Online MBA Programs: Are They Right for You?

Sabrina Segal: With a fresh degree in hand, what does the future hold for you? Will you be the next Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, or Bill Gates? Maybe in a decade or so--but let us slow down and look at your prospects for the next few years.

Sabrina Segal: Welcome. We will begin at the top of the hour!

Sabrina Segal: Hello, Jose. How are you tonight?

Jose Corraliza: Hi Sabrina. Very well. And you?

Sabrina Segal: Great, thank you! I am in Florida. Where are you located?

Jose Corraliza: I am in Brasilia at the moment.

Sabrina Segal: You speak Portuguese and English. Any other languages?

Sabrina Segal: I speak Spanish, English, and know some Russian, French & Italian.

Jose Corraliza: Well I am actually Spanish and speak French and some Portuguese.

Sabrina Segal: That makes life easier when you travel about!

Sabrina Segal: Hi Doug. Jose and I were talking about languages and locations...where are you right now?

Doug: Hi there.

Doug: I'm in the Bay Area.

Sabrina Segal: We are covering North & South America well tonight!

Jose Corraliza: Sabrina, unfortunately something just came up at work with the show. My apologies to you both. I will be back in 10 minutes.

Sabrina Segal: Gentlemen--you are here to learn about online education. Let us start with what YOU expect from a program? And then I can tell you how what we offer fits with your needs

Sabrina Segal: Ok, Jose

Sabrina Segal: Doug--what do you want out of an online MBA program?

Sabrina Segal: Hi Kerren

Doug: I would like to understand lots of stuff. One issue being, how would an employer view online MBAs vs. traditional MBAs (from a campus school)?

Sabrina Segal: We are talking about your expectations when it comes to an online program.

Sabrina Segal: Doug--15 years ago when online degrees were new and novel, my answer would be quite different. Today, with the acceptance of online EVERYTHING, an online degree is viewed the same way as a traditional one.

Sabrina Segal: I have had graduates hired at all sorts of different types of companies--Fortune 500s, little mom & pop businesses and EVERYTHING in between.

Kerren: What kinds of things are covered in an online MBA?

Doug: Got it - as to what I would like out of an online MBA program...I'd like to get a broad understanding of business that I can apply to my current job and future jobs (hopefully higher level).

Sabrina Segal: With big name schools out in the public eye offering online degrees, and almost every business person using the Internet, this is the time to be involved in a degree program.

Sabrina Segal: Kerren--in regards to your question, online MBAs cover everything that would be covered in a campus-based program.

Sabrina Segal: We at AIU Online have a number of different concentrations

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Operations Management

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Organizational Psychology and Development

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Project Management

Sabrina Segal: MBA-International Business

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Marketing

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Management

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Human Resource Management

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Healthcare Management

Kerren: What careers could one get in Organizational Psychology?

Sabrina Segal: MBA-Accounting and Finance

Sabrina Segal: PHEW....

Sabrina Segal: Doug and Kerren--which one of the concentrations looks like a good fit for you?

Sabrina Segal: Hi Greg

Sabrina Segal: How are you doing tonight, Greg?

Sabrina Segal: Viewing your degree journey from a broad perspective is imperative. While going through the various classes, it is easy to lose focus as to how these classes come together to provide you with the tools to realize continuing professional success. Accounting, Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship & International Business classes, to name just a few, provide the AIU Online graduate with a strong foundation upon which to build a glowing future.

Greg: Hi Sabrina, can you please give me an idea of the advantages an online degree would offer as opposed to a more traditional campus-based offering?

Sabrina Segal: OK--Let me share with you why I decided to teach online. After years of driving to campus, finding parking, and lugging my belongings to a classroom (that was either too cold or too hot) and following a schedule for each class meeting, I found a better way to do what I love. I sit at the pool and answer emails, plop down on the couch with my pink bunny slippers sipping a hot chocolate and interact with my students. My classroom comes with me. Where else will you find pink bunny slippers in the dress code?

Sabrina Segal: I gave you a good visual, Greg!

Sabrina Segal: Talk about convenience…in the past, you had to sit in a classroom according to a schedule regardless of having come from a rough day of work or having to miss a family member’s event, or miss class because of a wedding or birthday party. Those time concerns disappear in the online world. You have a week to complete assignments. You can log on at 3 in the morning in L.A., or at 7 AM in Beijing, or after work in London.

Sabrina Segal: Greg- are these the answers you were seeking?

Sabrina Segal: The best part about online classes-you are in control of your own schedule. No more stopping off for fast food after work and eating it while driving to class. On the road? Locate a WiFi hotspot, power-up the mobile computer and BAM you are in class- doesn’t matter if you are sitting in the airport in Phoenix or the coffee shop in Portland or even the front porch of your own house, the world is your classroom.

Greg: One of the things I would be concerned with related to an online degree is missing out on the one-on-one interactions and networking opportunities that a more traditional MBA program might offer. Thanks.

Sabrina Segal: Why are you planning to complete an MBA? Are you numbers-oriented, a people-person, a creative individual, or a do you possess that entrepreneurial spirit? Knowing the answer to this question is the first step toward finding a career path that is right for you.

sunsingh: I am curious--how do the MBA students get the experience of working in groups and teams together - I think that is an important part of MBA education!

Sabrina Segal: Greg-You will have unique opportunities to meet men and women from around the world, something that may not be possible in a traditional classroom. With the advent of the global economy, AIU brings you colleagues from across the street and across the planet.

Sabrina Segal: Sun Singh- every single class has a group project at AIU. We also think that group work is important. Our students also interact in other ways- through discussions and live chat sessions- we also have clubs and virtual lounges

Sabrina Segal: Greg- as a follow-up, we have clubs and many networking opportunities...but instead of being geographically based in one area, our networking possibilities are global

Sabrina Segal: Everything you can get in a traditional university classroom, you can get at an online school.

sunsingh: How do recruiters perceive the online MBAs? Are they sought after by top employers?

sunsingh: Do you have any specific numbers on employment records for online MBA graduates?

Sabrina Segal: Sun Singh- our graduates have been hired by multinational corporations, have started their own businesses and have continued on for doctoral degrees. Online degrees are HOT these days and HR people understand this in many companies.

Jose Corraliza: Hi Sabrina, I am back. My apologies for jumping out.

Sabrina Segal: Sun Singh- I can have that type of information sent to you, if you would like. I do not maintain job records--I just get great emails from my past students who tell me about their jobs and careers.

Sabrina Segal: Hi Jose

Sabrina Segal: Bryan, Kerren, you can feel free to jump in with questions.

Greg: Thanks for your insights Sabrina. How would you compare AIU to other online degree programs? What would you consider some of AIU's strengths related to other schools?

Sabrina Segal: Greg-our strengths at AIU are the people who work at and teach at the University. We are the exact opposite of the DRONING professor and the administrator who wants your ID number...

Sabrina Segal: What do AIU online students say about their school? The Priorities Survey for Online Learners measured the responses from 57,250 students attending 93 online institutions.

Sabrina Segal: 91% of AIU students responded positively when asked if their college experience met or exceeded their expectations.

Sabrina Segal: 90% of AIU students responded positively when asked to rate their satisfaction with their college experience thus far.

Bryan: If I wanted to start a small business would an MBA from AIU help me work out a business plan?

Sabrina Segal: This is info on a new survey that was just completed!

Sabrina Segal: Bryan- I can give you a great example. In class #3 of the MBA program, A Managerial Approach to Marketing, you actually create a Strategic Marketing Plan for a product/service or business...and I have had 3 students actually start their businesses and one got a government grant to expand one!

Sabrina Segal: So yes, Bryan, entrepreneurial efforts are supported in our MBA program

Sabrina Segal: The vast majority of AIU’s online students work full-time and have other outside responsibilities. The convenience of a flexible classroom setting allows for LIFE. As an undergraduate were you ever late for class because of the traffic or did you have to park at the far end of the parking lot and hike in the pouring rain or snow? Online classes are a lifestyle change. Just as you control the decision to attend AIU, you also control when and where your AIU classroom works for you.

Sabrina Segal: As an online student, you have much more control over your own time. You make decisions that work for you. Not ones that are made for you. You have 7 days to do the work for the week and you decide when that occurs.

Sabrina Segal: What do you expect from an online class?

Sabrina Segal: Feel free to jump in, no need to be shy or wait for others to finish typing...this is about asking questions, learning about the opportunities for you

Sabrina Segal: At AIU, we get to know our students. Ever sit in a lecture room at the University in which the professor could never attach a face to a name or to work? That impersonal treatment in a traditional classroom is something that is missing from the online classroom. I have a student in my class now who is incredibly brand loyal to Bounty paper towels. But what her friends may not know is that she was a messy kid and her mom always used Bounty and laughed about the spilled milk. I know that. I know about Pedro’s dream to open his own club in South Florida, and LaShanda’s plans to start a medical transcription company and work from home.

Bryan: Thanks for everything. This has been very informative.

Sabrina Segal: Bryan- perhaps we will meet in the classroom and you will be sending me an email in a year saying you started your business!

Jose Corraliza: What are the elements / requirements to join a program like this?

Sabrina Segal: Jose- each student is required to possess a 4 year degree as a basic entry into the program.

Sabrina Segal: There are other specific requirements that can be discussed with specialists.

Sabrina Segal: Jose- where do you attend University? What was your major?

Sabrina Segal: Jose- AIU will accept baccalaureate degrees earned with a CGPA of 2.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) from any United States institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or from internationally recognized foreign institutions of higher education. In the latter event, international transcripts or academic records must be translated into English, a process that can be facilitated by most U.S. embassies and consulates, and evaluated for U.S. equivalency. The earned baccalaureate degree and minimum CGPA requirements are required to be verified with the official transcript by the Student Records Department prior to a prospective student’s official acceptance into the Master’s degree program of study. In addition, the Academic Affairs department determines final acceptance to AIU graduate programs of study

Sabrina Segal: University admissions personnel evaluate all graduate applicants on an individual basis and recommend as students those individuals who provide evidence of satisfactory potential for graduate study. To assist the admissions personnel in making informed decisions regarding the recommendation for acceptance to the University, a qualitative admissions interview is required to assess a prospective student’s interest, desire, and motivation to be successful in an advanced degree program of study. A matriculation process is conducted in Academic Affairs to determine acceptance to AIU.

Sabrina Segal: Our staff makes the process flow well. There are specialists each step of the way to help you. When you do enroll, we have a fully-staffed online library, tech support, learning labs, advisors, etc.

Jose Corraliza: I did all my studies abroad so it was just different. I will seek for further help to validate this information so I do not take too much time from this group.

Sabrina Segal: An AIU Online MBA could open doors within your current company or lead to an entirely new field. The sky is the limit. People change jobs many times over a lifetime and sometimes that means following a different path.

Sabrina Segal: Jose- we have many students who studied outside of the US and have a specific team set up that is familiar with in international credentials

sunsingh: do you offer programs for international students - is there a different eligibility criteria?

Sabrina Segal: Sun Singh- for students who do not speak English as their native language, we do have options to assess English language skills

sunsingh: Ok - what about GPA requirements for international students?

Sabrina Segal: Prospective students whose first language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency prior to graduate admission. Accepted methods for the demonstration of English proficiency at AIU include TOEFL, University of Cambridge Local Examinations, Michigan English Language Assessment Battery, etc.

Sabrina Segal: AIU will accept baccalaureate degrees earned with a CGPA of 2.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) from any United States institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or from internationally recognized foreign institutions of higher education.. If the University from which you are transferring does not use a 4.0 system, the company that assesses your transcript can assist in the matter of GPA assessment.

Sabrina Segal: international transcripts or academic records must be translated into English, a process that can be facilitated by most U.S. embassies and consulates, and evaluated for U.S. equivalency. The earned baccalaureate degree and minimum CGPA requirements are required to be verified with the official transcript by the Student Records Department prior to a prospective student’s official acceptance into the Master’s degree program of study

sunsingh: thank you for the details and clarifications.

Sabrina Segal: As I said, I have taught students on 6 of the 7 continents, many of whom have earned undergraduate degrees outside of the US.

Sabrina Segal: What is going on in the fast-changing business world? Keeping abreast of trends will provide the edge you need to get ahead. We will be exploring shifting paradigms and hot button issues. You’ll get a better national and global perspective from experts and colleagues alike. This is certainly a thrilling time to be stepping up your career plans.

Jose Corraliza: Do you take into consideration the working experience of the students during the selection process apart from the qualifications?

Sabrina Segal: What concentration interests you as far as an MBA is concerned? This question is for everyone

Sabrina Segal: Jose- work experience and other qualitative criteria go into the admissions decision.

Sabrina Segal: Jose-To assist the admissions personnel in making informed decisions regarding the recommendation for acceptance to the University, a qualitative admissions interview is required to assess a prospective student’s interest, desire, and motivation to be successful in an advanced degree program of study.

Sabrina Segal: Each morning I wake up excited about heading to the computer to find out what Oscar in Iraq has planned for his company, or what Susie in Japan has done with her marketing plan, or what about Jim in Alabama, Karima in Chicago, Viet in Las Vegas? My students represent people from all walks of life on six continents around the globe from 20-somethings to grandparents (and everyone in between).

Sabrina Segal: I really enjoy teaching students from all over the world. I have taught on campus in Shanghai, China and Manaus Brazil-- and I have met students from many different places--it is truly exciting to be able to meet so many students in a virtual classroom!

Sabrina Segal: Jose is in Brasilia, I am in Florida, Doug is in California....

Sabrina Segal: Any more questions from anyone?

sunsingh: I am from India ...

Sabrina Segal: We are a truly global group this evening

Doug: This has been extremely enlightening. Thanks so much!

Jose Corraliza: Where should we direct the presentation letter to have an entry interview?

Sabrina Segal: When you sit at home thinking of attending the University down the street? How much international expertise do you think you will get? How many different perspectives?

Doug: Not much

Jose Corraliza: I agree

Sabrina Segal: Jose- you may begin on this webpage - http://www.aiuonline.edu/

Jose Corraliza: Thank you

Sabrina Segal: Click on ADMISSIONS and you can begin the paperwork.

Doug: I have to run - thanks again for this. Very helpful.

Sabrina Segal: Doug- take care and I hope to see you in classes in a few months

Sabrina Segal: Kerren- Are you still with us?

Sabrina Segal: SunSingh- have I addressed your questions this evening?

Kerren: Yes, thank you. Very interesting.

sunsingh: Thanks Sabrina ...

Sabrina Segal: Kerren- do you have any more questions I can answer?

Greg: Sabrina, thanks for all your help tonight. I have to run but really appreciate your insight.

Transcript: AIU Online Professor Demystifies the Distance Learning MBA