Online MBA Disadvantages

Making the decision to return to school for an Online MBA will certainly prove to be an advantageous career move. The dilemma may be which type of learning environment your personality is best suited for. The business schools of most accredited colleges and universities offer the same high caliber degree programs on campus as well as through distance or online learning. Although an online MBA Programs may seem to be ideal in that it would allow you to continue working full time, e-learning is not for everyone. It is very important to examine the pitfalls of distance education before enrolling in any online MBA program.

A little bit of self-examination is probably a good place to begin. Being a successful online student will require some specific traits such as:

• You must possess a great deal of self motivation
• Have a disciplined personality
• Have excellent time management skills
• Be able to set schedules and stick with them
• Work well on your own – without constant input from peers or instructors
• Must have access to a space that is relatively quiet and free from distractions
• Must be computer literate

If your studies will not be through a top, highly recognized business school, you will need to be extra vigilant in which MBA program you choose. If you are making such an important personal and financial commitment, you will want to be certain that he MBA degree you obtain will be recognized by the industry you will be working in. It is very important that you verify the school’s accreditation and the qualifications of their instructors. The accreditation process is different in the United States than it is in Canada which means you will want to make sure that the country you plan to work in will recognize your MBA degree.

Accreditation in Canada is the responsibility of each province. The Council of Ministers of Education website at www.cmec.ca will give you general information on the accreditation process as well as links to the Department of Education for each province.

For more information on schools in Canada you can go to:

• The Canadian Education and Training Accredited Commission
• The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

In the United States accreditation is granted either regionally or nationally and the following sites will give your more information on this process.

• The Regional Accreditation for Online Schools
• The National Accrediting Agency

If you plan to complete your studies through an online degree program there will be an enormous amount of information that you will need to research and sift through. School accreditation is generally the one that can be the most misleading. There are a number of online business schools offering online MBA programs that also run their own accrediting agency which in turn allows them to say that they are an accredited business school. This does not necessarily mean that your degree will be accepted by an employer.

If you are planning to earn an online MBA it is important to devote the time necessary to research all aspects of the programs and the schools you are interested in before making any final decisions. The key thing to remember is that no matter how reputable a business school or degree program is, unless you have the self discipline, motivation and time management skills to see it through it will be of little value. Make sure you examine all the disadvantages of online MBA’s before you commit your time and money to any online program.