Part Time MBA Course

When I got into Kelley, I made a promise to myself - I was going to get involved outside the classroom, build my network, and take full advantage of the fact that I was going to a top 20 business school.

This determination led me to take on the role of president for the Kelley Direct Women in Business group (KDWMBA).  Through this group, I have worked closely with KD staff, collaborated with fellow students on new initiatives, and even traveled a bit.  I went to Indiana in the fall of 2009 to meet the new first years and talk about my KD experiences, attended an MBA conference in California last October, and participated in the NAWMBA leadership retreat in Utah this past weekend.  NAWMBA, a not-for profit dedicated to "empowering women MBAs in order to propel more women into leadership positions in corporate America and to enhance the diversity of the nation's workforce", is KDWMBA’s national affiliation and an organization I am proud to be a part of (bit.ly/NAWMBA).

The retreat last weekend was an incredible experience!  I spent three days at a resort & spa surrounded by snow-capped mountain with some truly inspirational MBA students and professional women from around the country (yes, that picture to the left is of the view from my room!).  We attended numerous workshops, learned about leadership and how to leverage our strengths, and participated in networking events that allowed us to build strong connections with one another. 

I am so happy that I kept that promise to myself, as my experience at Kelley has been so enriched by my involvement with KDWMBA and NAWMBA.  Of course, at the time, I didn't know that "being involved" would mean getting a facial at a spa in Utah, but who am I to question the small surprises in life?

When I started the Kelley Direct distance learning MBA program, I had no doubt that I would be getting a high quality education.  Kelley is, after all, a top-tier business school.  Even so, the KD program has surpassed all my expectations.  The classes are very engaging, challenging, require lots of teamwork, and are structured to emphasize real-world application of the material.  Add to this the in-residence weeks, and "online MBA" doesn't even come close to describing the experience I've had so far. 

There are two in-residences built into the Kelley Direct program, and each is a week-long, 1.5 credit class held on the beautiful IU campus in Bloomington, IN.  I recently returned from my second in-residence, the one that marked the start to my final year as an MBA student, provided valuable face-to-face time with fellow classmates, and deepened my connection with Kelley and IU.   

My 2^nd year in-residence week was packed full of lectures, team projects, and networking events.  The days were long and exhausting, but Kelley's "work hard/play hard" culture consistently shined through.  Each morning began with a group breakfast followed by a day full of lectures.  Now, I realize that eight hours of lectures may not sound even remotely appealing, but each class session was so engaging and entertaining that I had no trouble staying focused.  Over the course of the week, we were taught by four professors and every single one had a terrific sense of humor, practical knowledge that made us eager to learn, and a remarkable ability to capture and keep our attention.  I can say, without any hesitation, that I absolutely loved the lectures and interactions with my professors and classmates.  Eight hours go by quickly when you're laughing (and learning) the whole time.

Teamwork is a big part of the KD program, and the in-residence is no exception.  So, after a day of lectures, we typically had a team assignment due by the next morning.  However, unlike in the 1st year in-residence, we were now experienced MBA students.  We had an entire year of classes under our belts, were equipped with new skills, and were able to tackle assignments confidently and efficiently.  Case studies - no problem!  It was very rewarding to see how much I had learned since the start of the MBA program and to know that, just one year later, I was so much more effective at completing these difficult assignments.

We also had quite a bit more time to socialize and network than during the 1st year in-residence.  After all, we had survived an entire year of classes, and our reward, the chance to explore Bloomington and strengthen relationships with one another, was well-deserved!  Our evenings included a dinner at Assembly Hall, a formal dinner with faculty and staff, a social night at Nick's, and multiple team dinners at some of the local restaurants.  One day we even had a special guest speaker, Marshall Goldsmith, a former Kelley alumnus who was in town to be honored at the IU Business Conference (bit.ly/99Ouq9).  A New York Times best-selling author, Marshall shared some of the lessons he teaches to executives around the world, gave us a copy of two of his books, and even stayed late to do a book signing.  This was an added bonus to an already fantastic week!

The in-residence weeks are such an invaluable part of the KD program.  Yes, it is hard to take off work and leave family and friends for a solid week of class.  Yes, the week is incredibly demanding and exhausting, requiring an intense amount of focus and creativity.  The ability to balance personal, professional, and student life is undeniably a challenge.  However, it is possible, and it is very much worth it.

Whenever I speak with prospective students I get the question, "What are you looking for in a successful application?"  I always appreciate this question as it allows me to have a dialog with the prospective student about what the Kelley School of Business expects from it's students and just as important, what they should expect from the Kelley School of Business.  Selecting an online MBA/MS program is a two way street and we understand it is just as important for you to evaluate us as it is for us to evaluate you.  With that being said, here is insight into the Admissions Review Committee's expectations from our future online MBA/MS students:

We review the transcripts from your degree programs.  We look at the courses you took and how you performed in your upper level courses.  You are not disadvantaged if you haven't taken any business courses in your previous degrees.  We look at overall quality and improvement in performance.  We do encourage our students who have not had an accounting or statistics course within the last 5 years with a B or higher to take our accounting and statistics Primers.  These two foundation courses will help you achieve success in your courses.

We review your years of work experience, types of positions you have held and look for upward mobility within your resume.  If you haven't been promoted, you can strengthen your application by taking on additional responsibilities within your current position. With this, we read your letters of reference to add value to experiences and help us understand what value you will add to our incoming cohort.

We review your complete GMAT score.  We look at quantitative and verbal scores as well as when you took the GMAT and how often.  Our average GMAT is usually around 630.  Although the GMAT is not the only aspect of the application we evaluate, it is an important component.  Please study and prepare before you take the GMAT.  We find too many students go into the test without preparation and are disappointed with their scores.  This is the part of your application you have the most control over, please take it seriously.  It is not unusual for us to see a strong application but a weak GMAT.  Often times, we may ask an applicant to retake the GMAT for further consideration.


Finally, we review the application itself, including your personal statement.  This is where you get to sell yourself to the committee.  We want you to tell us what we don't know about you from reading the rest of your application.  Why do you want your MBA/MS degree and how will earning it online assist you in reaching your goals? This is also an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills, so please proof read before submitting.

Again, you are not alone during this process. Our staff are here to assist you through the application process.  We believe the Kelley School of Business offers the best distance MBA and MS programs and want you to be prepared to enter into this new stage in your life.  Earning your MBA/MS online will require time management, commitment to studying, and putting your best foot forward.  Your application should be no different. 

If you have any other questions about any of our online MBA/MS requirements, please feel free to contact us at kdirect@indiana.edu

I often get questions from prospective online mba students about our in-residence requirement. I want to take a moment to talk about the in-residence and its importance to a student's learning experience.

All of our degree programs require an in-residence experience. The Kelley Direct in-residence takes place over the span of one week (5 days) on the Bloomington, Indiana campus. During this week students are oriented into Kelley Direct and Indiana University, learn about our course delivery technology and meet with other students.

The in-residence is the students’ opportunity to connect with Indiana University as a whole. Although students are usually pursuing a distance MBA program this week allows them the chance to visit the campus and attend on campus events. All students receive IU identification cards and have full access to the IU bookstore.

This week is not just a week-long orientation; students take a 1.5 credit course toward their degree. The basis of the course is about organizational change, and students are put into groups to complete assignments and compete in a case competition. In actuality, the week is pretty intense and many students stay up into the early morning hours working on course work.

I think the in-residence is a great benefit for individuals considering their local part time MBA program. The in-residence helps to bridge the gap between those two experiences.

The biggest advantage of in-residence is the networking opportunities. Each evening students are provided an opportunity to network with the entire incoming class. Many strong relationships have been built during in-residence and many students team up with other students to take classes together throughout their MBA/MS experience.

Overall, the in-residence is a way to bring people together who are considering distance MBA programs or an online MBA school.

Learn more about In-residence here: http://kd.iu.edu/aboutkd/inresidence.htm