It is like dreaming about driving a car and actually driving it.
In Full time program you will have chance to meet good / intelligent people, also will have chance to visit to some industries and look at the operations performed on daily basis, as a part of your curriculum.
Practical experience does matter.

Good Luck!

posted July 28, 2009

Hello Vinay,
First, let me deal with the quality issue. If the award is identical in name and comes from the same institution and that institution has external recognition, then the outcomes are the same as far as all authorities are concerned. Most people would rephrase this as saying 'they are the same but you just take longer to do one than the other.' Having settled any lingering doubts about that, I'll turn to your question as asked:

My view is that your key question is in two parts: 1) cashflow and 2) employer interest in you getting an MBA. Assuming you are not being funded by your employer, if you can at least have them be interested enough in you obtaining an MBA for them to consider letting you do project work in the business side while officially a 'technologist', you may gain the best of all worlds: income, possible career progression and the very real benefits of being able to put MBA-learning into practice as soon as knowledge is acquired rather than waiting until the end of the programme, finding a job and then putting it into practice. High quality part-time MBA programmes attract just the same mix of interesting academics/teachers and fellow-learners as their full-time equivalents.

I hope you find a route that suits you.
Gillian

Links:

• http://www.learningandqualifications.wordpress.com

posted July 29, 2009

Hi Vinay, I'm actually pursuing my MBA part-time right now at Stern, and have friends that completed their MBA in the full time program. I would say one of the big differences is the the time outside of class that you can and will put into the program. For a full time program, the students spend a lot more time recruiting and networking. You have the opportunities to do in the part-time program as well, but it's a lot more self initiated and usually requires you to juggle work schedules. So I find it's a lot more difficult to find time to recruit and network with work schedules like full time students.

posted July 29, 2009

Your question on the difference in PT or FT MBA is excellent. Depending on the institution, there should not be any qualatative difference. It becomes a question of time allocation and your needs as well as professional requirements.

People who seriously consider PT do so because they do not want to resign their current position. FT offers you several distinct advantages:

First, you finish you degree programme sooner. Secondly, you are free to integrate more into the campus and social life of the institution you choose. This component should not be down played because social networking and outreach during an MBA programme can be vital to your development both within your domain and without. Thirdly, if you are seeking to shift careers, full immersion is the best way to do so.

If you have further questions or desire assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.

Links:

• http://www.mba4success.com
• http://www.whitefieldconsulting.com/wordpress
• http://www.whitefieldconsulting.com

posted July 29, 2009

Well speaking as the author of the job search book "Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success," and a college instructor who's taught a wide variety of subjects, including finance, let me answer your question.

The only difference between a full and part-time M.B.A. program is how long it takes you to complete. A full-time student will take more classes each session (quarter, semester, etc), and so will complete the degree in a shorter amont of time. A part-time student takes fewer classes each session. And as a result of this, that student will take longer to actually complete the degree.

But in the end, both the full and part-time student will have completed the exact same classes! It's only a matter of who finishes-up first. How much longer will it take a part-time student to finish? Well that all depends upon how many classes that student takes each session.

In general, a Masters' program takes about 3 years to complete if you're going full-time. A part-time student taking just one class per session can very easily take 7-10 years to complete the entire degree. But if you take 2 classes each session, it may only take you 5-7 years to complete. And of course, there are students who take more classes one session and fewer the next. So there are any number of combinations for a part-timer!

And yes, financial aid status can definitely be effected! Some financial aid sources require students to take a minimum number of classes to be considered eligible for the aid. Other sources have no such limitations. So part-timers have to be very careful that they take the correct number of classes to remain eligible for their financial aid. Otherwise, then can lose it!

And both full and part-time students are subject to the same academic requirements in terms of what's considered passing. So things like academic probation isn't effected with your being a full or part-time student. It's still based off your performace each session given the number of class you happen to be taking.

Now in terms of employability while in school, a full-time student will have more classes completed within a shorter period of time. And that may make this student more employable sooner rather than later. In other words, you'll complete more of what an employer wants you to have within a shorter amount of time.

But this all depends upon what you want to go into. For example, there are plenty of employers who only need the basics, and not more heavy-duty classes that come later in the program. So it's possibe that the part-time will be employer-ready within a relatively short period of time too.

Links:

• http://thinklikeaninterviewer.tripod.com

posted July 29, 2009