Top Online Masters of Business Administration programs, or online MBA courses, are nowadays the number 1 choice for those who wish to thrust their careers to new highs but do not have the time to leave their current jobs.

Busy work schedules and limited resources (mainly money) have made it possible for on line MBA programs to become a much needed, sought after product.

Top MBA graduate degrees on line gives you a competitive edge and a clear advantage over other candidates when applying to high paying, top managerial positions anywhere in the world. Besides, accreditation and acceptance on the side of major companies and organisations is no longer an issue.

ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE MBA DISTANCE LEARNING

There are many added advantages to enrolling in an graduate degree online at top business schools, either while completing the program or after finishing it. Money and time saved and self-paced courses are only a few of the many advantages.

MBA online courses and specialisations are more varied than ever and in some cases the career progression and opportunities are even greater than with other types of programs.

With a distance learning online MBA programs you have the chance to complete your degree in a shorter period should you choose to enroll in an accelerated version. Professional experience could help you to obtain additional credits for certain MBA on line degrees.

A DISTANCE ONLINE MBA IS NO PIECE OF CAKE

It is important to understand that an Online Master of Business Administration degree is NOT a walk in the park. You will need to put in lots of study hours, attend online chat rooms and turoring sessions, and you will need to be as equally motivated as when taking an on-campus program.

There are hundreds of accredited top online business schools all over the world, all of which will prepare you for top managerial jobs as well or even better than many on-campus graduate programs. Take your pick, and go for it!

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1. Distance Learning MBA Graduate Programs
2. Top Ranked Online MBA Graduate Degrees
3. Schulich Graduate Management Programs and Environmental Stewardship

Nowadays it is more important than ever to prepare the MBA pre-requisites well and to be well prepared for the GMAT specially. Competition is on and is harder that it ever was.

The average time spent preparing (well) for the GMAT hovers around 100 hours or more. Also, most graduate schools applicants are full time workers, so 100 hours of study actually translates into 3 months or more of hard work and pressure.

Experts agree that no one really is a “natural test taker”. Taking a test (specially the GMAT) is categorised as a kind of “unnatural acts”, therefore preparation is of an essence.

But, really, how tough is the GMAT? It might seem as if the GMAT is testing you on things such as trigonometry, subject-verb agreement, vocabulary, or general universal culture. Nonetheless, the GMAT is that and much more. The GMAT is, in essence, a test of endurance, speed, and accuracy. Responding quickly is just as important as nailing the questions accurately. These are the things that will determine your level of success at a top graduate school and at work, as a top manager, later on, and so they are the things you will really be tested on.

TIPS ON TAKING THE GMAT

Fisrt suggestion, take it before you actually need it! This means that if you are thinking of going to business schools 2 or 3 years down the line, do not wait to take he GMAT a couple of months before deadline. Take a few months now to study and prepare thoroughly and study in blocks. Then take the test without the pressure of “having to score high”.

The best way to improve your scores and your test taking abilities is to schedule short, less loaded study sesions over a long period before taking the test. A minimum of three months and as much as six preparing is recommendable.

So that brings us to our second tip: The sooner you start on the whole GMAT process, the better. Basically, try your best to get the GMAT out of the way. Scores are good for five years, so once you have managed to get the scores you need, you have enough time to relax and prepare for the bulk of the admissions process and rest of requirements. This takes off the pressure and the stress.

Says Jon with PowerScore “The best place to start always is to take a practice test……. you can actually go to the GMAT website and download two copies …. online….. just like the actual GMAT (omission)….. I would suggest taking one and just looking at the score, taking it under those timed conditions and trying as much as possible to replicate what the actual test would be like. That will give you a starting point, a baseline so to speak.”

Anxiety feeds on the fear of the unknown. Knowing before hand what you are getting into releases the feelings of anxiety and helps you to be more efficient when it matters: on test day.

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If this is the case with you, we will try to point you in the right direction as to which kind of coursework and preparation you may want to pursue before applying for a graduate MBA college program, and at this time we will breifly look at some excellent pre-MBA intensive preparation programs and schools.

Doing an Intensive pre-MBA Accelerated Course

Some of the best Business Accelarator programs can turn you into a suitable candidate for top MBA courses. There are hundreds of testimonies of science and arts undergraduates being admitted after pursuing top accelerated preparation programs for MBA applicants-to-be.

These programs are designed to help you get into the graduate business school of your choice. Instructors are trained to help you understand busines thinking and to make it relevant to you as part of your career objectives. After finishing any of these course, you will most probably be ready to pursue and MBA in any of the specialties offered nowadays, and more importantly, you will find out soon enough if an MBA really is the right step forward in your case, before spending more time and resources.

Our recommended pre-MBA courses and schools:

- UC Berkeley Extension
- Columbia University’s School of Continuing Education
- Vanderbilt University’s Business Accelerator

Says Keith Gatto, director of UC Berkeley Extension programs, “…this program helps…(omission) students kind of garnish their credential and make sure that they get into the graduate school of their choice.”

At the Columbia University’s School of Continuing Education students and staff alike agree that preparation courses at Columbia are very much like what you would face in your first year at any top ranked MBA or EMBA programme.

These pre-MBA preparation courses also aim at enhancing your undergraduate non business skills in relation to the real business world. In other words, inspite of your not having a heavy business background (or none at all), they will teach you how to transfer some of the non business skills you already have to creating real management solutions. For instance, problem solving, critical thinking, and psycological and emotional intelligence abilities, to mention only a few, can be turned into highly regarded managerial and business skills.

Programs like these will also boost your confidence when working in an environment that, to the non-initiated, may feel threatening and hostile.

MBA preparation programs will teach you the essencial of the business environement through courses such as initiation to management thinking or introduction to statistics which are very necessary for any MBA program. Then you move onto more complex courses like:

-organizational management,
-finance,
-macro economics,
-essentials of marketing,
-human resource management, and
-IT management

…to name a few.

So with a little help from some intensive and accreditted pre-business school preparation a Bio Engineer, a Psycologist, or an Architech can actually learn to think differently and more business like, and add more value to the overall quality of their application and to the MBA alumni itself than some candidates with 100% business backgrounds.

Says Gatto again “As a rule of thumb, if you’re thinking about going on for a higher education and a graduate degree I would say take a course or two and see if you really kind of gel with the academics and this is something that you really want.”

Related posts:

1. The GMAT and rest of MBA Admissions Requirements
2. Schulich Graduate Management Programs and Environmental Stewardship
3. Distance Learning MBA Graduate Programs

Requirements for distance MBA courses vary, and the factors to take into consideration, in comparison to full time programs and in-class courses, also vary. Their popularity is sky rocketting, but a little reserch is needed in order to make a sound decision.

Main Requirements of Top Online Distance Learning MBA Degrees

But, just what it is (or it is not) require of you when joining a distance learning program? And which programs will actually measure up to what is expected of top programs and business schools?

Let’s take it step by step. Most distance learning graduate courses are conducted online, so it goes without saying that you need to be computer and internet literate in order to be able to follow up with the courses demands and pace. But let’s not point out the obvious anymore. Any distance learning mba degree requires less time, money, effort, and overall dedication from those enrolled. Flexible programs and good return on investment are the main claims of most top distance online learning graduate programs, and the reason for their becoming more popular by the minute.

Top online or distance learning business schools, for their online courses, will ask of you to set forth good GMAT scores, letters of recommendation, and a good undergraduate GPA. However, these requirements might be a bit more lax than those of full time in-class programs.

What to Take into Consideration When Joining a Distance Learning Program

There are a number of different specialization distance learning courses to choose from. The best ranked distance MBA courses in the world offer top quality management education and the best possible value for money there is.

However, you need to conduct some research and make sure the institution, and mba programs you choose, is an accredited one and is well regarded in the business community. Making the wrong choice would mean wasting your money and time, not to mention the frustration tha comes with it.

Why are Distance Learning Courses so Popular?

Not only distance MBA courses have become popular, but all sort of distance management training. However, it is the MBA the one that has experienced the most rapid growth through distance learning facilities and schools. There existed in the past a huge demand for highly specialised managers for different sectors and industries. The demand exceded the supply since the only choice for aspiring top managers was that of a full time, in-class, program.

The tables have turn now, and all due to the appearance of distance learning management courses, and the all mightly Internet of course. The best Online MBA programs and business schools worldwide will qualify you and make you eligible for top managerial positions in companies all over. And all in less time and with less effort and money spent than that spent on a full time program.

Full time MBA degrees are not for everyone, nor are distance learning courses. Nonetheless, if you are one of those who can not leave their current job position (or whose resources are limited) in order to attain a higher education degree, then these type of distance training programs might be your only option. However, you can rest assure that quality is not lost in the process, and that with an accredited top online distance graduate program, you will also obtain the tools needed to boost your professional progression.

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1. Online MBA Graduate Courses vs. On-Campus Programs
2. Schulich Graduate Management Programs and Environmental Stewardship
3. Identifying the Best MBA Programs

Ever since the year 2000, the World Resources Institute has been assessing the value of MBA graduate degrees, aside from the usual criteria used in most case, also based on their teaching of social impact management, with focus on sustainable are eco-responsable management.

Alternative MBA School Rankings

Consequently, a research survey and alternative ranking of MBA graduate schools called Beyond Grey Pinstripes (linked to  ) was created. This alternative ranking list recognises the involment of business schools in social and environmental stewardship and the appropriate addition of these topics into the educational curriculae.

Beyond Grey Pinstripes 2010 listings have been issued recently. In there you will find the top full-time MBA programs from 100 different business colleges and schools from more than 15 different countries.

Schulich Position in the Ranking

Schulich School of Business ranked No. 1 this time around for the inclusion of environmental impact related issues into their graduate management curriculum. The Global Leadership Program and the Economic Development Project are the main differentiators, and competitive advantage, of the Schulich curricula. Schulich offers top business graduate programs all year-round at two Toronto campuses — the new complex on York University’s main campus and its downtown Miles S. Nadal Management Centre.

Stephen M. Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan was ranked No. 2, Yale School of Management took the third position, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business came in fourth.

Business Graduate Schools from Europe and Environmental Responsability

Prominent top ranked business schools from different european countries (IE Business School in Spain and Nottingham University Business School in the UK among many others) were also included on the list as a consequence of their development of responsible business education as a specialist area.

The Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking is a recognized and respected source (and resource) among world business leaders and business graduate schools globally.

Fortunately, value for money, average salary, and placement effectiveness (all very important of course) are not the only factors taken into account when assessing the real value of a top MBA graduate program. Businesses and other institutions enjoy a wide range of opportunities to put environmental stewardship into practice. The way businesses and organisations manage their operations, products and services offered to their customers as well as the projects and activities they support in their respective communities can play an important role in preserving the environment and the planet’s natural resources.

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If earning a place in the international business arena is something that lures you in and, in addition, you do not have much time to spare (or you simply can not stop working for long in order to earn a graduate degree) then this online MBA program in international business might just be the way to get there.

Why Pursue and Online MBA in Global Business?

Market globalization is creating a espectrum of numerous new posibilities and challenges for those who are prepared to take on them. Big corporations are in a constant struggle to maintain their global market shares, and even small and medium size organisations now understand that expanding internationally is the only way to turn a small enterprise into a multinational thriving venture.

Companies with an international presence require of their upper level managers to have the ability to cope with the ever changing rules and upheavals of the global markets. These managers must also be able to identify arising new opportunities for expansion (new markets oppenings appear on a daily basis everywhere) and have the sensitivity to deal with the different cultures and idiosincracies which the company is submerge in.

Prospect managers for these companies who hold an MBA in Global Business, needless to say, have a competitive advantage over those who do not.

What is this MBA Program in International Business all About?

Those who pursue an MBA degree in International and Global Business develop abilities related to market trends, international relations, the legal environment of international trade, and the nature of international trade and communications. Sociology, cultural anthropology, and international marketing are also some of the areas for which this graduate course will prepare you.

Generalized business skills in finance, business ethics, and operations management are also part of the program. And of course, there are many MBA online courses in international business that actually (and logically) offer study abroad opportunities, international interships, and short term exchange programs with international companies and other schools in order to bring the students into contact with real global business experiences.

Accelerated MBA Degrees are Well Regarded

Most of the top business schools in the world are aware of the need for accelerated MBA programs, since most graduate students are full time working adults with lots of strains and personal committments already. Earning an online MBA degree could be done in less time and for less cash, so their growth in popularity goes non-stop.With most top online accelerated MBA degrees students can earn their MBA in as little as 12 months.

Check out the different listings for Top MBA Online schools and programs, take your pick, apply, and good luck!.

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1 year MBA

Are 1 year MBA programs generally well regarded?

Many of these programs have not been actually evaluated by companies and organisations, or by prospect students for that matter. However, many of the best business schools worldwide are making these programs part of their educational offer and many more are planning on doing so in the near future. The reason behind this is that quality is not lost. Simple.

1 year accelerated graduate programs under the scope

The 1 year accelerated EMBA degrees growth in popularity has called the attention of leading research, informational, and educational institutions. Such as the Wall Street Journal, who recently ran a survey (with the assistance of Management Research Group and survey technicians Critical Insights) study to measure alumni overall satisfaction, quality of the programs, and students goals fulfilment rate with these graduate programs.

“We looked only at schools that have graduated four or more classes with 12 or more students. We eliminated schools where students had little or no work experience. Responses came in from 1,361 recent grads and 735 alumni. We asked students about everything from the programs’ flexibility to career services. And we pressed alumni on issues like the usefulness of the training in their careers and whether their degree protected them in the recession. (See the full methodology.)”

The results: Top ranked 1 year MBA courses

Nine European schools, five in the U.S. and one in Latin America.

The top five were:

At No. 1: IE Business School in Madrid

At No. 2: IMD in Switzerland

At No. 3: Cranfield School of Management, in the UK

At No. 4: Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, USA

At No. 5: Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, USA

The main strenghs appreciated by alumni, students, and employers-to-be were: 1-Networking opportunities, 2-placement assistance, 3-hefty international exposure, and 4-real hands-on-experience opportunities as part of the curriculae.

When asked why they would pursue a fast track MBA programme, students response (by 82% top of the list reason) was: “Ability to re-enter the work force faster”. Also, most surveyed alumni made the claim that none of the companies or organisations they approached after graduating regarded their 1 year MBA degree as a somewhat inferior option to any 2 year program.

In conclusion, the one MBA program suited for you does not have to be a full time 2 year program. You need to assess your motivations, skills, tastes, career projections and specially your access to sufficient resources (time and money). But, if in the end, the only option you have is that of an accelerated program, then rest assure that top business schools deliver lots of value for money (sometimes even more than what you get from a full time MBA) with their 1 year MBAs.

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Granted, many of the top EMBA programs deliver what’s needed to achieve the above, but which are they? Relaying on different sources and surveys published, we came up with a list of, and relevant information about, graduate business schools and programs which we think fit the profile. In turn, for this research, the different sources mainly conducted their surveys based on alumni and companies feedback about the best MBA schools worldwide.

The list is made up of 26 business schools which can offer the structure, curriculae, staff, and methods needed to produce top of the line business executives.

Leading the way we have Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, followed by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School

So, what makes Kellogg and Wharton better?

To begin with, companies love them. Companies, fancy business schools that deliver a quick ROI. In other words, they want recent MBA graduates to be able to apply what they had learned right away. The kind of manager material that comes out of those programs simply delivers what companies want. In practical terms, graduates from these two EMBA programs do the job. These two schools also rank pretty high in the student survey.

Students Choice of EMBA programs

More than 4000 students from more than 60 graduate programs (from over 10 countries) were polled on how well their program enhanced leadership and management skills. University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School ranks number one in the “student choice awards” list.

The results of these surveys were analyzed by The Wall Street Journal in collaboration with Management Research Group.

-Ranked number 3: Thunderbird School of Global Management
-Ranked number 4: University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, and
-Ranked number 5: University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School,

Also, four international schools made the overall list:

- From Spain: ESADE and IESE,
- IPADE, EMBA programs in Mexico;
- University of Western Ontario in Canada.

London Business School’s joint program with Columbia University’s Business School also appeared among the top 25.

Does your school deliver on its promise? We urge you to look at what companies and alumni are saying about their respective programs and then make your choice. After all, what matters in the end is how well you can do professionally after graduation.

Good luck.

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The registrars offices of University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Harvard Business School, University of Wales, or Kellogg are not the only ones being flooded with applications for admissions from all over the world.

Just look at the number of candidates taking the GMAT this year: 270 000. The flip side of things is that for the first time ever, applicants from outside the USA outnumber those from inside.

European top business schools do not scape this craze. Esade, IE, and the likes are steaming with applications for enrollment to their best graduate MBA programs.

However, and inspite of the large number of applicants (being reeled in by top schools themselves), MBA admission requirements anywhere are getting harder.

What do top business graduate colleges and schools pay attention to?

Applicants should pay more attention to the quality of their application and not so much to the quantity of candidates at any given point.

Admissions comittees treat every application individually and give more weight to a solid academic background, strong and relevant work experience, how much you can contribute to the overall quality of the clasess, and a very clear mission statement on your part in regards as to what you expect to gain from your graduate MBA training.

These factors above are totally under your control and they will determine how well assessed you will be as a candidate.

Tips for making enrollment to the best graduate schools easier for you.

1-Do not pay attention to the number of applicants. If you know, feel, or think that a particular MBA graduate program is the one for you, and that you have what it takes, both academically & professionally as well as personally, then just go for it.

2- If several of the best business schools MBA courses fit the profile you are looking for, then try to approach those that give you better chances of getting in based on your nationality, gender, race, or industry sector. Admissions comittees always aim to create well-rounded classes that ponder the diverseness in skills, talents, leadership abilities, backgrounds, personalities and other features students offer.

3- Prepare each admission pre-requisite as if you were the ONLY applicant. There is not a universal definition for “business skills”, business schools cluster each of their classes looking at one applicant at a time.

A condecorated female fire marshall most probably would not be competing for the same seat in an MBA graduate program with a young manager from a bank in Boston. Or an international applicant from an oil company in Venezuela would not be competing with a system analist from London.

Each person’s history, achievements, capability, mission statement, and potencial contribution to the class is different. So, each one is assessed separately.

You should also assess each school separately. Certain schools have a strong alumni presence in a city, region, country or in a particularly industry or sector. If you know where you want to end up, then it will be easier to find the path (b-school) to get there.

So how do I get in?

In conclusion, you stand better chances of being admitted to the best MBA graduate programs if you can manage not to think in terms of quantity but of quality. In other words, ignore how many people are applying for the same MBA program you are and focus on the quality of your application.

Pay attention to your undergraduate GPA, GMAT scores, and race/gender/industrial sector. Each school will assess each of these differently, so you need to find out which is your strongest point and approach those schools which put more weight there. Finally, make sure you can express clearly and in writing the following:

1-   what you expect to gain from the MBA, if you were accepted, and

2-   how you can contribute with creating a well rounded class. This basically means: what is your competitive advantage and why they should pick you. Just like a job interview.

Quality, not quantity. Good luck and go for it.

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2. How to prepare admissions to top MBA programs and schools
3. Online MBA degree in International and Global Business

Additionally, deciding among the wide range of top ranking MBA online schools may require some effort and reasearch on your part. Here we will try to pave the way a bit for you and help you to decide where to focus your efforts and resources.

Leading the way of online business schools rankings

The University of Phoenix is the world’s largest provider of MBA degrees online with way over 45000 students enrolled in their programs.

Inspite of these programs (U. of Phoenix) not having any international accreditation from recognised institutions such as Amba or Equis, or AACSB for that matter, they do comply with the quality standards set by most sectors, companies, and organisations who often benefit from the army of top managers that come out of these schools.

Top Ranked Online Global MBA Programs

IE Business School, Madrid, Spain. Global MBA Online.

Top european business schools are gaining ground against their american equals. Instituto de Empresa (IE) in Madrid heads up the list.

IE Global MBA Online program can be completed in about 15 months without pushing the students into taking a break in their professional careers. There are two one-week residential periods in Madrid. The objective of these is to have students interact with and get to know classmates, professors, and business leaders.

The aim of the Global MBA Online is to have students develop a profound understanding of the business world and to enhance their entrepreneurial prowess; the program also aims at developing the students analytical and problem solving capabilities like no other.

IE online graduate degree offers:

1-Innovative online teaching methods

2-Advanced, and culturally diverse platform for training global managers

3-Exposure to an international network of professional contacts

So, do Online MBA programs deliver what’s needed?

Students who have it rough to attend on-campus classes would probably see an online MBA degree as their only option. The offer of on line MBA programs becomes larger and more varied by the minute. But, BE CAREFUL! Although many of the online MBA programs are certified, recognised, legalised, and overall well regarded there are concerns about “diploma mills,” or online business schools without proper accreditation.

“There are now more fake online MBA programs in the U.S. than real ones,” “It’s an area that’s ripe for consumer fraud.” says Vicky Phillips, founder and CEO of GetEducated.com

How to judge which online MBA degree to go for?

We invite you to check our post “Online MBA a Clear Alternative to the Classroom” where you can find tips on how to pick the right MBA online program and online business schools. And our final advice: do some research, get informed, and go for it!

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