OT: Would you get an MBA from Ross if it ultimately goes 100% remote?
Hi all,
I gained admission to the eMBA program at Ross which is set to start at the end of July. We were just notified that at least until the fall the program will be 100% remote.
Ross is offering anyone who wants to differ until next year the opportunity to do so, but has not committed on any tuition adjustments for this class.
I personally am still very excited to go through the program for the coursework and access to top tier faculty. However, the networking aspect of an MBA program is one of its top selling points and will surely be impacted by not all being on campus.
Would you rather wait a year and hope normalcy returns in 2021? Or go ahead with the program while many of us are working from home?
I already have an MBA from the B-School (before it was called Ross).
One of the biggest factors getting an MBA are the connections you make. So I would say that being there in person is critical if you want to maximize the value of your degree.
Same here, and I also really got a lot out of the information sessions that companies would put on on-site at the school and the receptions they would have afterword.
I differ with your spelling of defer.
I would start on-line if I were you. Get it done and on to great work experience. That will overcome any "connection" establishments in school. Perform well at work and you will succeed.
100% agree. Connections are great, the the UM brand will do more for you. Also, you will still have group projects and chat forums, so you will get to know your classmates pretty well. I did a 25-person online MBA that was very specific and most of the folks are still close friends and colleagues a decade later
On line education is great for figuring out how to fix items around the house, but true education involves learning from peers as much as instructors. People fundamentally understand that on-line learning is and likely will always result in a shallower education.
People have been distance learning for 200 years. You could get your correspondence MBA in the 1980s from Cleary, I believe. It’s not new, it also is not as good
Do you have any experience with online classes? I had more engagement with my classmates and teachers when I did online than I ever had in person. There easy A classes online and there are classes that are much harder like in person. The idea that online classes are always easier than in person isn't true. Most of my classes were offered online and in person and were essentially the same. The only difference being the required postings on the class message board which replaced the in class discussion.
In my (limited) experience, great professor >> engaged classmates >>>> format for class quality. A great professor and great classmates will get you a great class, regardless of how it's delivered. That said, the best professors and students (in my experience) tend to skew very far away from online learning.
I agree with everything, but my experience was different since the the entire degree program and specialties in it could be completed entirely online. Not every class was offered online, but the large majority. Since the university embraced it so strongly I didn't have the experience where the best professors and students weren't involved heavily in them.
I was reluctant to do a completely online program, but working full-time prevented me from going to any nearby schools. I had a good experience with it though and never felt like I was missing anything except for a couple classes. I had completed an associate degree before going the online route and think I had better professors/classmates online. Could've been the increase in the quality of the university though, lol
When I entered Bschool, the best advice I received was from a recent alum at a recruiting event. He said to split your time as follows:
1/3 school work.
1/3 interview prep and recruiting.
1/3 networking with your classmates to form bonds that will last a lifetime.
based on that, I would probably defer to the following year. The other reason for deferment is the labor market. Hard to predict, but if you have a good job now, i wouldn’t be in a rush to go heavily in debt with no guarantee of employment at the other end.
It’s the same material online as you get in class. The MBA still carries the same weight.
For the full time program, I’d say defer for sure. For the eMBA, I don’t think it’s that much of a difference since there’s less outside class networking given that people have real-life responsibilities they need to tend to in addition to being at school.
My two cents, for what it's worth: I got my MBA from Baylor (attended the full-time program in Waco for 3 semesters) and graduated in 2013. IMO, an MBA is good for 3 things:
1) A piece of paper that says you're "qualified" for a job. This was great for me, as I was changing careers from being a teacher. I doubt the perceived value of a degree that says Ross School of Business will decrease as a result of being online, and it will still be viewed as an outstanding b-school.
2) An MBA is a generalist degree, so you get to work on solving problems from all sorts of backgrounds - not just business, but engineering, the military, teaching, etc. This was the most enjoyable and meaningful part of the degree to me - it's rare that you get an opportunity to truly collaborate across functions to that degree. It exposed me to different ways of thinking of approaches to problem solving by working directly with my classmates. I could see the change to online impacting this to some degree, but technology mitigates that impact to some extent as well.
3) Networking - this was my biggest regret about choosing Baylor because nobody is going out of their way to visit Waco for a mid-tier (if we're being generous) business school. Obviously, Ross is in a different stratosphere, and my guess is companies are going to seek out opportunities to interact with Ross students. That said, I have to imagine the number of opportunities to network outside the school will be down relative to prior years.
Everyone gets an MBA for different reasons. For me, my top priority was the piece of paper (I had no doubt I was capable of doing the job, but needed something on my resume to get me in the door). In that case, I would still be attending online or in-person. If networking is what's going to provide the most value to you and your career, then maybe you will want to consider deferring or asking the school what they will be doing to ensure networking opportunities are not lost as a result of being online.
What’s your alternative? Are you currently working? What do you want to do after the MBA? If you’re currently working a job you like, and offers learning/development opportunities with solid pay/benefits, I’d defer. If your alternative is something you can’t stand and isn’t a significant Long-term economic plus to your life, and your life vision depends on this degree (I’d question that assumption for an MBA, but let’s leave that for now) then you should go do it.
The Exec MBA at Ross does not facilitate recruiting of any kind and assumes you are employed when you begin. i understand why they structure the program that way but my experience was that 50-75% of the students were actively looking to transition or curious about what else was possible.
If you are doing what you like and your company supports the degree with reimbursement or promotion, I would go this year. If you want to work the seams a bit on transitioning, wait until you are physically present for classmates, faculty, and workshops.
I have an MBA from a top school and you want to wait a year until you can be on campus. It’s not even debatable.
There is more value in the connections you make than the education. This includes classmates, professors, guest lecturers, study groups, visiting alumni, CEO dinners and more.
Also, by waiting a year the economy will be in a much better position when you are interviewing for both your summer internship and your full time job. You want to graduate into an economy that is humming.
Now I don’t know what an eMBA is. I assume you are talking about a full time on campus program. eMBA implies it’s already online.
I'm almost positive they mean Executive MBA, which is in person but has no recruiting.
What are you trying to do?
Many people I know who wanted to get MBAs were trying to land in investment banking / finance / consulting / private equity. If that's your goal, DO NOT attend online. It's a networking game.
I knew others who wanted to be put on a management track in their industry. It depends on where you're going, then: if you're already well-set-up in your industry, then you could probably go. If you're not, then don't -- the connections will get you hired and set you up for life.
A few people I knew had no business backgrounds and wanted to get into "business" broadly defined to switch their careers (e.g. I knew a teacher and a an artist who did this.) Obviously, connections are key here and you should defer if that's you.
Finally, I knew some people who went simply because the credential was necessary for career advancement (i.e. the next level up requires an MBA). If that's you, go now and get it over with.
While I agree with deferring, I don't agree with your point about recruiting. The consulting firm I work at is still recruiting, we've just moved everything virtual. I don't think recruiting will be hurt that much (outside of the hit due to the economy), as the firms will make every effort to network with students.
I assume you're talking Big 3?
My sense (judging by how I think things are going in my professional field), despite best efforts to network, it won't be as successful at developing connections or relationships -- it just doesn't work as well, even when everyone's trying hard. That means that people are going to skew towards 1.) resumes and 2.) organic fits who don't need to network to be seen as "one of us." Query if that will help or hurt Ross at, like, a bulge bracket / boutique / Big 3 consulting shop. I suspect it will hurt more than it will help.
I think Ross will actually benefit since recruiting at Ross almost always involves a flight, vs. Kellogg / Booth / Stern / CBS / HBS / Stanford, etc. The other schools often have people on campus very frequently for recruiting, which they're going to lose. People will have plenty of opportunities via remote coffee chats, etc. to talk to folks from respective firms. If you're recruiting for PE, I agree that it will be a challenge, but don't think it will be as hard for Consulting and Banking
Business school, for me, taught the value of in person connections. You can’t network with your peers, faculty, and potential employers even half as good online as you can face to face. Group projects, case competitions, and then going out for some brews with the group after you just completed that big presentation, you get so much more out of doing those face to face.
Remote classes, individually, aren’t without their merits, but the entire program going remote is a tough pill to swallow. This is just me, but you can afford to defer a year, I’d defer. Re-survey the landscape this time next year. If we have a vaccine by then, then you’ll have made the right decision. If we’re in the same boat then that we are now, then you’ll have another decision to make.
I got an executive MPH from Michigan. It required two 3-day appearances in the classroom per semester. I finished in 2013 and still keep in regular contact with about 12 of my classmates. I don’t think we’d have as strong of a bond if it wasn’t for the in-person sessions (and hitting the bars after class), so I think you’ll be missing out on a valuable factor of the program.
I think you have to assess your situation and weigh the pros and cons. If you have something lined up that depends on getting the MBA I would not put your life on hold another year to wait for the in person experience.
100% wait. A lot of the benefit of Ross is the networking events, clubs, connections, etc. and that will be lost
I’d rather get an MBA from Rachel.
I was also accepted into the Ross eMBA last year. After paying my $5000 enrollment deposit, I deferred to this year because my life circumstances were going through some significant changes. I was supposed to start this year. I can't recall if it was May or June, but they called saying they need a final decision if I plan on attending and that I could not defer. I had to give up my $5000 enrollment deposit because I don't want to remotely attend an executive MBA. The great majority of the value in a program like that is the networking and the connections.
I think a lot of the comments here are not necessarily realizing this is an executive MBA, not a traditional MBA. This is designed for later career folks, not people that need to start it and get it done to move on to career experience.
The executive MBA is the program where you show up and live in the Ross exec residences for a weekend+ a month with each other.
Update: I just received an email that admissions are willing to allow a one time exception to the one deferral policy so I will be able to defer to next summer and have full value of the emba experience next year.
thank you if it is because of some random UM admin person who happened to read this and thought that sucks, if not, fortuitous.
If all you need is the degree, go for it. Waiting to attend in person results in an opportunity cost of a year of potential earnings (minus what you earn now) in exchange for the complete experience. Also, no guarantee that normality will resume any time soon. Another outbreak could push back plans to attend in person.
The problem is not for you. Go ahead and enroll and begin, you'll likely get time on campus next year. Employers won't care and your degree will say Ross.
The problem is for UofM. Online education is flatly inferior to in-class participation, and if they think they can make Ross 100% online without diluting its quality, they'll destroy their brand. Not right away, but eventually.
The answer varies on where's home.what your personal and financial situation is and what program you are going into at Ross, plus a flexible vision of what the (business) future might hold for 2020 and also beyond.
What are other top MBA programs doing in your field? How long do you have to decide (things change daily it seems)? What other options do you have? What are your career/personal goals?
My UM undergraduate and graduate experiences were enriched greatly by living, working and socializing with many diverse, classmates in Ann Arbor, many who became future friends.
You left out a key piece of information - what are your goals in pursuing the E MBA? (Also, I think many people missed the 'E' and how that is different than the full-time MBA program.)
Generally speaking..
If you have more 'traditional MBA goals', then I'd probably defer since I don't think the value you get out of networking will nearly be as strong in this environment. Yes, I'm sure you can get to know a decent number of people, but not nearly as many as in a normal environment.
If you have more typical EMBA goals (knock it out and move on with your life; much less networking; get the piece of paper) then moving forward now may make sense.
Ross BBA/ Wharton MBA here. I don't know exactly how remote courses will work, but I would probably defer if it were my decision.
Most core MBA class topics can be studied at nominal or no cash cost (particularly accounting, finance, statistics, microecon - just buy CFA level 1 study books.). A lot of the value of an MBA comesr from meeting people and being there in the flow. Executive MBA is a little bit of a different beast, I presume, but I still think getting to know colleagues I'd a huge part of it.
If you have some rich options should you defer--take them; you'll be that much more experienced, and possibly sure about what you want to do when you graduate. I know that online school holds many positives for people, but the rich texture of in-person interaction and camaraderie developed cannot, IMO, be replaced. (Working online for a year could also save you some money.)
I understand that Ross is a three-year experience, though. Two years should be plenty of time to network, etc. should you choose to work online for a year.
Keep in mind your own life and realize that it can change quickly! I considered delaying the start of my MBA, but I’m glad I didn’t as I would have dealt with having a kid in my final semester. Life changes quickly, especially around the average age of MBA students.
An executive MBA program is for an older cohort, generally already on a management track. With few exceptions, Ross typically won't let someone apply if they are not already in a management position. The EMBA has classes on Friday and Saturday every other week and a short residency each year. EMBAs receive the same or similar content but are generally slightly less rigorous in terms of grades and assignments, as it's expected the cohort will have more work issues to resolve while studying and more flexibility is granted. It's not deficient in learning as the cohort is older and has more experiences to contribute. Companies tend to support either financially or via reimbursement, or allowing every other Friday off without a salary reduction, and students often have to stay employed for 1-2 years after graduating or pay those benefits back. It's primarily a degree for current managers to gain skills and knowledge to apply within their current organizations. Of course, many are interested in a transition and even those who are not become interested after being exposed to more persons, more types of jobs, and more sectors.
I don't know the OPs personal situation, but I would not defer an EMBA. The closeness of your network will be a choice of your cohort. It's still possible to have strong connections if your classmates choose to. Moreover, given the general age and intention of an EMBA - skills and knowledge to help an existing management career - I would not put off those skills given you can't predict the next 2 years. Maybe not at Ross, but in general MBA enrollment has declined the last few years. It's better to graduate in a hot economy, but the economy at graduation cannot be predicted at matriculation date. It is however reasonable that enrollment may increase the next 1-2 years. I'd personally get ahead of the curve and not put off this educational objective.
All the value is in recruiting and interview prep, so if you still have access to that, absolutely do it.
Yes.
If it is not critical, I would better wait a year and find a job to work from home. You will be able to get an experience and there is nothing to lose. If you have any doubts, it is better to go ahead and continue the program. There are lots of stuff you can learn by yourself online. For example, read about sales lead generation https://alena-shalieieva.medium.com/5-tips-for-your-business-to-improve…;