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- Clair: MBA
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Home | Student Profiles | Clair: MBA
World Wide Learn chatted with Clair about her experiences getting her MBA online, while juggling her career and family obligations.
Working mother works on her online MBA during her daily commute
Online MBA program offers flexibility necessary to maintain work-life balance
 Clair Menzies I am currently employed as an accountant/AP manager with Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit organization in New York. As a single mother, traveling to a campus to earn my MBA was not an option. I had to go back to school without jeopardizing my responsibilities at home. After researching a few online MBA programs, I decided to enroll at Regis University. |
World Wide Learn chatted with Clair about her experiences getting her MBA online, while juggling her career and family obligations.
| World Wide Learn: | What are your career aspirations? How does getting a degree fit into your plans? |
| Clair Menzies | My goal was to be a CPA. However, my bachelor's degree is in finance. In order to become a CPA I either had to earn another bachelor's degree in accounting or complete a master's degree in accounting. Earning a master's degree made sense because I would have both a BBA and an MBA - and fulfill my goal. I have joined the Institute of Management Accountants and I'm preparing to complete the CMA exam before taking the CPA exam. I believe having both credentials will make me more marketable. |
| World Wide Learn: | Why did you decide on an online degree program? |
| Clair Menzies | I have a nine-year-old daughter to care for and I couldn't find time to pursue an MBA the traditional way. Regis University's program is much more flexible, allowing me to go online as early as 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. I was able to complete assignments because I did not have to waste time traveling to school. I did my reading assignments as I rode to and from work each day on the train. It was great to accomplish all this... and still have time to spend with my daughter. |
| World Wide Learn: | What has surprised you so far about your program? What are some things that you hadn't expected? |
| Clair Menzies | The only thing that surprised me was the ease with which I was able to do group assignments. The groups I was assigned to worked together quite well. Everyone participated, so we submitted the assignments on time and received very good grades. |
| World Wide Learn: | How do you fit your coursework into your busy work schedule? How much time do you spend studying per week? |
| Clair Menzies | I usually did my coursework late at night after I had dinner, put my daughter to bed and was relaxed. I spent about three hours per night, a few nights per week. However, my Saturdays and Sundays were fully booked as I completed assignments and answered questions on the message board. |
| World Wide Learn: | What are some challenges you've faced with respect to your degree coursework? |
| Clair Menzies | I sometimes found it challenging to locate additional information on the web about the subject matter I was studying. Some things were easier to find than others. |
| World Wide Learn: | How was your experience communicating with instructors and students in a completely online environment? |
| Clair Menzies | It was quite easy to communicate with my instructors and other students. My instructors always responded to questions quickly. At the beginning of each session the instructors distributed their email addresses. Some would also include their phone numbers, so it was very easy to contact them. The classroom message board made it convenient to meet with other students as a group. The board was always there for us to post our questions or comments. And everyone participated and respected others' views. |
| World Wide Learn: | What advice would you give to someone considering earning a degree online? |
| Clair Menzies | Go for it. If you are not able to participate in a traditional program, don't let that hold you back from getting your degree. Online courses are very rewarding. You'll study the same material as an on-campus student, but you'll have the flexibility to choose your own hours. You will have to respond to each question posted on the message board (it's the only way the instructor knows that you participated), but the effort is worth it. You'll interact with people just as if you were in a classroom. You will have to be a self-starter in order to succeed. Nothing can stop you if you have the drive, determination and motivation to get your degree. |
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Related Links: - Regis University Online MBA program - Other Online MBA programs - Campus-based MBA programs - Online Accounting degree programs - Campus-based Accounting programs |
