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Old 08-20-2005, 12:24 PM   #1
foofiter
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Here's the deal. I am considering doing an MBA online through one of the universities here in GA. I was also considering taking my laptop and my backpack and doing it from the road. I still have to verify that I do not actually have to come to campus for any of it but that is beside the point...

SO, assuming that I do not have to be on campus for some of it, how feasable would it be to travel while I did my MBA online? It takes 18 months to complete the MBA and it is set up so that I only have to take 2 courses at a time (just happens to be enough to defer loans as well. I know I will have to gauge a lot of it based on the work load of the courses and such but my main concern would be internet access and the ability to upload my papers and such as needed. I know Europe has tons of internet cafe's and some hostels even have it now. I would like to see other parts of the world too.

Any and all tips are appreciated. My main goal is to mix travel and my online MBA.

Ideas?

Thanks,

Foo

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"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
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"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")

I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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Old 08-21-2005, 02:15 AM   #2
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My boss is doing the Herriot-Watt MBA via the University of Edinburgh, online. He's recommending that I do it as well, since it's an internationally recognized degree and he knows of my aspirations to move elsewhere

The best part of it is you do it all at your own pace. The testing is at scheduled times, but otherwise, you can take 10 years to complete it if you want... I've looked at it briefly and it sounds good - I just need to get the $$$ together.
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Old 08-21-2005, 06:07 AM   #3
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So for your program do they allow USA student loans? It is "recognized by the US Department of Education" which would lead me to believe that you can. I am not married to the program I have chosen (unless I cannot use loans for Edinburgh). I will see if I can dig anything up from the US Dep of Ed website.

Foo

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"To Alcohol! The cause of--and solution to--all life's problems." -- Homer J. Simpson
"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
"I was born to lose and destined to fail." -- Mike Ness, Social Distortion
"Eat healthy, exercise daily, die anyway" -- My motto
"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")

I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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Old 08-21-2005, 10:33 AM   #4
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I just talked to a csr at the US Dept of Ed. They have a federal school code and it looks like you can use student loans to pay for it. I was playing with the site and they have the text books in PDF format as well as online (HTML, searchable). This is VERY handy to be a traveller and not have to lug around 1000 page bricks. The total cost for the MBA looks to be about $23k usd. You can aslo mix online and in person classes if you wanted to spend a stint in Edinbugh.

They also do NOT require a GMAT score at all. That I do like since the GMAT is costly and somewhat difficult. The only downer I can find is that they appear NOT to be AACSB accredited. They ARE accredited by AMBA which I know very little about but appears to be a bid deal at least in the UK.

The bottom line:

Online MBA from the GA uni: $17k, heavy books, AACSB accredited, well known school in the usa.

MBA From Edinburgh: $23k, no books, AMBA (No AACSB), well known in UK at least, if not everywhere else.

The two factors I have not researched is how important are certain accreditations around the world AND the salary I would receive based on that. This will require PILING on a TON of loans to pull off and I understand that. I just want my money to be well spent.

*sigh* back to google I will update with what I find out there. I hope this thread will help others who are in the same boat.

Foo

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"To Alcohol! The cause of--and solution to--all life's problems." -- Homer J. Simpson
"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
"I was born to lose and destined to fail." -- Mike Ness, Social Distortion
"Eat healthy, exercise daily, die anyway" -- My motto
"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")

I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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Old 08-21-2005, 12:37 PM   #5
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OK, after much googling and sifting thru articles I have found out the following:

AACSB: US Schools need to have this in order for their MBA to be worth anything

AMBA: UK Schools need this to have any clout. A Royal charter (which Edinburgh has) is even better in conjunction with this.

EQUIS: Continental Europe schools need this to be worth a damn.

Any of these accreditations will ensure that you are getting a good, marketable MBA. At least that is what I have read from about 10+ sources including businessweek and the like.

I also found on their website where the specifically say US Student loans can be used.

Foo

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"To Alcohol! The cause of--and solution to--all life's problems." -- Homer J. Simpson
"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
"I was born to lose and destined to fail." -- Mike Ness, Social Distortion
"Eat healthy, exercise daily, die anyway" -- My motto
"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")

I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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Old 08-21-2005, 01:20 PM   #6
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SCRATCH THAT. I just checked the AMBA site and EBS does NOT have AMBA accreditation. They do have the royal charter tho...

Looks like I am sticking with the one here in the states. Wow that was a waste of about 4 hours...

Foo

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"To Alcohol! The cause of--and solution to--all life's problems." -- Homer J. Simpson
"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
"I was born to lose and destined to fail." -- Mike Ness, Social Distortion
"Eat healthy, exercise daily, die anyway" -- My motto
"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")

I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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Old 08-21-2005, 06:12 PM   #7
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This all sounds great, but I thought you wanted to hit the road forever and not stay in one place? I am all for higher education, but I'm not sure what the benefit will be if you're planning to be a nomad for the rest of your life.
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Old 08-21-2005, 11:38 PM   #8
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Well, even if you're on the road the rest of your life, with some internationally-accepted degrees, you can be more marketable, even for short-term stints.. at least, that's what I would suspect.

Thanks for taking the time to dig up all that info, btw. I'm gonna have to look further into that EBS degree, if only because my boss recommends it, I might be able to do it on the company dime
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Old 08-22-2005, 07:32 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally posted by space virgin@Aug 21 2005, 08:12 PM
This all sounds great, but I thought you wanted to hit the road forever and not stay in one place?* I am all for higher education, but I'm not sure what the benefit will be if you're planning to be a nomad for the rest of your life.
[snapback]74311[/snapback]
Well I may be altering my plan a bit. I am now actaully considering taking a 6 month trip next year and going all over and see how it goes. If I decide that being a nomad is for me then I will work and pay off my loans and go again. If not then I can go for the MBA, work again, whatever. I have decided to test the water "on both sides of the boat" if you will. Either way I will have one hell of a time! Now I have to run the numbers and all that. I have not ditched the MBA idea but may wait until after i travel to actually do it. I get this feeling that I will neglect my school work if I try to do it while on the road.

We will see

Thanks guys!

Foo

__________________
"To Alcohol! The cause of--and solution to--all life's problems." -- Homer J. Simpson
"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
"I was born to lose and destined to fail." -- Mike Ness, Social Distortion
"Eat healthy, exercise daily, die anyway" -- My motto
"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")

I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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