Went to a commencement this past weekend and was very disappointed because the speeches given were cliché-ridden – overloaded and too long, with the kind of advice that we’ve heard throughout our lives – with nothing unique or awe inspiring to take home.
What would I have said?
The easy part of your life has just come to a quick end. Going to school on loans or your parents’ dime – working a part-time job, etc. – these will go down in your history as the least stressful years you will ever experience. Unless you have a benefactor, you will need to support yourself through real, full-time work. The overabundant good times are basically over. If, however, you are one of those students who worked your way through college on your own without any help from the outside, you already know what it is like to support yourself. You should be given a special award beyond and above any of the academic achievement awards that are being given out today.
Grades, by the way, don’t really mean anything anyway. However, that piece of paper you are about to receive does carry some weight. It will get you in the door.
Many of you will work in occupations that have no relation to what you studied in college.
Get on the global bandwagon – realize that there are hundreds of millions of people who are less fortunate than you.
Stop whining about the poor economy. Find a happy balance between work and play that works for you and allows you to pay your bills on time. That is all you really need to know.
Keep studying – get your master’s degree. That’s another piece of paper that will get your foot in the door.
End of commencement speech.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Create Your Own Ranking System
If you do an online search using key words such as “top online MBA programs” or “best online MBA programs” you will more than likely get results that link you to sites that have bogus ranking systems for online MBA programs. Basically, a ranking system that can inform you about the academic quality of any online MBA program has not been created.
The portals to online MBA programs typically do not have any information online about what kind of learning outcomes students can expect, nor any detailed information about faculty, students and alumni from any of these programs. That’s why throughout the eBook I repeatedly advise prospective students to call the programs directly and ask a lot of questions. Here’s a short list:
- Can you supply me with some detailed information about what your courses cover, especially during the early portion of the program requirements?
- How does your program keep up with the latest developments in the world of business? Are there any courses, for instance, that you would consider to be modern?
- How will the curriculum help to advance my career?
- Do you have any information about the faculty who will be teaching these courses? Can you send me their curriculum vitas? Do any of your faculty have websites that I can review?
- Are there any alumni you can connect me with, via e-mail, perhaps?
- What kind of career services do you provide to your online learners? Do you provide these services after graduation?
This isn’t rocket science, of course, but if you come up with a list of schools that interest you (use the portal to find them), and then communicate with them as noted above, you can devise your own ranking system for ultimately making a wise choice.
The portals to online MBA programs typically do not have any information online about what kind of learning outcomes students can expect, nor any detailed information about faculty, students and alumni from any of these programs. That’s why throughout the eBook I repeatedly advise prospective students to call the programs directly and ask a lot of questions. Here’s a short list:
- Can you supply me with some detailed information about what your courses cover, especially during the early portion of the program requirements?
- How does your program keep up with the latest developments in the world of business? Are there any courses, for instance, that you would consider to be modern?
- How will the curriculum help to advance my career?
- Do you have any information about the faculty who will be teaching these courses? Can you send me their curriculum vitas? Do any of your faculty have websites that I can review?
- Are there any alumni you can connect me with, via e-mail, perhaps?
- What kind of career services do you provide to your online learners? Do you provide these services after graduation?
This isn’t rocket science, of course, but if you come up with a list of schools that interest you (use the portal to find them), and then communicate with them as noted above, you can devise your own ranking system for ultimately making a wise choice.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
New Development with EdPath
In addition to the newly revised online MBA portal site, I have revamped my other web pages for Educational Pathways (EdPath), an online newsletter I have been writing, editing and publishing since January 2002. EdPath features hundreds of feature articles about online teaching and learning, education technology, information literacy, the globalization of higher education, and much more.
More about online MBA stuff coming in future posts.
More about online MBA stuff coming in future posts.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
About Choosing an Online MBA program
From Chapter 20 of Free eBook, "Everything You Need to Know About Earning an MBA Online," available at http://www.edpath.com/onlinemba.html
On Choosing
Many prospective students get all caught up in an institution’s brand-name recognition. However, my opinion is that you should not make that your primary decision factor. You can get an excellent education from many not-so-highly-recognized institutions.
The institutions with the big academic reputations may give you a better chance of obtaining the best jobs, but they also come with the highest price tags. It’s a tough decision to make. Personally, I would send my application to only those programs that impressed me with details about what I will ultimately learn from the faculty and students, how it will affect my lifelong learning goals, and how it will advance both my career and personal aspirations. All these things are much more important than a program’s brand-name recognition and perceived value in the job marketplace.
In the final analysis with regard to choosing an online MBA program, it really all depends on the individual. Therer are two all-important questions to consider: Where you want to take your career, and are looking for a credential or knowledge?
On Choosing
Many prospective students get all caught up in an institution’s brand-name recognition. However, my opinion is that you should not make that your primary decision factor. You can get an excellent education from many not-so-highly-recognized institutions.
The institutions with the big academic reputations may give you a better chance of obtaining the best jobs, but they also come with the highest price tags. It’s a tough decision to make. Personally, I would send my application to only those programs that impressed me with details about what I will ultimately learn from the faculty and students, how it will affect my lifelong learning goals, and how it will advance both my career and personal aspirations. All these things are much more important than a program’s brand-name recognition and perceived value in the job marketplace.
In the final analysis with regard to choosing an online MBA program, it really all depends on the individual. Therer are two all-important questions to consider: Where you want to take your career, and are looking for a credential or knowledge?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
More About the New Website
The reception so far has been very positive. The online MBA website is really quite unique in the world of online MBA portals. The free eBook, for example, is very extensive with valuable information for prospective online MBA students -unlike any other information resource on this topic. Plus the straight forward listing with direct links to all the online MBA progam websites makes it easy for prospective students to navigate to those programs that interest them most.
Plans are to add on a special section to the site covering international online MBA programs such as Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada, Heriot Watt University in the UK, and many others I'm starting to learn about.
Not long ago I spoke with a Canadian citizen who asked me about a program from the UK, and I was unable to give him any advice. I'm hoping that my research into these other programs offered by institutions outside of the US will get me up to speed soon. After all, we live in a global society and global marketplace.
Plans are to add on a special section to the site covering international online MBA programs such as Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada, Heriot Watt University in the UK, and many others I'm starting to learn about.
Not long ago I spoke with a Canadian citizen who asked me about a program from the UK, and I was unable to give him any advice. I'm hoping that my research into these other programs offered by institutions outside of the US will get me up to speed soon. After all, we live in a global society and global marketplace.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Press Release on Business Wire
The press release copied below, announcing the guide to online MBA progams website, went live today on Business Wire.
Educational Pathways Publishes Guide to Online MBA Programs Website Featuring Free eBook and Listings with Links to All Programs in the U.S.
CLARENCE CENTER, NY: A new website featuring a free eBook about everything prospective adult students need to know about earning an MBA online, along with an extensive listing with direct links to all the online MBA programs offered by institutions in the U.S. is now available at www.edpath.com/onlinemba.html.
George Lorenzo, education journalist, author and editor of Educational Pathways and president and CEO of Lorenzo Associates, Inc., created this unique resource covering online MBA programs. “If you are thinking about enrolling in an online MBA program, this website has all the information you’ll need to choose a program that best fits your lifestyle and finances,” Lorenzo said.
The free eBook is comprised of 20 chapters , with information about finding, choosing, applying to, getting financial aid for, and ultimately succeeding in an online MBA program. “I covered every aspect of the decision-making process along with what skills and habits are needed in order to become a successful online student ,” Lorenzo said, adding that he interviewed administrators, students and faculty of online MBA programs from all over the U.S. and Canada. Chapter 19 of the eBook features 14 online MBA students from eight institutions talking about how they chose the program they enrolled in and what they experienced as online learners. They also provide a good deal of advice and information about how their education impacted their careers.
The listing of online MBA degree programs provides visitors with direct links to 111 institutions offering online MBA programs, listed in alphabetical order by state and city, along with accreditation status and specializations offered. Visitors click on the institution’s name to be taken directly to the each program’s website.
“The driving force behind this endeavor is to provide a thorough, straight-forward resource for prospective students to make a decision about the right online program to pursue,” Lorenzo said. “Visitors simply read through the well-researched information in the eBook, utilize the extensive listing to link directly to the program websites for more information, and then contact the programs that interest them. Next, they are advised to make a connection with a program counselor to further investigate whether an online MBA program is actually a right match for them.”
Lorenzo added that there is no ranking service provided on this new online MBA website. “This site basically helps prospective students develop their own ranking system of online MBA programs and then chose according to their personal needs and goals.”
About Educational Pathways: Educational Pathways (EdPath) develops resources for educators and online learners that are published by Lorenzo Associates, Inc., a New York State corporation in Clarence Center, NY. Lorenzo Associates, Inc., also provides research, writing, editing and publishing services for select clients in the education sector. For more information, see www.edpath.com.
Contact:
George Lorenzo
Educational Pathways
info@edpath.com
716-741-2271
####
Educational Pathways Publishes Guide to Online MBA Programs Website Featuring Free eBook and Listings with Links to All Programs in the U.S.
CLARENCE CENTER, NY: A new website featuring a free eBook about everything prospective adult students need to know about earning an MBA online, along with an extensive listing with direct links to all the online MBA programs offered by institutions in the U.S. is now available at www.edpath.com/onlinemba.html.
George Lorenzo, education journalist, author and editor of Educational Pathways and president and CEO of Lorenzo Associates, Inc., created this unique resource covering online MBA programs. “If you are thinking about enrolling in an online MBA program, this website has all the information you’ll need to choose a program that best fits your lifestyle and finances,” Lorenzo said.
The free eBook is comprised of 20 chapters , with information about finding, choosing, applying to, getting financial aid for, and ultimately succeeding in an online MBA program. “I covered every aspect of the decision-making process along with what skills and habits are needed in order to become a successful online student ,” Lorenzo said, adding that he interviewed administrators, students and faculty of online MBA programs from all over the U.S. and Canada. Chapter 19 of the eBook features 14 online MBA students from eight institutions talking about how they chose the program they enrolled in and what they experienced as online learners. They also provide a good deal of advice and information about how their education impacted their careers.
The listing of online MBA degree programs provides visitors with direct links to 111 institutions offering online MBA programs, listed in alphabetical order by state and city, along with accreditation status and specializations offered. Visitors click on the institution’s name to be taken directly to the each program’s website.
“The driving force behind this endeavor is to provide a thorough, straight-forward resource for prospective students to make a decision about the right online program to pursue,” Lorenzo said. “Visitors simply read through the well-researched information in the eBook, utilize the extensive listing to link directly to the program websites for more information, and then contact the programs that interest them. Next, they are advised to make a connection with a program counselor to further investigate whether an online MBA program is actually a right match for them.”
Lorenzo added that there is no ranking service provided on this new online MBA website. “This site basically helps prospective students develop their own ranking system of online MBA programs and then chose according to their personal needs and goals.”
About Educational Pathways: Educational Pathways (EdPath) develops resources for educators and online learners that are published by Lorenzo Associates, Inc., a New York State corporation in Clarence Center, NY. Lorenzo Associates, Inc., also provides research, writing, editing and publishing services for select clients in the education sector. For more information, see www.edpath.com.
Contact:
George Lorenzo
Educational Pathways
info@edpath.com
716-741-2271
####
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Announcing New Online MBA Portal
Hi:
This is the first post, announcing the redesign of my Online MBA website, featuring a free eBook that covers pretty much everything you need to know about earning an MBA online, along with a free listing of all the online MBA programs that are offered by institutions in the U.S. The list includes easily accessible direct links to each online MBA program.
Much more to come very soon. Please stay tuned!
This is the first post, announcing the redesign of my Online MBA website, featuring a free eBook that covers pretty much everything you need to know about earning an MBA online, along with a free listing of all the online MBA programs that are offered by institutions in the U.S. The list includes easily accessible direct links to each online MBA program.
Much more to come very soon. Please stay tuned!
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