and videoconferences, students are required to participate in residencies in different cities including Madrid, London, New York, Santiago, Shanghai, and other cities. The program offers the flexibility business professionals require nowadays and the cultural diversity that provides them with a competitive edge. Thunderbird, ranked #1 in international business by U.S. News & World Report, offers a global MBA program where students from all over the world participate through virtual classrooms and on-site seminars in the USA, China and Europe.

Full-time students can also take advantage of global opportunities through international and study-abroad MBA programs. ESCP-EAP European School of Management offers a truly European MBA program where students take courses in at least three or more European countries including Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France. For US-based students, the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University offers a cross-continental option where students can study at partner universities such as IAE Graduate School of Business at the Sorbonne, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and also participate in a two-week seminar in China. Other US business schools, such as the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, offer plenty of study abroad opportunities at partner universities in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa.

With so many international opportunities and curriculum formats, prospective MBA students now have a variety of options to choose from without sacrificing jobs, family, or the desire to travel and learn about different cultures. A global MBA definitely gives you plenty to gain and – if your employer chooses to foot the bill – nothing to lose.

Denisse Romero

Study Abroad and Travel Advisor http://www.macquil.com

MBA Basics

The MBA is perhaps the most coveted course in today’s world. This course tops the list of courses almost in all the developed and developing countries across the globe. The enthusiasm for the course has brought in many small private institutes etc. to offer this course. However, only those students who have obtained the MBA degree from some recognized eminent university find the best of placements. So the institute or the university is the first factor for a successful career in this field. This article will educate you about the various issues like finance, strategy to study, interview etc. related to choosing MBA as a profession.

• In today’s competitive world there are no shortcuts. The student willing to take admission in one of the best institutes either in Asia or abroad, need to study hard and get the good grades. 3.0 to 4.0 are the minimum grades required at the undergraduate grade point average (GPA).

• Most of the MBA schools or colleges adjudicate the caliber of the student via the GMAT or The Graduate Management Admissions Test exam. This test is to estimate the individual’s knowledge of English, Math and Analytical writing skills. The verbal or English section comprises of 41 questions to be answered within 75 minutes. The questions like correcting the hidden grammatical mistakes etc. The Math section has 37 questions and same 75 minutes. Questions are on various mathematical topics like percentage, ratio and so forth. The writing analysis is based on writing two essays on different issues.

• The school and university depend on the grades that you get in the exam. Good grades will fetch you a deemed university while poor ones may not.

• MBA programs are full time and part time and within this program there are many choices. Like you can take up finance management, HR, etc. it is at the discretion of the student to decide which course to go for.

• Once you have made a preference for the course, the time comes to look at the fee structure. Usually the MBA schools charge a high fee which is not within the reach of students. In this case they look for other financial aids. Many schools offer scholarships, grants etc. that can be looked up to. Else the loan facility is always available. The loan providing banks and companies also consider the grades and the institution that recommends the name of the student. The successful schools are known for producing productive students who can repay the loan conveniently with their salaries.

The FAFSA or the Free Application for Federal Students, loan offered by the federal government is doing remarkable job in this area. However, due to the popularity of the loan, the application should be sent as soon as possible.

• Many MBA schools ask for recommendation letters. This is in order to justify a student’s authenticity. In this case the letter should be taken by an honored and known authority whose recommendation lifts your name in the eyes of its seekers.

• The school life is followed by hunt for a job. If you have passed from a top most school, job is not an issue; still you need to be prepared to win your contenders. When going for an interview wear decent clothes that are not too jazzy and funky and colorful. Practice properly with a friend or family member before the day of interview. Don’t forget to take a copy of resume and cover letter along with your certificates. You need to be familiar with each and every word of your resume and cover letter. Don’t be nervous and maintain a calm composure. Try replying in a prudent manner to all their questions. Even if you make a mistake, don’t let it affect your rest of the answers and your attitude.

So go ahead and chase your dreams!

Mansi aggarwal writes about MBA .. Learn more at http://www.mbasmakemoney.com

MBA Scholarships

MBA scholarship programs provide financial assistance for deserving MBA students. Such types of scholarships are available for both financial assistance and academic accomplishment. Mainly, these are best suited for those who actually believe that this assistance to be worthy of them. You can get MBA scholarships from numerous sources, including professional associations, private companies, and foundations. Depending on the source, the eligibility criteria also vary with academic achievement, leadership potential, and managerial experience. In addition, a number of independent bodies also offer grants to leading business schools to set up these scholarships.

An MBA program needs a massive financial investment which stretches throughout the program. Sometimes it may not be affordable for students from average families. Then these students will need a financial assistance. The cost of an MBA program includes a course fee of about $ 8,000 to $60,000 a year, boarding, food, travel, books, a PC, etc. In the USA, around 60 percent of the MBA students receive scholarship assistance. The scholarships are available for both full-time and part-time programs.

Today, a number of colleges award scholarships for the part-time evening MBA students. This financial assistance is limited to non-academic employees and academic professionals who will retain their jobs while participating in the MBA program. Nearly all the applications are automatically considered for merit scholarships in reputed business schools. Such type of scholarship ranges from $4,000 to full-tuition fee. Entrance scholarships, amounting up to $175,000, are awarded to full-time MBA students who have demonstrated outstanding academic records in their previous classes.

You will get information on any type of scholarship from business school information centers or the school websites. In addition, numerous search services on the Internet will provide you the facility to locate MBA scholarships. Some scholarships require periodical renewal. This may involve continuous maintenance of your academic status and a minimum GPA, retaining full-time enrollment, and continuing to study in the same major. Some others require community service and other extra curricular activities. Most colleges offer these academic MBA scholarships with an aim to attract very talented students.

MBA provides detailed information on MBA, Top MBA Programs, MBA Online, MBA Programs and more. MBA is affiliated with Online Business Schools.

MBA in IIM

Indian institute of Management located in 6 cities of India are the asset for India in Management studies. These institutes are top ranking & highly reputed in Business World. The MBA degree from these institutes is mighty in management streams. The average packages offered to students of these B-Schools is around 10 lakh INR p.a. in India & around US$200000 p.a. abroad.

To get admission to such reputed institutes is not a easy task. The exam called Common admission test or CAT is entrance exam for these B-Schools. This exam is one of the toughest exam in Asia. The CAT tests English, maths & reasoning of the candidate. More than this its a nerve testing exam. After written test GD & PIs are the next hurdle to get into IIMs.

The CAT is held once a every year in November. Besides IIMs, many other B-Schools accept CAT score for admission to their Management programs.

There are three sections in CAT exam. Quantitative section, Verbal ability & reading comprehension section & last one is Data Interpretation. The quantitative section is all about Maths, the areas tested are geometry, mensuration,numbers, & coordinate geometry. Speed, approach & accuracy are key to crack CAT.

For CAT one should know extensive theory & almost all concepts. you have to pick & choose certain areas that you are master of because of time limitations. Many steps of complex calculations required.

What Does CAT Tests?

Your logical & verbal abilities through type of questions. Your ability to make strategy for format of test, sectional cut-offs, differential marking & time constraints.:-)

The MBA CAT changes its question pattern over years. The number of questions has been reduced & the type of question are quite same. If you look at CAT history, in CAT 1992, there were 4 sections of 175 questions. In CAT 1995 the number of questions increased to 185. In CAT 1996 the number of sections was reduced to 2 & number of questions remained same. In CAT 1999, the pattern again changed, with 3 sections & 165 question. In 2004 number reduced to 123 & diffirent marking was introduced. In CAT 2005, CAT brought down the number number of question drastically to 90. For more on CAT exam visit CATMBABLOG

Why an MBA?

Is the MBA the right degree for everyone? The obvious answer should be...No! The MBA is not right for everyone. Although, I am an advocate of the MBA in general, there are certain specifics you should consider before pursuing this degree.

First and foremost, you need to know yourself and your career objectives. If the MBA does not seem like it will be a good fit, do not pursue it. I do not recommend going into any program unless you feel good about it. Just because the MBA is a great degree, does not mean it is right for you.

I will approach this question "why an MBA?" from both sides of the table...that is, the pros and the cons.

Pros - Why to get an MBA

There are many reasons why an MBA is a good choice. See the reasons below:

* The MBA is a very marketable masters degree. It is very well known and it seems to enjoy recognition all over. After receiving the MBA, you can put those initials after your name. Can you do that with a Master of Science degree?

* The MBA offers valuable management and business content. If you are new to business or even experienced, this degree has a lot to offer. You can learn functional skills and concepts that seem to be applicable into any industry or job.

* The MBA is very flexible. You can choose the program type (full time, part time, distance, etc). You can specialize or stay general. Depending on the program and the school, the MBA can be completed between 30 and 60 credits. All this, and you still get the same marketable degree.

Cons - Why NOT to get an MBA

There are also reasons why an MBA may not be a good choice. See the reasons below:

* Maybe you need extra specialization or you have a specific career goal. For example, a Master of Accounting (MAcc) is a common masters degree to prepare one for the CPA exam. In this case, the MBA may not be the best choice. In certain cases, if you are pursuing a PhD, there may be better choices.

* Maybe the MBA is too cost prohibitive. MBAs tend to cost more than other degrees. This is because of its recognition and marketability. Weight out the return on investment. This is good advice for any investment. You may have more options than you think, so look around at as many programs as you can.

* I have heard arguments that the MBA is so popular that it has become "watered down". This is a perspective from someone who thinks you can only receive a full-time, two-year MBA from a prestigious school. The way I see it, if you are going to earn a masters degree, get one that is recognizable.

Realize that this is a short list of pros and cons and it by no means comprehensive. It should get you thinking about why an MBA is right or why another choice may be better.

One final note...unless you get an MBA from the "top" 10 or 20 ranked business schools, it really does not matter where you get your MBA.

* A great career enhancer in many ways. It can help with career advancement as well as career changing.

* It provides a great potential for return on investment. Your earning power is likely to increase with this degree.

I hope some of these suggestions help to simplify the answer to the question "What is an MBA?". These are just the highlights of the MBA. As you can see, there are a lot of great aspects to the MBA degree.

Christian LeCheminant is an advocate of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. He holds an MBA from Southern Utah University (SUU). For more MBA information, visit http://www.mba-options.com

Online MBA - New Credibility Distance Learning for Your Career Advancement

Distance-learning programs have been given increased credibility by the spread of information technology. The growth in the number of MBAs awarded in recent years is largely a result of distance learning program in conjunction with the widely acceptance of online degree in the job market. Individual who are looking for higher career achievement can now choose to pursue their MBA online while maintain their career and living style. With the available of online MBA programs, you have no excuses to delay pursuing your MBA just because you are busy with your work. Many online MBA programs are able to fit well into your busy schedule.

When you move along your career path, working experience, skills and knowledge are the most important elements to ensure the success of your career. You gain your working experience in your career field from the first day you start your career and along the way of your career path. Stronger educational background will definitely helps you to move your career steps faster and smoother to achieve the career level you are dreaming for. The higher your career level, the wider of your job scope and the more people you need to face & handle. Hence, interpersonal, people management & communication are among the required skills for these types of job positions. MBA programs with various concentrations which depend on your area of focus can train you with the required knowledge and skills for your career achievement.

If you take your MBA online, your can study at your own time that fit into your schedule, you can learn at home or even while traveling. It gives you the flexibility and convenient to earn your MBA degree online while continue with your career move. Most of online MBA degree programs take12 to 24 months to complete, but there are fast track MBA programs which can be completed in 18 weeks. Although many online MBA enable you to earn your degree 100% online, but there are schools required you to attend a certain hours of face-to-face tutorials.

When you are choosing your online MBA program, it is important that you select an MBA program from an accredited university with a good track record and reputation. Although getting your MBA degree from top-ranked university is the best option but if their MBA courses cannot meet your career goals, you need to select from the alternatives. The rules of thumb for selecting your online MBA program is the school and the MBA program must be accredited by an accreditation agency that is recognized by Department of Education. This is to avoid any trap by degree mills, online degree scams who want to cheat your money without giving you the degree that worth a value.

In additional, distance-learning MBA are becoming increasingly popular among employers. Companies are more likely to provide support in term of scholarships or grants for their potential employees to enhance their management skills through online MBA program. You should check out whether your company does provides this employee benefits, don't this opportunity to earn your MBA degree for your career advancement or job promotion.

In Summary

Online MBA is a new credibility distance learning program that enables you to earn your MBA degree online from your selected place and at your own pace with your own schedule. It provides a good opportunity for you to plan your career advancement with the required MBA degree.

Julie Harvard is the author of http://www.studykiosk.com , an online degree directory that lets you browse over 1000 accredited online MBA programs offer by reputable online universities.

Study for That MBA - With Online Distance Learning

Distance learning is not a new concept among various modes of study. Management colleges also realize the importance of these courses, and as a result most reputed management institutions now offer you this facility. In fact, there are many institutions that offer only distance-education courses.

Having said that, taking up a distance learning course and moreover, completing it is not so easy. In fact many students leave it half way and completely waste their money as well as precious time. So before taking up any distance MBA course, you should keep some things in mind.

The first thing that you need to do is check your preparation and dedication to this. Like whether you will be able to complete the course on your own. This is extremely difficult because you do not get a fixed routine like that of a campus program. Therefore, your dedication level will need to be extremely high.

The second thing that you need to look out for is the accreditation of the course that you opt for. This is absolutely necessary as your degree would be of no value if it does not have accreditation from a statutory body recognized by the state authorities. Also check whether the course has the same value as that of a regular campus course in terms of employment and future opportunities.

Another thing that you need to look for is the technology applied while teaching. An MBA course is quite rigorous and also a tough one. You will require a lot of academic help. So check whether the institution has the facility of an online instructor for 24 hours or not.

You should see whether the course has the provision of discussions between the instructor and the students. Many institutions also have forums where students from around the globe can contact each other and the alumni for academic help. These are a couple of things that help a student in the long run, so you need to look out for these facilities

Distance learning MBA programs are gaining popularity and as such, seats are few. So the next thing that you need to do is some proper research on the institution, fees, course structure and also the credibility of the course that you plan to take up. The best way to do it is to take the help of internet.

Finally, another important element that you should look for before taking up a distance learning course is Live Interactive Television. Through this, students and instructors can interact in live mode. It is just like a class, only on screen. The teacher here addresses a larger audience, and students can get immediate help with any problems they may be having. Having a choice of Live TV renders great academic help to the student, and should be an important factor while selecting a distance education course, especially one as tough as MBA.

Keith Evans owns and operates http://www.mbaonlinehelp.com and Mba Online

Avoid the 4 Common Mistakes Make by Online MBA Students

Pursuing your MBA online is your wise decision because an MBA prepare you to face more challenges tasks in your career and equip yourself to meet the pre-requirement of any managerial position. However, many online MBA students are making some common mistakes that may harm your chances of finding success. Don't let yourself making these mistakes:

Mistake #1: Enroll Into Unaccredited Online MBA Program

Many online students are enrolled into an online MBA program because they are attracted by the program features, cost and some un-verified guarantees advertised by the online university. These advertisements may be published by diploma mills for the purpose of squeezing your money with an exchange of fake MBA degree that worth nothing and these MBA degrees are not accepted in the job market. Try to imagine what the consequences are, if you carry this fake MBA degree to apply for career switch or job promotion.

It is important that you enroll into a proper accredited online MBA program which the accreditation agency is the one that is recognized by Department of Education. A proper accredited MBA degree program is a qualify assurance of your MBA degree and many employers are using this benchmark when they review the MBA degree of their candidates. Hence, always spend your time to confirm the legitimate accreditation information about the online MBA program that you are interested to sign up.

Mistake #2: Enroll Into MBA Program with Wrong Specialization

MBA cover a wide range of specializations. You can choose an MBA program with specialization or concentration that is related to your career goal. Many online MBA students do not realize that they have many options in selecting their MBA specialization. Most students are selecting the common specialization such as marketing, finance and business management. Although, these MBA specializations can provides you with the necessary knowledge and prepare yourself for managerial job promotion but if you can choose an MBA specialization that is closely related to your career, then you can maximum the value of MBA degree because it contains courses that are related to your working field.

For example, if you are in the healthcare industry, an MBA program with specialization in Healthcare Management may be more appropriate than MBA program with specialization in Business Management. Hence, get the full information on the available MBA options before you sign up any online MBA program so that you have the chances to select the best online MBA specialization that best fit your career goal.

Mistake #3: Loose Focus on Their Online MBA Study

Many students will easily lose focus on their MBA study if nobody looks after their shoulder and many are end up with unable to complete their MBA study. Online MBA program provides you with flexibility to plan your own study schedule but it may easily cause you to neglecting your assignments, course works or projects if you are a kind of students that required attention and motivation from instructors or lecturers to guide you along your study path.

If you are insisting in getting your MBA online, then, you should manage your time properly for work, live and study and stick to you schedule firmly so that you will stay focus on your MBA study. You may get help from your spouse or family members to act as your motivators or reminders so that you won't accidentally go out of your study track.

Mistake #4: Paying the MBA Program with Their Own Money

MBA is the most common master degree program, and one of the most given financial aids degree program especially from employers. Many online MBA students not realize that there are many financial aids options to fund their MBA study, end up with paying their MBA program with their own money.

If you are a working individual who are taking online MBA program, first check with your company on the available financial aids. You should utilize this employee benefits to fund your study if your company has fund allocations for employees' continuous education program. Beside that, many universities do provide financial aids for their students and there are many resources to find your qualified financial aids either online or offline. So, get your online MBA study funded with these financial aids and save your own money for other purpose.

Summary

MBA is the best degree program that can help in your career advancement. Avoid making some common mistakes made by online MBA students that may harm your chances of finding success with an MBA degree.

Amelia Turner, an educational article writer for http://www.your-online-degree.info You can find more details information and free resources about online MBA degrees, online business degrees, financial aids and other online education programs that can help you to make decision to earn your degree online.

Why And How To Pursue Online MBA Courses?

The online MBA courses and programs are hugely popular among mid-career professionals and older adults, who cannot afford to give up their current employment. If you are yearning to earn a new degree or are keen for a career change, yet have to shoulder family and other responsibilities, you will find a great option in the online MBA programs.

You will require clearing the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) for admission in an online MBA program. Most online MBA courses have a 30-credit program that covers all aspects of a business - right from accounting and finance to risk management. The courses are so designed that they hone your assessment and management skills to help you better manage business operations. (The online programs will allow you great flexibility, permitting you to plan and accommodate the classes according to your schedule).

Go for anyone of the many accredited online MBA courses and you will surely get the much-coveted job promotion. If you own a business, your online MBA degree will help you take your business to great heights!

What Do You Need For An Online MBA Degree Program?

The online MBA degree program, as such, is not very different from the traditional MBA programs, except that the former allows you to earn the degree from the comfort of your own home at your own pace, without having to attend fixed-hour classes. This calls for increased efforts on the part of the student.

An online MBA program revolves round online lectures, readings, discussions and students are even given assignments. Video lectures and videoconferencing are very important for these online programs.

You will be required to physically attend some programs and courses; however, here again, you will have the complete freedom of choosing the workshops and guides.

Cost-Factor

Online MBA courses are a bit costly. Accredited institutions, however, offer you financial assistance in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. As in traditional courses, scholarships and grants are given to deserving candidates. Study loans too have to be arranged through the institution's finance aid office.

Validity Of Online MBA Degree Courses

Speaking of the validity aspect or universal acceptance of the online MBA courses, you must note that the degrees provided by accredited institutions are all valid. Such a professional degree is bound to be accepted anywhere. As an online MBA degree-holder you may not be awarded with a high-paying, big corporation job on your first attempt but then it will give you the first major break and it will be only a matter of time for you to make it to the upper rungs.

Hugo Broadwell runs an informational website that provides Top MBA Program listing, guides to business school mba and knowledge about MBA distance learning. To take advantage in concluding an educated and well founded decision about your online MBA degree make sure you visit Hugo Broadwell's site at www.mbaonline-info.com