Free Wi-Fi

Get Free Wi-Fi at restaurants/retail locations in your neighborhood. If you are homeschooling online then you can do school anywhere.

• Panera Bread
• Brueggers Bagels
• Courtyard by Marriott (for guests)
• Caribou Coffee
• Office Depot
• McDonalds
• CompUSA
• Vons Grocery Stores
• Staples
• Fazolis
• Starbucks
• The Apple Store
• Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
• Fed Ex Offices
• Whole Foods

Contact individual stores to confirm access. Many public libraries are also offering free wi-fi. While we were traveling to Boston last spring, we were able to get library cards and wi-fi access at the Boston downtown public library. We were able to enjoy a beautiful historic building, complete homeschooling online and check our email too!

Financial Times FT MBA rankings 2008

How The Financial Times Establish MBA 2008 Rankings

Most Online MBA Course potential students researched on the MBA rankings of the online MBA course that they are interested in to see if the MBA program is considered one of the top rank MBA. One of the established business magazine that publish these MBA rankings annually is The Financial Times (FT). How exactly does The Financial Times (FT) established the MBA rankings for the various certified MBA programs and online MBA courses?

The Financial Times (FT) used a number of key indexes to establish the MBA rankings of the various certified MBA programs and online MBA courses. The Financial Times ranking of MBA programs are based on KPMGҀs audit of the MBA schools, and these key indexes sometimes vary from year to year.

The followings are the key indexes used by The Financial Times (FT) for its 2008 MBA rankings. The weights of the respective index for the MBA rankings are indicated in brackets.

1. Weighted salary of the MBA graduates (20)

This is the average alumni salary today of the certified MBA or Online MBA Course. This MBA graduate salary is adjusted for variations between industry sectors and include data for the current year and the one or two preceeding years.

2. Salary percentage increase (20)

The Financial Times (FT) put equal weights on the salary percentage increase of an MBA graduate. This seems to be justified considering that most MBA aspiring students who pursue a certified MBA program or Online MBA course hopes to not only recover the cost of investment but to a significant salary increment upon graduating from the certified MBA program.

This data of salary percentage increase refers to the percentage increase of average alumni salary from before the MBA to today as a percentage of the pre-MBA salary. This figure includes data for the current year and the one or two preceding years where available.

3. Value for money (3)

All students who pursue an Online MBA Course hopes to derive some value for money out of their MBA studies. This index encompasses the salary earned by MBA graduate today, course length, fees and other costs, including the opportunity cost of not working for the duration of the course.
4. Career progress (3)

Anyone who pursue an Online MBA Course hopes to see some progress in their career. Pursuing an Online MBA Course is an expensive investment, and it is not likely that anyone would pursue it purely for the purpose of passing time or just to gain new knowledge.

That is why Financial Times (FT) included this index as part of their MBA ranking calculations. This is calculated according to changes in the level of seniority and the size of the company MBA graduates are working in now versus before their MBA. Data for the current year and the one or two preceding years are included where available.

5. Aims achieved (3)

Everyone who pursue a certified MBA or an Online MBA Course, hope to achieve different aim out of their MBA Course. This index is the extent to which MBA graduates fulfilled their goals or reasons for doing an MBA.

6. Placement success (2)

Many schools that offer Online MBA Course or a certified MBA program also offers job placement for their MBA graduate. MBA graduates who used the careers service at their business school were asked to rank its effectiveness in their job search. This figure includes data for the current year and the one or two preceding years where available.

7. Employed at three months (2)

To be employed within three months seem to be a standard gauge to not only the effectiveness of the Online MBA Course or certified MBA program, but also an indicator to the economic health of the industry. All being equal, Financial Times (FT) include this index in calculation of MBA ranking in terms of the percentage of the most recent graduating class that had found employment or accepted a job offer within three months of graduation.

8. Alumni recommend (2)

Alumni were asked to name three business schools from which they would recruit MBA graduates. The ranking is calculated according to the number of votes for each school.

9. Women faculty (2)

Percentage of female faculty that offers the Online MBA Course or certified MBA program

10. Women students (2)

Percentage of female students that pursue the Online MBA Course or certified MBA program

11. Women board (1)

Percentage of female members of the advisory board of the business school that is offering the Online MBA Course or certified MBA program

12. International faculty (4)

Percentage of faculty whose citizenship differs from their country of employment.

13. International students (4)

Percentage of MBA students whose citizenship differs from the country in which they are studying.

14. International board (2)

Percentage of the board whose citizenship differs from the country in which the business school is based.

15. International mobility (6)

This is calculated according to whether the Online MBA Course graduate worked in different countries before the MBA, on graduation and also where they are employed today.

16. International experience (2)

Weighted average of four criteria that measure international exposure during the certified MBA program or Online MBA Course

17. Languages (2)

Number of extra languages required on completion of the certified MBA program or Online MBA Course. Where a proportion of MBA students require a further language due to an additional diploma, that figure is included in the calculations but not presented in the final MBA ranking.

18. Faculty with doctorates (5)

Percentage of faculty with a doctoral degree.

19. FT doctoral rank (5)

This is calculated according to the number of doctoral graduates from each business school during the past three years. Additional points are given if these doctoral graduates took up faculty positions at one of the top 50 full-time MBA schools of 2007.

19. FT research rank (10)

This is calculated according to the number of faculty publications in 40 international academic and practitioner journals. Points are awarded to the business school at which the author is currently employed. The total is weighted for faculty size.


There are also other information provided in the Financial Times MBA ranking such as the salary today of an MBA graduates and other information. Among some of the top 40 MBA ranking that we have previously published on this Online MBA Course site includes:


University of Phoenix

Robert Kennedy College, University of Wales

Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University

Please also check out the London School of Business & Finance which is also ranked highly in Financial Times MBA ranking for the year 2008.

Online MBA Course Review at London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)

London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) offers one of the best online MBA programs that is providing Certified MBA Course. This article is a review of the Certified MBA Course provided by London School of Business & Finance (LSBF).

About London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)

London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) is located in the heart of Central London. Studying in London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) offers students with the exciting experience from a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. As London is EuropeҀs premier financial center, studying at London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) provides students with endless opportunities for professional development.

London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) considered excellence as part of the school live. They had created a unique learning experience to equip their Certified MBA Course students with the necessary tools and nurture their confidence in their career advancement as an MBA graduate.

The Certified MBA Course offered by London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) consists of a combination of theoretical skills and practical experience. LSBF uses a personal approach aims to help MBA students to identify their skills and develop new management skills.

London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) has an expert faculty to conduct its Certified MBA Course. All their tutors and faculty staff are academics, qualified accountants and consultants with outstanding experience in their areas of expertise. Their faculty staffҀs wide contact network also ensure that they are always kept abreast of the latest development in the industry. This knowledge in turn, ensure that whatever that they teach for the Certified MBA Course is relevant to the industry.

London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) is the only UK University to offer dual programmes combining an internationally certified MBA degree with ACCA, CIM, CIMA or CFA qualifications. London School of Business and Finance works with the Grenoble Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ր one of the top European schools and ranked 32nd in Europe by the Financial Times in 2007 and listed by the Economist Intelligence Unit as one of the leading business school in Europe. GGBS is triple accredited by EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. Hence when you sign up for an Certified MBA Course with London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), you can be sure that you are definitely getting an Accredited MBA program.

London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) also works in collaboration with University of East London (UEL) in developing excellent and competitive certified MBA program for finance and marketing professionals.

Why study for your Online MBA Course at London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)?

The Certified MBA Course offered by London School of Business & Finance is delivered and awarded by GGSB. The Online MBA Course has triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA. To find out how accrediting agencies accredit MBA programs, please read How AMBA Accredits MBA Programs here. GGBS was ranked 32nd in Europe by the Finacial Times in 2007.

What will you Learn from the Online MBA Course at London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)?

In a nutshell, Certified MBA Course offered by London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) is designed to:
- provide essential core knowledge in all the functional areas of business
- develop the technical and interpersonal skills necessary for managers today
- stimulate and encourage managerial and entrepreneurial initiatives

The certified MBA Course offered by London School of Business & Finance also aims to meet the needs of the marketplace by providing MBA graduates who can adapt and understand the changing international business environment. Many leading international business corporation such as IBM and SAS, worked closely with GGSB to develop an Online MBA Course which is always relevant to the industry.

The Certified MBA Course Syllabus of London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)

There are 9 core modules followed by 3 modules selected from 8 specialisations listed.

The MBA Core Modules are:
1. Marketing
2. Accounting
3. International Management
4. Finance and Economics
5. Managing Organisation and Change
6. Business Law
7. Strategic Management
8. Technology Management
9. Information Management

StudentsҀ Profile of Online MBA Course at the London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)

MBA students studying for a certified MBA Course at London School of Business & Finance LSBF) come from a various background. All of them have at least 3 years of working experience with the average having 8 years experience. The MBA studentsҀ ages range from 25 to 45, with the average of 33 years old.

Many of the MBA students are already in senior management positions at multinational companies. Most of MBA students who signed up for a certified MBA Course at the London School of Business & Finance are looking to develop both the рhardҀ and рsoftҀ skills of management.

Why study MBA Dual Programme at LSBF

London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) offers unique MBA dual programmes combining MBA with Professional Qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, CFA and CIM. This MBA degree is awarded by GGSB, a leading European Business School, and fully accredited by AMBA, EQUIS ad AACSB.

These unique MBA dual qualifications focus on the development of managerial skills, decision making skills, and analytical skills. They are aimed at students who already have work experience, but wish to fast track their careers through studying a professional qualification and MBA degree in the shortest time possible, with minimum financial outlay.

Certified MBA Course Entry Requirements at London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)

Students who wish to pursue an certified MBA Course at the London School of Business & Finance must have a Bachelors degree in any area and at least 3 years of full-time relevant working experience. Proof of English proficiency such as having an IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 240 is required if English is not your first language.

To apply for the certified MBA Course, students are required to submit:
Հ an application form
Հ certified copies of your first degree and transcript
Հ two letters of recommendation
Հ three photographs
Հ 3 MBA essays
Հ proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL: min. score of 240 (computer-based) or 587 (paper-based), TOEIC: min. score of 800 or IELTS: min. score of 6.5).
Հ Candidates who studied in English at undergraduate level, or who have at least 2 years' experience working in English in an English speaking country, will not need to provide any further proof of English proficiency.
Հ Candidates with no independent proof of language proficiency can either enrol on LSBF's English Language Programme or take the GGSB English Test (　50).

Please note that admission onto the MBA programme is subject to the number of available places.

MBA Career prospects

Most MBA graduates would expect that their certified MBA degree will be a passport to further career development. MBA graduates from the London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) have full access to the services of the Careers department of LSBF and GGSB.

MBA graduates from a certified MBA Course from London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) is automatically listed in the online directory of the Alumni. London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) also provides career guidance in the form of workshop on CV writing, job applications and career interview techniques and strategy.

Funding of Certified MBA Course

London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) boasts as one of the top UK MBA rank school that provide many scholarship schemes and financing schemes for their certified MBA Course students.

For certified MBA program, London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) offers bursaries up to an amount of 　4,000 for deserving MBA students. Among some of the deciding criteria include outstanding performance in specific areas and academic excellence.

Other than bursaries offered by London School of Business & Finance (LSBF), there are also other funds available to finance the certified MBA Course. These includes the Prince MichaelҀs Fund and the Natwest AMBA Loans. There are other forms of financing available such as low interest rate educational loans, the British Chevening Scholarships and the British Marshall Scholarships.

You may also like to check out our earlier article on Financing Your Online MBA Course here.

To conclude, an Certified MBA Course at London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for one of the top rank MBA program, given its triple MBA accreditation and the various MBA funding. The LSBF online MBA should not be confused with the University of London Online MBA.

How to Choose the Right Online MBA Course

How to choose the right Online MBA Course? This is a question that many potential students who wish to pursue for a certified MBA online would likely be asking themselves. This decision is made all the more difficult with so many online MBA course available.

Choosing to do an MBA is no longer bounded by geographical location of the university. This is made possible with online education. Students may now be able to totally complete their certified MBA program online. A student who is staying in Asia may be able to pursue his certified MBA from MBA colleges in Alabama, US.

With so many factors to consider and so many accredited MBA programs available, potential students may be at a loss as to which Online MBA Course best suit them. There are few guidelines which may help these students in choosing the right Online MBA Course for themselves.

The first of the factors to consider when choosing an Online MBA Course is to ask yourself, what is your expectation from the MBA program? In other words, why do you pursue an MBA? No two MBA programs are alike, and even though all certified MBA programs offer the same basic core courses, their syllabus may still differ.

The followings may be some questions that you would like to ask yourself to help you in choosing the right Online MBA Course:
- Does the Online MBA Course give you the experience that you are looking for?
- Does the Online MBA Course syllabus include specific topics that are relevant to your career?
- What are the available electives in your Online MBA Course, and are they suited to your needs?
- Do you have the perseverance or the energy to complete your chosen Online MBA Course?
- Do you have the means to finance your Online MBA Course?

The second aspects that you will need to consider in choosing your Online MBA Course is the structure of the MBA program. This includes the duration of the MBA, whether you are able to pursue the MBA degree in a shortened time, and whether doing the MBA online is really suitable for you. You would also want to ask yourself if the timing of the MBA program is right for you, such as can you sign up for the Online MBA Course in time before your next targeted job promotion?

You should also ask yourself how will this pursuing of an Online MBA Course affect your lifestyle. If you are a bachelor or a single without any other commitment, this may not be a problem. However, if you are a family man or a working mom with children to care for, you will need to ask yourself if your taking an Online MBA Course will affect your family life, your career and other commitment. Be aware that some Online MBA Course still require that you sit through a written exams for each of the subjects. Will you be able to take the study leaves required from your work?

Pursuing an Online MBA Course requires more than just time commitment but financial commitment as well. Do you have enough savings to finance your MBA? If you donҀt, how do you intent to finance it? There are various ways to finance your Online MBA Course, such as taking a loan, applying for a grants, applying for a scholarship or getting your employer to finance your MBA. We suggest that you read Financing Your Online MBA Course here.

By asking yourselves the above questions, we believe you are able to come out with a better understanding on how you should choose the right Online MBA Course. Many potential students may wish to enroll with the top ranked MBA. However, remember that getting a certified MBA from a top-ranked MBA school is not going to be cheap. We suggest that you run through the list of top MBA schools published by The Times, Financial Times or other business magazine for your available options.

Pursuing for a certified MBA degree is not just about the brand name of the school. In US for example, there are so many school that offer a certified MBA that many of these schools are unheard of. However, when it comes to the quality of their Online MBA Course and the quality of their graduates, they are not necessary lacking or behind those top rank MBA school. So, you need to constantly ask yourself, why do you pursue an MBA in the first place.
A top rank MBA program is usually requires more commitment and has higher expectations towards their students. You need to ask yourself if you made the cut for such program.

Ultimately, there may not be such thing as ӀTheԀ Online MBA Course. Each school that offers an Online MBA Course may have their own advantages and disadvantages. The final determining criteria may still be which of these Online MBA Courses suit you, and not the other way round.

The other way to analyse as to which Online MBA Course is right for you is to analyse your own knowledge gap. Ask yourself if the Online MBA Course that you are considering is able to bridge this gap.

There is another aspect, which you need to consider. If you have not yet read the Benefits of MBA published by us earlier, we suggest that you read it now. One of the major benefits of pursuing for an MBA, be it the traditional classroom method or through an Online MBA Course, is the networking established with your peers. This networking may continue to serve you long after you have graduated with a certified MBA from your Online MBA Course.

Perhaps a good guideline in choosing for the right Online MBA Course is to judge for yourself whether you make the cut. If you think you are good enough or is in an environment conducive enough for a top rank MBA program, we suggest that you go for it. After all, you are not going to pursue for your MBA twice. However, if getting a certified MBA from a top rank MBA school is not your priority, you may want to settle for something which is more easy-going.


However ensure that the quality of the MBA is there. To help you assess on the quality of an MBA, you may want to check if the MBA program is accredited. Getting an accredited MBA program will ensures that it meets with certain quality but for those MBA program that is not accredited, it does not necessary means that they are of inferior quality.

Some examples of top rank MBA school that offers accredited MBA program are Aberdeen Business School and University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business. As far as we know, the Wales MBA are not accredited yet, but their quality is still good. So donҀt just rely on accreditation as a benchmark of quality. You may want to read about How AMBA Accredits MBA Program to find out more on MBA accrediting agency.

Along with questions asked on how to choose the right Online MBA Course, you may also like to ask yourself, if you will make a good MBA candidate. Remember that your MBA school admission officers will also be asking themselves this question as they process your application. No certified MBA school would like to register a student just to earn some extra bucks from them. If the student drop out of the MBA course half-way, it does not reflect well on the MBA school as well.

It is likely that a school that offers Online MBA Course would be looking for students with some prior working experience. You should put your best foot forward to be perceived as the right candidate for the Online MBA Course that you are applying for. The following section of this article offers some suggestions on how you are able to improve your success rate to be admitted into an Online MBA Course.

When you fill your application form for the Online MBA Course, do not leave any part of the form blank. We also suggest that your open a file to store all your application material. Some MBA colleges require that you write an MBA essay, and this should be written sincerely. There are also other MBA colleges that requires GMAT test, and if possible you should prepare well and sit for it to achieve high GMAT score. This will definitely increase your success rate for admission into a certified Online MBA Course.

Get some recommendation letter to be attached, regardless whether the MBA college require it or not. There is also some MBA colleges that will ask for an interview, though this may not be that relevant for an Online MBA Course. If the MBA college requires an interview, you should put in adequate preparation.


At the end of the day, to choose the right Online MBA Course, you will need to seriously ask yourself, why do you pursue an MBA. Are you seeking for the credential that a certified MBA is offering you? Are you looking to enhance your business networking? If you keep yourself focused, then we are sure that you will be able to successfully identify the right Online MBA Course for yourself.

Book Review: The Launching Years

The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior Year to College Life by Laura S. Kastner, Ph.D., and Jennifer Wyatt, Ph.D.

On the heels of reading College Together (see earlier review) I picked up The Launching Years, which concerns itself with the transition from senior year to college. It makes an ideal companion to the first book, and I recommend both to anxious parents and counselors counseling them. Although the college process is the backbone of the book, its flesh and blood are observations about the changing relationship between teens and their parents during the last years of high school and the first years of college. For any parent anticipating with joy and fear the "launching" of a soon-to-be adult, this book provides perspective and reassurance. High school counselors can find some comfort in knowing more about how the college process adds to the normal stress of adolescence and why parents might tend to be pricklier than usual right around senior year.

Using a combination of clinical experience and anecdotal evidence, Kastner and Wyatt clearly limn the many factors surrounding the "launch" of a child into the world beyond the family. Specifics alternate with broader views, as in the introduction: "During a two-year period beginning with the senior year of high school, most parents find themselves confounded by unanticipated challenges. 'Why are my daughter and I fighting like cats and dogs now that she's about to leave?' a mother might ask." The broader view applies: "Vastly underrated as a complicated transition for parents and children alike, the launching years rival any two years of parenting for the formidable events they contain, the challenges and questions they raise, and their sheer emotional intensity." This balance of illustration with an encompassing wider vision makes the book accessible to everyone; its non-judgmental stance helps every reader see beyond immediate concerns to the more complex issues surrounding adolescent development.

College counselors will be pleased that the book endorses ideas of "fit" and student-centeredness in the college process. One particularly telling passage encapsulates what many of us try to communicate to our parents: "Think of the college decision as an identity decision. Throughout adolescence, young people are slowly forming and 'jelling,' a process shaping who they are, the experiences they pursue, the values they embrace, and where their passions lie--what they'll stay up after midnight to complete and what leaves them cold." The authors suggest that for parents to better understand their child at this point, relative to the college process, they might "pull out their child's school records to review messages teachers have been sending about their child as a student....Your child's record will tell you what's reasonable to expect." This exercise grounds parents' expectations and feelings about their child in external realities that can moderate unreasonable or overbearing desires. It can also enable parents to step back and see their children afresh, a significant step in successfully "launching" them. Not coincidentally, it can also relieve the counselor of seeming like an obstructionist if the parents' desires and the student's accomplishments don't match.

The book takes us through the buildup to college and through the year or so that follows. It makes clear that the relationship between young person and parents is changing, and that it takes some careful self-examination on the parents' part to understand and accept that. Particularly interesting is that Kastner and Wyatt acknowledge the emotional events on both sides of the equation: the child who becomes hostile because she's afraid to leave and the parent who becomes distant because he doesn't know how to accept the fact. College counselors will be glad to hear that they also address the issues of maintaining boundaries head on: "The ultimate challenge for many parents during the application process...is to establish firm boundaries between parents' personal feelings and responsibilities and those of the senior. Parents would be wise to deal directly with their own anxiety and to limit 'leaking' that can burden the senior's own load, which is probably overwhelming, although rarely verbalized as such."

By focusing on the family dynamic rather than the senior alone, the authors humanize the college process, providing clear, accessible descriptions of the various phases that the participants encounter as a child prepares to enter the world. The book's observations are often amusing and revelatory even if the situations themselves are common. One section notes that "parents contract senioritis, too." "The compulsion is for parents to work overtime to put finishing touches on their children before leaving home. The more their child displays the symptoms of senioritis, the more parents harp, wondering whether their child is ready to leave at all." After all, their parenting skills are on the line.

The second half of the book deals with the first year of college, discussing how to parent from afar, including how to deal with the "dump" phone call ("I hate everything...") and other issues related to fear of the unknown, loneliness, and so on. Also revealing is the chapter about when the fledgling returns to the nest after having been at college. What rules and roles are still relevant? What has to be modified? Can your college student bring home a boy/girlfriend and insist on sleeping in the same bed? What about curfews? It also talks frankly about issues like binge drinking and sexual activity in college, urging parents to be firm in their values while acknowledging their children's development of their own values. The idea now is not simply to impose or dictate, but to make parental expectations clear while leaving room for the adolescent to make his or her own decisions. This is a tough line to walk, but the book does a good job illuminating it. One passage sums up the aspects of freshman year that parents have to think about developmentally: "Many young people do an about-face in college. Teens who distanced [themselves] from parents in an exuberant way in high school may seek greater closeness; those who were under their parents' wings may push away. Whatever new trend emerges probably reflects their developmental needs, along with issues presented by the college setting."

Written for the lay person and appropriate for counselors and parents alike, The Launching Years provides plenty to think about and discuss. Its refusal to judge behaviors while outlining them clearly is one of its strengths. Kastner is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington who has lectured on adolescence and family behavior. Wyatt, a Seattle-based writer, has written numerous parenting articles. They have also collaborated on another book, The Seven Year Stretch: How Families Work Together to Grow Through Adolescence. By recognizing that everyone has a stake in the maturing process, they've provided a clear understanding of how everyone can also benefit from its sometimes troublesome phases.

Financing Your Online MBA Course

How to Finance Your Online MBA Course?

One of the major factor in deciding if you want to take up an Online MBA Course, is likely to be the financial aspect. How do you intent to finance your MBA? To earn MBA online, or for that matter, any other certified MBA program requires a huge financial commitment. No matter how much benefits of an MBA that you may eventually realise, you should still plan carefully for it.

Cost of Online MBA Course

In UK or USA, the cost of an online MBA course of a good business school is more than the average wages. Having said that, you may still be able to get a cheap MBA at the cost of US Dollar 8,000 but do not expect too much from it. The average cost of an MBA is around $40,000 with some costing as much as $60,000. This is all the more true if you are getting your Online MBA Course from a renowned university or one of those top MBA course.

Hence, if you wish to spend your time actually studying for your Online MBA Course and not worrying about how to finance the MBA, you need a good planning and budgeting. This budgeting should not be done only after youҀve registered for the course, it should be planned well ahead before you actually register for the Online MBA Course.

Start your MBA financing planning by looking at the cost involved. Tuition cost makes up a massive part of the Online MBA Course. Note that some online MBA course also requires its students to spend some time as a resident student on its campus. You will need to budget for the residential duration as well. If your Online MBA Course requires that you spend time as a resident student, be sure to check out if the fees is different for foreign students. Some university have different cost for local and foreign students.

There are also other academic costs involved. Some Online MBA Course offers only online instruction from the lecturer in the forms of digital video feed, but students are expected to buy their own textbooks. However, most Online MBA Course provider would provide students with texts and material which may be printed and bound as a reference book. Other cost may include purchasing some additional software which is needed for some quantitative subjects.

There are many ways to finance your Online MBA Course, and you have to be resourceful. To start, if you are a working mom or working personnel, you may want to check with your employers if the company subsidise your studies. There are many instances where students who are working has their employer pay for their Online MBA Course. This is all the more relevant, if you are able to apply your MBA knowledge immediately to your work. On the contrary, full-time MBA students have more difficult chance of getting their employer to finance their certified MBA program.

Get Your Employer to Finance Your Online MBA Cost

According to The Economist, more than 60% of students who do their certified MBA part-time, including those doing an Online MBA Course, are financed by their employer. Most employers agree to subsidies the MBA studies with prior agreement that he or she will stay with the company for a certain period of time upon completing the MBA program.

However, there are other considerations you will need to take into account if you are seeking your employer to finance your Online MBA Course. The first important consideration is to check if the MBA that you are taking is certified by your company. Some companies only agree to finance their employee for some limited types of MBA programs.

They may be some conflicts of opinion between your employer and you as to which certified MBA program is suitable. What is suitable for you may not necessary be good for the company. The cost of the certified MBA is another issue. It is likely that the company would prefer that you sign up with the cheapest MBA course, and not necessary the best. Since you will be the one who has to study and put in the most effort for the entire MBA duration, it is likely that you will prefer the best MBA, not the cheapest.

The other considerations about getting your company to finance your Online MBA Course is in the event of an economic downturn, it is very likely that the company will cut down on its training budget. The company may decide to terminate the financing when you are mid-way through your Online MBA course. As there are so many ways to finance your Online MBA Course, you are advised to carefully research into the available options and weight each of the option carefully. The time spent in carrying out the research definitely pays in the long-term.

Other Financial Aid for Your Online MBA Course

Besides getting your employer to finance your Online MBA Course, there are generally three kinds of financial aid that you can consider:

Grants/Scholarship ր usually given to students according to merit, academic achievements, country of origin and other deciding criteria.

Loans ր either from the school or from commercial financial institution

Fellowships ր may not be applicable to Online MBA Course, as it involves students earning their money by teaching or assisting with research.

Before you consider taking up a loan to finance your Online MBA Course, you should consider applying for a scholarship, company sponsorships or using your own savings. Let us look at the available options, one by one.

MBA Scholarship

An MBA scholarship is usually awarded to those who are worthy of them. Most of these scholarship are awarded based on the following criterias:

To individuals displaying outstanding academic performance and potential.
To attract students with strong academic performance so as to advance in rankings and to maintain their reputation.
For students with limited financial resources but with great potential.
Scholarships designed for specific groups.

If you would like to get a scholarship to finance your Online MBA Course, then you should search for your scholarship as early as possible. Otherwise, you may end up missing your intake date. In fact, there are students who start searching for their scholarship even before they are ready to take the program. ItҀs all about planning in advance.

You should also apply to as many MBA scholarship as possible. In fact, you should apply to every award possible, not matter how small the award amount may be. When all these award amounts add up, they may be quite a useful amount to help you bridge your financial gap. Also, always remember that it is usually the less lucrative scholarship that are less competitive, and your chances of success of getting the MBA scholarship is higher.

Do not apply to just a few MBA scholarship simply because you think that you are a talented students and is likely to get them. It may very competitive than you think. However, do not waste your time applying to those MBA scholarship that you do not even meet the basic criteria.

Look for less competitive MBA scholarships. Seek for small local awards that are not normally listed in the national database. Try writing to big corporation which do not always publish their scholarship. Who knows, you may be lucky and may even be offered a better employment upon your MBA graduation.
When you are looking for a scholarship to finance your Online MBA Course, always check for the latest and up-to-date information. A directory of scholarship which is more than 1 year old is considered too old to be used. It is likely that the scholarship has already been taken by some deserving students.

Many schools offer academic scholarship, and you should check them out. The London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) is one such example. The more aggressive the school is about offering the scholarship for deserving students, the more likely that they are really serious about getting more students into their Online MBA Course. The more known is an institution, the more competitive it will be for you to get the scholarship to finance your Online MBA Course.

If a scholarship that you are considering to finance your Online MBA Course requires that you b nominated, find out who is responsible for the nomination and ask them to nominate you. As the nomination dateline is approaching, the nominator may just nominate you as you happens to be the only one who is asking. Even if they have a proper procedure to follow, by asking to be introduced to them shows your eagerness on getting the scholarship, and will do you good.

One final word about getting a scholarship to finance your Online MBA Course. If you do win a scholarship award, remember to renew them. Some scholarship requires that you maintain certain academic results such as a good GPA score to have your MBA scholarship renewed, and you should be aware of them.

Loan for Your Online MBA Course

If you decided to apply for a loan to finance your Online MBA Course, there are some factors that you need to consider, such as ր How much is the total cost of borrowing over the loan term? Are there any additional financial charges? How does the repayment schedule fits your financial requirement? How dependable is the financial institution offering the loan?

There are a good number of reputable loan provider for an Online MBA Course. However, be careful not to be tempted to take up more than what you actually require. Otherwise, you may end up servicing the loan long after you have already graduated from your MBA program. There are also many different types of loan available, and your should check them out carefully.

Some of these loans offer interest-free during the duration of your studies, and may not be a bad idea to consider. Also, check if the loan allows you to pay off the principal at any time that you want. Some institutions may offer you with a low interest loan, but comes with the condition that you may not make any principal repayment within the first few years of the loan. In a nutshell, go for loans with the most flexible repayment and the lowest interest rate.

Most of those who pursue their Online MBA Cost already saved up some amount of money to finance their certified MBA program. They may only take up a loan to bridge the gap. If you do not have any savings now, consider working for few more years to save up some money and take a smaller loan quantum to bridge the gap. In whatever cases, always remember that doing an Online MBA Course requires a heavy financial and time commitment and you should plan for both carefully.

One last and important point about financing your Online MBA Course. Do not forget that some countries offer tax incentive for post-graduate studies. Remember, to apply for it.

Online MBA at University of North Alabama Colleges Review

Welcome to another review article for Online MBA Course, at University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business. You may also be interested to read our prior review on Online MBA Course at University of Phoenix. If your are looking for one of the best online MBA programs around, then read on.

Where is University of North Alabama?

The University of North Alabama is located in the city of Florence, which is located in the northwest corner of the State of Alabama. Florence has a magnificent history, and is situated on two lakes formed by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) dams on the Tennessee River and is, therefore, an important point for anglers, boaters, and water sports enthusiasts. Also there are many public parks and picnic areas available to our students and their families.

The University of North Alabama occupies a beautiful campus on 130 acres in a residential section of Florence, Alabama. Florence, located just north of the Tennessee River, is the largest city in a four-city area that includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals, all located south of the river. The entire metropolitan area has a combined population in excess of 134,000. Since Florence is the hub of the metropolitan economic area, it provides a great number of retail establishments for shopping and a wide array of restaurants for dining. Additionally, there are many first-rate health care facilities providing top-notch health care. The UNA's initial campus facility master plan was developed by world famous Frederick Law Olmsted architectural firm who designed New York City's Central Park.

Online MBA at the College of Business at University of North Alabama

The Colleges of Business at University of North Alabama has a long tradition of offering certified MBA programs for those who are seeking for better career advancement. The certified MBA programs offered by University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business is one of the best online MBA programs around, has quite a few specialisation or as they term it as concentration, namely, in accounting, information systems, international business, finance and health care management.

The certified Online MBA course offered by University of North Alabama Colleges of Business is suitable for students of various backgrounds. Students with a degree from other fields of studies may need to fulfil some other prerequisite requirement.

An interesting feature of the certified MBA program offered by the University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business is that students may chose to enrol to attend class on-campus, online or combining the two approaches. The quality of the MBA online course is similar to the traditional MBA course, and students are advised to select the approach most appropriate to their lifestyle and commitment.

University of North Alabama Colleges of Business requires that prospect students to be able to demonstrate a satisfactory background in either accounting principles, economic principles, statistical and quantitative methods, financial management, information systems, management principles and marketing principles from their work experience in order to be admitted into the best online MBA programs. However, they are options available for those students who do not have such background.

Online MBA Course Curriculum at University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business

For qualified students for the certified online MBA course, the program consists of 33 semester hours. Effectively from Fall 2008, all MBA specialisations or concentrations consist of eight core courses and three elective courses. The on-campus accounting concentration has a different requirement.

The MBA Core Courses offered by University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business are:

Հ Cost for Management Decision Analysis (not open to MBA-Accounting majors)
Հ Enterprise Systems Analysis
Հ Managerial Economics
Հ Financial Management
Հ Marketing Strategy
Հ Quantitative Methods
Հ Organizational Behavior
Հ Management Policy

MBA students are further required to complete different electives based on the concentration or specialization that they choose.

Students who wished to pursue their certified MBA program using the traditional method usually start in August, January or June. The typical course meets one evening per week for a 16-week semester.

Online MBA course students start their certified MBA program in August, January or June. Classes are conducted using a combination of on-line instructions and lectures in digital format.

Admission Process for Online MBA Course at University of North AlabamaҀs College of Business

The followings describe the admission process for an Online MBA Course at the University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business. Step 1 of the process involves submitting a formal application. All application forms with official transcripts should be filed with the Admission Department of the university. There are also requirements on GMAT, GRE and TOEFL scores, and MBA students are advised to check with the university in details on these admission requirements.

Step 2 of the admission process for an Online MBA course at the University of North AlabamaҀs Colleges of Business involves registering for the classes. This should be done after your application has been accepted.

Students for the Online MBA course at University of North AlabamaҀs College of Business are also advised to review the course schedule for a listing of upcoming sessions. Students may register online for the classes.

Most students register for two courses per session. However, it may also be a good idea for starting students to take just a single course. This will enable
you to settle comfortably into your program and gain a sense of what is expected of you.

Cost of Online MBA Course at University of North AlabamaҀs College of Business

The cost of each semester hour of credit is $320 or $960 per course (for year 2008). Tuition payment is due at the time of registration and can be paid by a check or major credit card. There are also other fees and charges which is non-refundable. These include application fee, late registration fee, change of course fee, graduation fee and transcript of credit fee.

Payment is due at the time of registration and can be paid by check or major credit card. Under special and unusual circumstances, the University of North Alabama may accept payments by instalment.

Institutional Accreditation or Recognition

University of North Alabama are accredited by the following accreditation agencies:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Other Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (AACN). Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). American Chemical Society (ACS). Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), Commission on Accreditation. National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Commission on Accreditation. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Doing an Online MBA Course from one of the best online MBA programs at University of North Alabama's College of Business may a right decision for you, and you are advised to find out more details.