The advantage of this MBA is that you can save your money and time. Even bigger benefit is that you can now get an MBA from the university that you always wanted to get in. Even though the credibility of an online MBA program may not be as high as the full time MBA program, it is still worth it. Flexibility that this course offers is what the biggest strength of online MBA programs is.

Online MBA programs also offer niche specializations and are designed to assist working professionals and business executives to pursue their goals and business learning.

Some of the colleges that offer online MBA Degree Programs are :

• University of Liverpool
• George Washington University
• Norwich University
• Baker College Online
• Capella University
• Ellis College MBA
• Everest University Online
• Warren National University
• National Technological University
• Regis University
• Westwood Online

Online MBA programs have offered new methods of learning such as a virtual classroom, live chat assistance etc where students from diverse cultures and various parts of the world can come together and share their learning.

Some of the specializations that are offered in online MBA are: Risk Management where a student will get various opportunities to learn about different types of risks that an organization faces and how one deal with it.

The Health Care Management program specialization teaches you about health care organizations, quality and data base management, health care finance, health care infrastructure, and health care strategic management.

The MBA in Accounting is also provided online where real cases are given to students which help them in not just learning theory but its practical application as well.

Indian MBAs are offering all kinds of MBA that include distance learning MBA, online MBA and part time and executive MBA. B-schools in India offer specialization in finance, human resources, marketing, operation etc.

However, niche MBAs like MBA in communication, hotel management, fashion technology etc are also available in India. MBA salaries in most Indian B-schools depend on the goodwill of the B-school. Thanks to globalization and liberalization, education in India especially MBA is gaining impetus.

Indian MBA also offers specializations in international business and management. MBA is one of the most common career choices amongst the youth in India today. This is purely because of the benefits that the course offers.

India has now become a hub for great talent. During these times, doing an executive MBA from India is indeed resourceful. You could do your MBA from any of the schools mentioned below: IIM – Ahmedabad
IIM – Bangalore
IIM – Calcutta
IIM Indore
IIM Kozhikode
IIM Lucknow
Indian Business School
XLRI Jamshedpur
MDI – Gurgaon
S.P.Jain Inst – Mumbai
IIFT – New Delhi
NMIMS – Mumbai
XIM – Bhubaneshwar
IMT – Ghaziabad
ICFAI – Hyderabad
IMI – Delhi
UBS – Chandigarh
Welingkar Inst.Of Management Development – Mumbai
T.A.Pai Management Institute – Manipal
Alliance Business Academy – Bangalore
Institute For Financial Management And Research – IFMR – Chennai
Nirma Institute Of Management – Ahmedabad
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute – New Delhi
K.J.Somaiya Institute – Mumbai
MICA Ahmedabad
FLAME, Pune
IIMM – Pune
SIES – Navi Mumbai
LIBA – Chennai
Christ College Institute – Bangalore
Symbiosis- Pune
NIILM – New Delhi
Amrita School Of Business – Coimbatore
JIMS – New Delhi
FMS – Delhi

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Some of the advantages of part-time MBA are:

The classes are in the evening so that you can easily manage your work and studies. You can learn while you earn and widen your knowledge base. Students have the opportunity to implement their learning in real life situations.

Part time MBA helps one to save costs as these programs are relatively cheaper than full time MBA program. Part time courses have sprung up all over the world and they have been highly successful mainly because of the comfort and the flexibility that they offer.

A student is also free to give exams whenever he or she wants to. The assistance provided by the faculty is also note-worthy.

Top US part time MBA Universities:

• New York University
• University of Chicago
• Northwestern University
• DePaul University
• Georgia State University
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Michigan
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Southern California
• Babson College
• Pace University
• Arizona State University, Main Campus
• Duke University
• Fordham University
• Loyola University Chicago
• University of Minnesota
• Emory University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Santa Clara University
• Bentley College
• Case Western Reserve University
• CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College
• University of Maryland, College Park
• Washington University in St. Louis
• George Washington University
• Michigan State University
• University of California
• University of Florida
• University of Texas, Austin
• Loyola College in Maryland

Canadian Universities offering Part-time MBA programs

• Saint Mary’s University
• University of British Colombia

One needs to apply at a US embassy or consulate for a student visa.

A student can apply for a visa only after he or she has received the requisite I-20 or IAP-66 form from the institution the applicant has been accepted to. This is a form that is issued by the business school and is a confirmation of the admission of a candidate.

An F-1 student visa is required to study full time MBA program in USA. Students who have this Visa can stay in the US for the full length of their academic program plus 60 days.

A student requires submitting passport, recent photograph, and a non-immigrant visa application (Form 156) available from the Consular section, to apply for student visa.

A student also requires you to submit the evidence of financial ability so as to prove whether he/she can cover the cost of staying and studying.

To study in Australia as well, you need to apply for student visa. To be granted a student Australian Visa you must satisfy the visa requirements and meet with all the visa conditions for attendance and academic performance which comes to effect after the student enters in Australia.

A student wanting to apply for a UK visa should make his application a VFS application centre. All documents are needed to be submitted at the time of Visa Application.

The student may be called for personal interview at the British Deputy High Commission, if need arises. One should carry all the required documents while going for an interview.

Documents needed :

• Student Visa Application form.
• Passport size photograph
• Offer Letter from the Institution
• TOEFL / IELTS score
• Valid Passport
• Visa fee in cash or Bank Draft
• Copies of Academic Mark sheets and Certificates
• Work Experience Certificates, if applicable.
• Proof of payment of fees, if applicable
• Proof of Funds

Some of the commonly asked questions during the interview are :

• Why are you going to the UK for studies?
• Why have you selected this B-school?
• What do your parents do?
• What is your Father’s annual income?
• What are your plans after completing the course?
• What are your TOEFL / IELTS Score?

MBA aims to build an overall personality of students who can present themselves confidently and professionally in the corporate world. Because of immense competition, MBA aspirants need to develop their personality and be involved with some project which will make you have a superior edge over other candidates.

Business schools want their students to not just study but involve themselves in some extracurricular activity or some additional voluntary project work as well. Out-of-the-class activities are highly appreciated. This will really help you when you are asked questions about your interests in an MBA admission interview.

Time and again, interviewers have looked for students who are self motivated, passionate, enthusiastic, always ready for work and a challenging attitude.

When you tell the interviewer about any extra-curricular activity or project work that you have undertaken and how you tacked the situation or how you developed your hobby or something related, the interviewers feel that the candidate is willing to do something! They can have a glimpse of your personality. For example, an MBA candidate can talk about a social development project that he/she must have undertaken at school/college level or talk about a particular hobby, may be tennis, and how it has helped him equip skills, how it has improved his concentration, how it has improved his determination etc.

It is not enough if you just present the interviewers with a list of things you like. You really have to convince and prove the interviewer about it. Successful applicants present their passions really well. They have actually taken the efforts and the time to develop their interests. You may be questioned about your time management skills because the interviewer wants to know how you will manage your time between MBA studies, projects and your passion! If you are indeed a good manager, you will be able to tackle this one!

Your resume should focus on your development and your career journey so far.

The interviewer is not interested in your personal life. In brief, he/she just wants to know about your educational and career related information that will help him/her to decided whether you should be selected or not.

Resume building is most of the times ignored by students but it is an important milestone that you have to cross in your MBA admission journey.

The resume should explain why MBA is the next logical step in your career move. With believable reasoning, explain why MBA will help you move forward in your career ladder. Explain in brief, how MBA will equip you with necessary skills to help you enter the corporate world.

Here is what the resume should include:

• Name, address and other contact details
• Work experience in reverse chronological order (if applicable)
• Educational qualification in reverse chronological order
• Career Objective
• Extracurricular activities
• Achievement and awards (only relevant ones)
• Skill set

Be honest while preparing your resume. Most of your MBA admission interview questions will be based on your resume. Hence try and present the best. Do not be too boastful about your achievements at the same time. Also elaborate how your work experience has led you to seek admission into a B-school which you are applying to.

The admission officers are looking for diversity, uniqueness and success in a resume. This will help them measure the potential of a candidate. The officer will also look how you have tapped opportunities that came your way and how have did you tackle with the hurdles.

Remember that an impressive resume can just fetch you admission into your dream B-school.

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1. Extra Curricular Activities And MBA Admission

MBA is one of the most lucrative career options for students. No wonder that there are so many B-schools that are springing up in all countries of the world.

Today, there is so much competition for this career that more than half of the MBA applicants are rejected by most of the B-schools. Hence, students are leaving no stone unturned to make it to the B-school of their dreams- be it studying for the entrance exams, practicing questions, learning essays, resume building, personality development or anything!

MBA requires you to be an effective leader, a good communicator, a multi tasking manager, a dynamic executive and above all an all rounder! Hence aspirants need to develop their personality. As an aspirant there may be some weakness that you possess.

One needs to identify those weaknesses and convert them into your strengths. Personality building and grooming becomes essential here.

First a fall, here is a list of characteristics that fall under the category of ‘personality building and grooming’ required for an MBA aspirant.

• Understanding your own personality
• Optimistic attitude
• Good body language and posture
• Healthy self image
• Clear goals
• Effective presentation of self
• Making first impressions
• A motivator
• A good listener
• Social mannerisms
• Making good conversations
• Effective time manager
• Setting correct priorities
• Controlling moods
• Building a strong memory
• Being a leader
• Meticulous and responsible

Students study hard for entrance exams like GMAT and TOEFL. But laying emphasis on these softer aspects is also important. Leaders in organizations are one who commands respect and respect does come from strong self driven personalities.

Remember: you need to position yourself exclusively to be distinctive from the competition.

Usually a group discussion is conducted anywhere between 5-20 people. The group is given a topic which can range from current affairs, social issue, abstract etc

This is usually conducted after the entrance tests are taken. Here are some of the tips for cracking a group discussion :

• Everybody has an opinion on the topic. Express your opinion in a brief and a clear manner. Do not ruminate over one thought for too long.
• Give everybody a chance to speak. Most students feel that the more we talk the more marks we will fetch. This is not true. If you do not give a chance to speak, the examiners see you as a dominating individual which goes against the desired personality.
• In case you are asked to conclude the topic, do not give your personal opinions here. Just briefly explain what was discussed in the GD and what was the outcome.
• Try to use effective quotes to explain your point
• Try and state relevant facts and figures so that the examiners feel that you know the subject well.
• You can use analogies to cite examples to illustrate your point
• Maintain good body language and posture
• Avoid looking at the examiners and maintain eye contact with the rest of the group members.
• Listening to other person’s point is as important as talking.

It is a common belief that students who start with the GD topic get more points. A student can start a GD if he knows well enough about the topic but if a student is not confident about the topic then it is better to contribute later in the GD.

Here is a list of some of the famous books that will help you to know more about MBA :

• Your MBA Game Plan : Proven Strategies for Getting into the Top Business Schools by Omari Bouknight and Scott Shrum
• How To Get Into the Top MBA Programs, 4th Edition by J.D., Richard Montauk
• 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays: With Analysis by the Staff of the Harbus, The Harvard Business School Newspaper by Dan Erck Pavel, Swiatek, The Harbus
• Great Application Essays for Business Schools by Paul Bodine
• The official guide for GMAT Review, 11th edition
• Kaplan GMAT 2008
• Cracking the GMAT by Princeton
• Sentence correction GMAT preparation guide by Manhattan
• MBA Admissions Strategy: From Profile Building to Essay Writing by A.V. Gordon
• ABC of Getting the MBA Admissions Edge – By Alan Mendonca and Matt Symonds
• The Vault MBA Career Bible
• Official MBA handbook 2008
• The Wetfeet Insider Guide to Industries and Careers for MBAs

Other suggestive readings:

• ‘First, break all the rules’ by Gallup’s Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.
• ‘One-Minute Manager’ is a book written by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth H. Blanchard.
• ‘Communicate with Confidence!’ is another recommended book for potential managers and management students.
• Now discover your strengths- A classic written by Marcus that makes the readers understand their own strengths and weaknesses.
• Few other famous books are Competitive Advantage, Competitive Strategy and Competitive Advantage of Nations written by Michael Porter.
• Tom Peters also wrote a book named ‘In Search Of Excellence’ which was a massive hit.
• Edward De Bono’s Lateral Thinking which gave a complete new dimension to management process.

Eligibility: Any Graduate from a recognized university. Final Year students can also apply.

Candidates can obtain the  Form with MAT Bulletin/CD for Rs. 980/- from listed branches of Bank of Baroda, listed Study Centres of AIMA or from AIMA, New Delhi (Phones: 011-24653382 & 41757046).
Or
Obtain crossed DD of Rs. 1050/- in favour of ‘All India Management Association’ payable at Delhi from any Bank. Register online at website www.aima-ind.org/matfeb10 with the DD details.
Or
Candidates can register online at website link www.aima-ind.org/matfeb10 with Credit or Debit Card (ATM Card) payment.

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