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4 Student Services Online MBA Students Need

By U.S. News & World Report

Employees who need an MBA to get a promotion or change jobs may find an online program valuable and suited to the demands of their work schedules.

Earning an MBA is about more than just learning relevant academic material; it’s about positioning oneself for career success by gaining access to well-connected individuals and valuable resources. The following support services should be components of any online MBA program students pursue.

1. Networking opportunities: Networking is as important for online MBA students as it is for those in traditional classrooms.

[Explore five questions to ask about networking in online MBA programs.]

Many MBA programs require that online students complete an on-campus experience over a few weekends or longer, providing a chance to interact with each other and faculty. Networking is not just about collecting business cards or gaining social media connections but also having meaningful conversations that translate into collaboration in school and potentially in the workplace after graduation.

Even if they don’t initially meet face to face, online students should strategically plan to build a network. Faculty may use LinkedIn to teach students how to do so virtually. Students can also use the social media platform to connect with classmates, and groups allow people with similar interests to interact. Joining one and asking questions can be informative. Another way to network is through virtual career fairs offered by universities or companies, which can typically be found through an online search.

Online courses are designed to get students interacting with each other. Peer-to-peer and team-based assignments are valuable to help them foster relationships.

[Learn how to interact successfully with professors and students in online courses.]

2. Career counseling: Online MBA students often aim to move into managerial roles or launch a business career. Career counselors may use virtual collaboration tools to help students find new career paths. Initial synchronous, or live, videoconferencing conversations on creating or improving resumes are vital to success for online MBA students.

A career counselor’s experience with the student via videoconference will provide a framework to discuss his or her interview skills. In many companies, first-round interviews are conducted virtually. Online MBA students’ experience with synchronous videoconferencing in both their coursework and while working with career counselors can help them succeed during those interviews.

3. Writing center: Irrespective of the field business graduates ultimately pursue, good writing skills are invaluable. MBA students need a writing center to help them communicate big ideas. White papers, position papers or business plans might be typical examples.

Traditional students can visit drop-in centers or meet with a professor to get help with writing. However, online students usually don’t have those in-person student support services. Look for online MBA programs that have writing centers geared to the needs and schedules of students.

4. Alumni connections: Many alumni are eager to help and mentor students, including those online, from their alma mater. Most online MBA students already have the job experience and relevant education needed for positions at diverse organizations, making it far easier for alumni to provide direct employment assistance rather just informational interviews.

Students studying remotely typically cannot connect with involved or visiting alumni in person at a student dining hall or campus lecture. Instead, online students may ask their schools for access to alumni lists. They can also request remote access to interesting on-campus lectures by alumni or others and then follow up via email or LinkedIn.

The takeaway: To get the most out of online business school, students need to be conscientious about learning and networking and strategic about using the school’s resources.

More from U.S. News

5 Questions to Ask About Student Services in Online Programs

Check Out Library Services as an Online Student

4 Tips for Using Support Services as an Online Student

4 Student Services Online MBA Students Need originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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