MBA programs can be intense and demanding, especially in the first year. You have to devote significant amounts of time and energy to study and group projects. The most cited advantage of attending business school full-time is that students can devote as much time as possible to this extraordinary amount of coursework without being stretched too thin by other competing demands.
The Full-Time Option
Immersion and Networking
A full-time program means that you and your classmates are fully immersed in coursework, group projects, and out of class activities, so you get to know them extremely well. Networking among classmates is one of the greatest benefits of full-time MBA programs. Business schools generally admit students with significant prior work experience. Consequently, students are often provided with invaluable high-level contacts for potential business partners, suppliers, or employers. The contacts made in b-school can help you throughout your entire career.
Internships & Job Opportunities
Full-time programs also provide an opportunity to gain significant professional experience through summer placements or internships. Through these important programs, participants can try out an interest in a particular field and determine if it's right for them. At most schools, placement services generally focus on helping full-time students conduct their job searches for the often dramatic leaps in job responsibilities and salaries that MBAs expect.
Juggling School & The Rest of Your Life
The intensity of being a full-time student can exact a price. This is especially true for those who have been working for a while and recently returned to school. In addition, there are competing demands for time for those with families. Finally, attending business school often entails relocating to a new area and the unique disruptions that go along with it.
Cost
Paying for two years of full-time school is often the biggest disadvantage of being a full-time student. While financial aid is available for b-school—usually in the form of loans, although some programs offer grants and scholarships based on GMAT scores and other factors—you should plan on accumulating significant debt as a full-time student.
The Part-Time Option
Attending business school part-time is often not a matter of choice but one of necessity. However, a part-time program can drag on for a number of years, during which your commitment to an MBA will be tested by professional and personal obligations as well as by simple fatigue.
Flexibility
This is the main advantage of the part-time route. Part-time students generally decide whether they want to enroll for any given term. This can help relieve some of the pressure from competing professional or personal demands. Many vary their course load in order to concentrate exclusively on a particularly difficult course and then take a heavier load later with less intensive courses.
Networking
Because of the flexible nature of part-time programs, enrollment patterns of students tend to vary greatly. This makes it comparatively difficult to develop the same kind of relationships with peers—or to do the same kind of networking—that full-time students enjoy. Managing both a part-time student career and a "real life" can be tough. The demands of job or family won't always mesh with those of school.
Executive MBA Programs
Executive MBA Programs are especially attractive to those who have significant work experience and plan to continue with their present employers after graduation. Most of these programs offer classes on weeknights or on Fridays and Saturdays. They are often completed in two years. However, Executive MBA Programs are usually open only to the most senior managers who are supported by their employers.
Cost
Most schools have little, if any, financial aid for part-time students. However, many companies reimburse some or all of the cost of tuition for continuing education. Because of this and the fact that most are working during their education, part-time students often do not incur the massive debt associated with full-time students.
Weigh Your Options Carefully
An MBA is an important investment of both time and money. Consider what sort of program suits your needs best. Then, research all the options and programs as fully as you can. Let's face it: a quality MBA program will demand a significant amount of your time and energy. Finding one that fits comfortably into your life and schedule will be challenging at best. Regardless of the option you choose, your commitment to the program will be the final determinant of your success.
