Higher education for a busy single mom?
September 7, 2006 6:37 PM Subscribe
MBA or alternative for a busy single mother executive?
My sister went from high school straight into retail work. Twenty years later she is now a very successful and busy single mother. She has an executive level position doing HR work for a company that operates several large well-known retail clothing chains.
While her employers seem comfortable with her qualifications and her ability to do the work(two big promotions in the last year), more and more she is being asked, "So, where did you do your MBA?" The old "school of hard knocks" response has become quite stale.
She would like to do something about this but is not sure where to start. MBA? Open enrollment? Online programs? Compressed programs for the busy exec? Degrees, diplomas or certificates? Basically, she would like to complete a program that will add to her resume, be of practical use and that could be completed in a relatively short time frame with as little travelling as possible. I know a bit about the schools here in Canada but almost nothing about what is available in the U.S. where she is now located(Columbus, Ohio).
I don't know why, but she's looking to me for some advice. So now I'm asking you. Do you know of any programs that you think might be appropriate? Any success stories to relate?
My sister went from high school straight into retail work. Twenty years later she is now a very successful and busy single mother. She has an executive level position doing HR work for a company that operates several large well-known retail clothing chains.
While her employers seem comfortable with her qualifications and her ability to do the work(two big promotions in the last year), more and more she is being asked, "So, where did you do your MBA?" The old "school of hard knocks" response has become quite stale.
She would like to do something about this but is not sure where to start. MBA? Open enrollment? Online programs? Compressed programs for the busy exec? Degrees, diplomas or certificates? Basically, she would like to complete a program that will add to her resume, be of practical use and that could be completed in a relatively short time frame with as little travelling as possible. I know a bit about the schools here in Canada but almost nothing about what is available in the U.S. where she is now located(Columbus, Ohio).
I don't know why, but she's looking to me for some advice. So now I'm asking you. Do you know of any programs that you think might be appropriate? Any success stories to relate?
University of Phoenix offers this, but I've heard it's bloody expensive.
posted by Kickstart70 at 6:48 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by Kickstart70 at 6:48 PM on September 7, 2006
Response by poster: No Bachelors. She has no post-secondary education. She's just really really good at what she does. Money is not really an issue at this stage. Bloody expensive is fine. Phoenix not so much. And I should probably add that we have looked at a number of sites that compare and rate MBA type programs. I have no trouble finding those.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 7:00 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by shoesfullofdust at 7:00 PM on September 7, 2006
you may have missed that university of phoenix offers courses online.
posted by noloveforned at 7:29 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by noloveforned at 7:29 PM on September 7, 2006
FWIW, the U of P place I suggested has campuses all over the place and I think does some distance work as well. I know they've even got a campus here in Vancouver BC.
posted by Kickstart70 at 7:30 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by Kickstart70 at 7:30 PM on September 7, 2006
Response by poster: Sorry Kickstart70. This is just the sort of thing we're looking for. Thanks.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 7:39 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by shoesfullofdust at 7:39 PM on September 7, 2006
No problem.
Curious though...when you settle on something and find out the final total cost, can you let me know what that is?
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:31 PM on September 7, 2006
Curious though...when you settle on something and find out the final total cost, can you let me know what that is?
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:31 PM on September 7, 2006
She should look for an Executive MBA at a good school. Don't go to UOP, because many employers discount it. It doesn't matter how good the instruction is if employers disregard the degree.
Some EMBA programs will admit people who do not have degrees if they have solid management experience, a good GMAT, great references and the like. A few people in my EMBA met these criteria are were admitted. Some of them had to work harder, but they made it through.
I don't recommend online EMBAs. You don't get to do much networking and, again, employers may not pay them much attention.
If your sister just wants to get an undergrad degree, though, she can probably go through an online program. Employers won't dig as deep to find out if it was online and the networking probably isn't as important to her at that point.
posted by acoutu at 10:14 PM on September 7, 2006
Some EMBA programs will admit people who do not have degrees if they have solid management experience, a good GMAT, great references and the like. A few people in my EMBA met these criteria are were admitted. Some of them had to work harder, but they made it through.
I don't recommend online EMBAs. You don't get to do much networking and, again, employers may not pay them much attention.
If your sister just wants to get an undergrad degree, though, she can probably go through an online program. Employers won't dig as deep to find out if it was online and the networking probably isn't as important to her at that point.
posted by acoutu at 10:14 PM on September 7, 2006
She might also consider doing one of those Wharton, Stanford, Chicago or other big-name executive education retreats that take a few weeks (on campus). Then she can just say "Oh, Wharton Executive Leadership Program" (or whatever works). There are also regional programs at smaller schools -- which are probably fine, if she doesn't need quite the same name dropping power.
posted by acoutu at 10:17 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by acoutu at 10:17 PM on September 7, 2006
Second acoutu (both times).
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:45 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:45 PM on September 7, 2006
She could try Empire State College. They have a combined BA/MBA program, although she would have to do a few weekends on their campus when she gets to the MBA level. She could also do a BA completely online, they have a Business degree with an HR concentration.
When she first enrolls, she can talk with a mentor about her current work experience, and they'll translate that into college credit. She'd almost certainly get credit for lower level management courses, and would therefore be able to get the degree in a shorter time.
posted by saffry at 7:23 AM on September 8, 2006
When she first enrolls, she can talk with a mentor about her current work experience, and they'll translate that into college credit. She'd almost certainly get credit for lower level management courses, and would therefore be able to get the degree in a shorter time.
posted by saffry at 7:23 AM on September 8, 2006
University of Phoenix is regarded as a diploma mill and they're spamming fuckwits to boot. The value of a degree from them will range from zero at best and negative (perceiving the holder as a poor decision maker) at worst.
posted by phearlez at 9:01 AM on September 8, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by phearlez at 9:01 AM on September 8, 2006 [1 favorite]
This may not answer the question that was asked (I do that below), so my apologies for violating the MeFi rules, but I really think that getting an MBA because random people are asking if she has one is not a good reason. First off, she may have a hard time geting into many classroom-based MBA programs (not talking about Exec ed programs) without her BA. If she's in her late 30's/early 40's, she's at that age before the MBA became all "standard" and whatnot. When I was looking to apply, I spoke to all of my old managers (same age as your sister) about their views and they all explained that when they were younger, it just wasn't viewed as necessary, so they never got it and have been fine. I think she's probably okay in not having it, and can simply say, "I went straight into the workforce and did not go to graduate school." Also, with 20 years experience, an MBA is probably not going to add much value. She'd be better off with an executive MBA or a training course.
But, to answer your question, Villanova offers an online certificate in HR management . They say you don't need a BA, so that could be a good option. There are probably others though. The Villanova program is taught by actual Villanova profs, and Villanova is a decent school (at least I think it is, I don't know all that much about it).
Finally, I would do some research on the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) site. There's a senior HR professional certificate that she can get (like a test she has to take and pass I think). There's also a whole portion of the site focusing on education. Lastly, SHRM offers Exec Ed programs. They look sort of pricey, but I think you can do them quickly (like in a weekend) and a program from SHRM will probably look way better on a resume than one from UofP.
posted by ml98tu at 11:41 AM on September 8, 2006
But, to answer your question, Villanova offers an online certificate in HR management . They say you don't need a BA, so that could be a good option. There are probably others though. The Villanova program is taught by actual Villanova profs, and Villanova is a decent school (at least I think it is, I don't know all that much about it).
Finally, I would do some research on the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) site. There's a senior HR professional certificate that she can get (like a test she has to take and pass I think). There's also a whole portion of the site focusing on education. Lastly, SHRM offers Exec Ed programs. They look sort of pricey, but I think you can do them quickly (like in a weekend) and a program from SHRM will probably look way better on a resume than one from UofP.
posted by ml98tu at 11:41 AM on September 8, 2006
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No Bachelors though?
posted by bitdamaged at 6:45 PM on September 7, 2006