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Northwestern offers a part time MS in Integrated Marketing Communications, which I'm interested in pursuing because my employer will pay for part of the tuition costs.
They have a traditional program and an online program, and I'm having trouble deciding which one to pursue.
Traditional program:
Pros: Biggest pro is it's traditional, not online. So I'll be attending classes in person amongst peers.
Cons: Requires 2 more classes than the online program, and is roughly $1k more PER CLASS than the online program. Also, it's set up as a cohort so mostly everyone will graduate at the same time....however, I can only afford to take 1 class per quarter, so I would finish WAY after those I start with.
Online program:
Pros: 2 less classes than the traditional program. Approximately $1k less PER CLASS than the traditional program. Flexible pace.
Cons: It's online, so I feel I'd be missing out on some of the advantage of being in a traditional classroom setting.
Thoughts on which one might be the better option out of the two?
*= Cost for traditional program. The top three costs are all for the online program. I didn't include costs for the traditional program for taking 5 or 6 classes per year because it was cost prohibitive.
It would be an easy choice for me. I would choose the online program. Do you think there would be better networking opportunities by attending on campus? That's the only pro I can think of.
I think you should do the campus program honestly. You would have far more networking opportunities in the classroom and outside of it. Northwestern is a great school, and being on campus IMO is more of an advantage. I am actually preparing to enroll in either the IMC program or graduate journalism program(still deciding). And it's a no brainer for me--I'll be doing the campus route, for the networking opportunities.
It would be an easy choice for me. I would choose the online program. Do you think there would be better networking opportunities by attending on campus? That's the only pro I can think of.
Yes, that's actually the main reason I'm considering the on campus program...because of the networking opportunities.
I think you should do the campus program honestly. You would have far more networking opportunities in the classroom and outside of it. Northwestern is a great school, and being on campus IMO is more of an advantage. I am actually preparing to enroll in either the IMC program or graduate journalism program(still deciding). And it's a no brainer for me--I'll be doing the campus route, for the networking opportunities.
It's a hard decision for me. I'm 33 and graduated from undergrad 11 years ago...I would like to finish in less than 3 years if possible, as I can't see myself in grad school for longer than that. I still have to work full time. So it's a difficult choice because the on campus program is more expensive and would take longer to complete.
Yes, that's actually the main reason I'm considering the on campus program...because of the networking opportunities.
You may want to talk to some current students or alumni regarding this. Or perhaps do some research to see the strength and involvement of the alumni network (like checking out their groups on LinkedIN). The reason why I say this is because I know of two different people who were enrolled in two different Top 50 MBA programs (one was full-time on-campus, and the other was part-time on-campus) who were VERY disappointed with the networking opportunities and camaraderie present in their programs. I knew one via an extracurricular group (The Forte Foundation - which is for women in MBA programs) and she said the networking via that group was much superior than that was present in her actual MBA program.
Personally I think it is a shame that one of the best features of MBA programs, the networking component, is also one of the most variable and mysterious ones as well. In all honesty, it networking is high up on your list of graduate school must-haves, it most likely is not going to come at the cheapest price (that is just how academia works more often than not). Ultimately, you may fare better creating your own networking opportunities rather than relying primarily on your alma mater.
It would be an easy choice for me. I would choose the online program. Do you think there would be better networking opportunities by attending on campus? That's the only pro I can think of.
Especially since networking is probably the very most important thing you'll do. I'm not kidding. A marketing textbook written five years ago is hopelessly obsolete. A guy who comes on campus and talks about the latest developments in social media and its ROI in the overall marketing equation is priceless beyond words.
Especially since networking is probably the very most important thing you'll do. I'm not kidding. A marketing textbook written five years ago is hopelessly obsolete. A guy who comes on campus and talks about the latest developments in social media and its ROI in the overall marketing equation is priceless beyond words.
Sounds like experience trumps formal education in this industry...?
I am pretty good at "marketing myself" and getting creative when it comes to making a way for myself so I am trying to discern whether or not I'd be able to network enough on my own if I went the online route...
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