[Cider Jim]

Flamesbball84 has a good point, because several LU grads have gone to WVU for their sport management masters program and have worked as GA's there. I had one former student do that about 2 years ago, and she completed her whole master's progam in one year and is now on staff there full time and getting tons of experience at a major Big East university.

[ATrain]

I got a Graduate Assistant position here at LU with the tennis team. Manager, if you've been a volunteer manager for the past 3 years, you should talk with coach Rocco or someone else about being a GA.

[Baldspot]

I think Realist and Sly Fox both bring up good points. An MBA can get your resume out of the stack of 200 applicants for a job and into the final 10 that get interviews but once your on the inside of a corporation, who you know and how well you get along (perform) with others is far more important. At that point, an MBA could hurt your chances because they are only important to those who have them and many bosses without the degree may not want to hire someone with better credentials.

I went thru grad school in a residential program geared toward working professionals. One of the best aspects was gaining contacts and insight from people working in other industires. My company, who I did not use, pays employees to get there asso, bachelors and MBAs with the professors brought into the building. Pretty nice deal. If money's an issue, look for that benefit in your job search.

[Sly Fox]

Terrific points, chick. It seems that a large majority of those pursuing MBAs today are doing so as second career paths. That's why there is such a disparity among students.

And we haven't even brought up the variations on residential programs like executive & professional programs.

And for those working in corporate settings, I'd love to see hear about your experience with university choice in regard to advancement and pay grade. Outside of the Ivies, Stanford, Rice and the like it doesn't appear from my perspective to have much of any difference on advancement. Job performance trumps similar degree classifications every time.

Definitely would disagree. Most large corporations and businesses have a barrier to what you can reach unless you have the MBA. MBA advances you quicker and puts you ahead of those trying for the same job when trying to move up. Not to mention a lot of places give automatic pay grade raises when you graduate.

From what I've seen the MBA puts you on the fast track.

My statement must not have been clear enough to follow. I was stating that WHERE you received your MBA had very little bearing on advancement and pay grade outside of the ultra-elite schools. Having an MBA is almost always a distinguishing factor in advancement. But a state school or LU DLP generally would have similar affect on advancement based on my observations of our clients.

[Realist]

Ok, just misunderstood, yes, I don't think it's a big difference where you get it as long as you have it. Although I would say that the purely online degree programs are in general a little less respected. Especially the ones you see advertised on tv that are factory houses.

[Cider Jim]

From Liberty's DLP website:

Prospective Students FAQs

16. Will my actual Liberty University diploma say "distance learning"?
No. All of our diplomas state “Liberty University” with no distinction between residential, blended, or online degree programs. Liberty University’s name is well respected in the business community. You can be sure your degree will help you obtain the career you desire. To ensure that our programs provide the skills and expertise that are in high demand, we develop our curriculum based on the current needs of each industry they relate to. We then draw our faculty from among the leaders of that industry to provide the most valuable, real-world education possible. Our academic instruction is continually updated to reflect the latest proven concepts, methods, and practices.

http://www.luonline.com/index.cfm?pid=14275

[AZjonz]

Ok, just misunderstood, yes, I don't think it's a big difference where you get it as long as you have it. Although I would say that the purely online degree programs are in general a little less respected. Especially the ones you see advertised on tv that are factory houses.

A prospective student should check the accreditation of a school before they apply. MBA programs should be regionally accredited (which Liberty is), and if possible accredited through the AACSB.

If anyone wants to go to a MBA program that is not at least regionally accredited, calculate the total costs and send half of it to me instead. I will give you a diploma for an MBA, or a clock heart, or badge of courage, or even a balloon ride if you want. For just $1,000 more, I’ll throw in a PHD. The first 30 people who enroll will get a super-duper flu bug killing machine.

[flamesbball84]

Ok, just misunderstood, yes, I don't think it's a big difference where you get it as long as you have it. Although I would say that the purely online degree programs are in general a little less respected. Especially the ones you see advertised on tv that are factory houses.

A prospective student should check the accreditation of a school before they apply. MBA programs should be regionally accredited (which Liberty is), and if possible accredited through the AACSB.

If anyone wants to go to a MBA program that is not at least regionally accredited, calculate the total costs and send half of it to me instead. I will give you a diploma for an MBA, or a clock heart, or badge of courage, or even a balloon ride if you want. For just $1,000 more, I�ll throw in a PHD. The first 30 people who enroll will get a super-duper flu bug killing machine.

AACSB accreditation is overrated. I've known several people from around here that have gotten an MBA from LC/LU - neither of which are AACSB accredited - and they are doing pretty well these days, both in job satisfaction and financially.

[AZjonz]

[quote="AACSB accreditation is overrated. I've known several people from around here that have gotten an MBA from LC/LU - neither of which are AACSB accredited - and they are doing pretty well these days, both in job satisfaction and financially.[/quote]

Yep. LC/LU are at a minimum a regionally accredited program. As far as AACSB is concerned, I can’t make the leap with you that because you have some friends who did well without it, it must be overrated.

There are on-line programs that provide both. Again my point being, make sure you go to a regionally accredited program (at a minimum). You’re taking a chance of wasting lots of money if you don’t.

[Sly Fox]

CJ ... they are bringing up regional accreditation on this board. Our worlds are beginning to collide.

AZjonz is 100% correct. Never assume schools you are interested in are accredited. Both LU and LC have SACS approval (and LU adds TRACS) but many for profit MBA programs you are seeing do not have any accreditation. Stay away from those schools at all costs.

[flamesbball84]

basically, go to a "real" school - aka not the university of phoenix online. if you find a school that has an interesting program, look to see if it's a "real" school and it should be fine...

[FlamingChick]

basically, go to a "real" school - aka not the university of phoenix online. if you find a school that has an interesting program, look to see if it's a "real" school and it should be fine...

actually, the university of phoenix is accredited...

[FlamingChick]

Terrific points, chick. It seems that a large majority of those pursuing MBAs today are doing so as second career paths. That's why there is such a disparity among students.

And we haven't even brought up the variations on residential programs like executive & professional programs.

And for those working in corporate settings, I'd love to see hear about your experience with university choice in regard to advancement and pay grade. Outside of the Ivies, Stanford, Rice and the like it doesn't appear from my perspective to have much of any difference on advancement. Job performance trumps similar degree classifications every time.

Definitely would disagree. Most large corporations and businesses have a barrier to what you can reach unless you have the MBA. MBA advances you quicker and puts you ahead of those trying for the same job when trying to move up. Not to mention a lot of places give automatic pay grade raises when you graduate.

From what I've seen the MBA puts you on the fast track.

My statement must not have been clear enough to follow. I was stating that WHERE you received your MBA had very little bearing on advancement and pay grade outside of the ultra-elite schools. Having an MBA is almost always a distinguishing factor in advancement. But a state school or LU DLP generally would have similar affect on advancement based on my observations of our clients.

I have a couple of friends who are recruiters, and they've both said that it really doesn't matter where you received your MBA. Of course, if it's from HARVARD or YALE or some other Ivy League school, it stands out, but according to them, the fact that you had the drive to go for it, and completed it is favorable.

[WinthropEagleFan]

I've found that an MBA definitely doesn't hurt, and like others have said, unless you went to the top-national schools, and as long as it is accredited, the location isn't really a big deal. I had an employer pay for most of mine and I started a year after I got my undergrad, so by the time I was done, I had the MBA and 3 years experience, which is a pretty good combo in order to either advance where you are at, or to get your foot in the door at alot of other places. Don't know much about the online programs...

[INeedAManager]

I got a Graduate Assistant position here at LU with the tennis team. Manager, if you've been a volunteer manager for the past 3 years, you should talk with coach Rocco or someone else about being a GA.

thats why i like you all, so full of good ideas. the GA position is not something that had ever crossed my mind. i know the team usually has 1 or 2 GA's that coach (coaching is not what i want to do for a career) but im sure i could dig up something in the operations aspect. I am actaully completing my 400 hour Sport Management internship this fall working at football with Paul Rutigliano, the assistant AD for football administration. so maybe i can work that into a GA postion after i graduate. because at the end of the day i feel that getting the MBA cant really hurt me especially if i can keep active in gaining experience.

[flamesbball84]

I got a Graduate Assistant position here at LU with the tennis team. Manager, if you've been a volunteer manager for the past 3 years, you should talk with coach Rocco or someone else about being a GA.

thats why i like you all, so full of good ideas. the GA position is not something that had ever crossed my mind. i know the team usually has 1 or 2 GA's that coach (coaching is not what i want to do for a career) but im sure i could dig up something in the operations aspect. I am actaully completing my 400 hour Sport Management internship this fall working at football with Paul Rutigliano, the assistant AD for football administration. so maybe i can work that into a GA postion after i graduate. because at the end of the day i feel that getting the MBA cant really hurt me especially if i can keep active in gaining experience.

even small(er) schools like LC and W&L have athletic department GAs that aren't coaches!

Different general athletic department areas I can think of that I have seen GA position for in the past: sports information, game management, facilities, assistant to the AD, compliance, assistant to academic coordinator, a bunch of different ones pertaining to financial stuff, marketing, player development, alumni relations.

then there are also the GA positions specific to a team that aren't coaching like being an assistant to the director of basketball opts. or assistant to film coordinator for example.

basically, you'd have to be trying extremely hard not to find a non-coaching GA position...

[ATrain]

In my position with the tennis teams, there is so much more than just the coaching part. I'm not going to go into all the details, but the work off the court is far greater than the work on the court.

[flamesbball84]

basically, go to a "real" school - aka not the university of phoenix online. if you find a school that has an interesting program, look to see if it's a "real" school and it should be fine...

actually, the university of phoenix is accredited...

accredited or not, a lot of people still view it as a diploma mill

[ToTheLeft]

basically, go to a "real" school - aka not the university of phoenix online. if you find a school that has an interesting program, look to see if it's a "real" school and it should be fine...

actually, the university of phoenix is accredited...

accredited or not, a lot of people still view it as a diploma mill

I think that the point of this thread is that even if you get a degree from a "diploma mill", that employer's still see the will and determination to get an advanced degree and appreciate the effort, as long as it is accredited.

[flamesbball84]

actually, the university of phoenix is accredited...

accredited or not, a lot of people still view it as a diploma mill

I think that the point of this thread is that even if you get a degree from a "diploma mill", that employer's still see the will and determination to get an advanced degree and appreciate the effort, as long as it is accredited.

if you get your degree from a perceived diploma mill, then nothing else matters. a person can make all the arguments they want to an employer about their degree, but if the employer views it as a diploma mill they aren't going to care and they aren't going to value the degree or any work you put into it period...

[FlamingChick]

MBA Isn't a Guarantee
Many top executives succeed without advance degrees, recruiters say

By Eve Tahmincioglu, MSNBC.com careers contributor


Melanie Holmes is an executive for a Fortune 500 employment services firm and two years ago, at age 55, she decided to go back to school and get her MBA.
Why? It's not what you think.

"It was a personal thing. I just wanted to achieve it," says Holmes, a vice president for Manpower Inc. "I didn't expect anything differently in my job nor did I expect to go higher up the ladder."


Holmes is one of those executives who doesn't believe you need a master's degree in business administration to become successful in business. And she's living proof of that, having moved up the corporate hierarchy after starting out as a secretary.

Read more: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn ... 05066-R5-4

[flamesbball84]

i think it pretty much goes without saying that you can be very successful without an MBA...

[blwall1416]

i think it pretty much goes without saying that you can be very successful without an MBA...

"I did not go to business school. You know who else didn’t go to business school? LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant."