Resources for Online MBA Students
- Best Business School Rankings, U.S. News and World Report
- Choosing a Business School, Forbes
- Dealbook, The New York Times
- Freakonomics
- 13 Tips from MBA Students On How to Succeed in a Top-Tier Program
Whether you are a recent college grad looking for a good MBA program or a business professional seeking an advanced degree, you can find a number of excellent resources online for MBA students. These include lists of top programs, blogs that address various MBA specialties and tips for navigating grad school. The following five resources offer some of the best information for MBA students.
1. Best Business School Rankings, U.S. News and World Report
U.S. News researches hundreds of MBA programs, using peer and recruiter reviews to assess the quality of each. The publication also takes into account the program's placement success for graduates, including their average starting salary. It figures in the undergrad GPA and GMAT test scores of those accepted to each MBA program to gauge its selectivity. The most selective programs with the most positive reviews and best grad placement records rank the highest on the U.S. News list. Stanford, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) are some frequent frontrunners.
2. Choosing a Business School, Forbes
If you need help deciding where to apply, The Forbes article, "Choosing a Business School," provides some thoughtful advice. The author discusses the factors most MBA students look for in a program, including the quality of student life, the school's prestige, graduates' average salaries, program size and the tuition. The article cites research that shows prestige to be the number one attribute students consider in applying to specific schools. Prestige is not only an expression of institutional quality but also of its graduates' success.
3. Dealbook, The New York Times
This online aggregator service provides an updated overview of all the financial news that matters. Whether you wish to read about the biggest business leaders, how the NYSE is reacting to current events or what is happening with overseas investments, chances are good that Dealbook has it covered. It shows top headlines and article summaries, making it easy to select those topics that are most relevant to your business focus for further reading. You can even follow the firms where you may want to work someday.
4. Freakonomics
You can keep current on economic news at Freakonomics via podcast, articles and radio broadcasts. Freakonomics.com is an offshoot of the 2005 New York Times bestseller of the same name by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, a classic business tome that many business majors know well. A mixture of social commentary and economic insight, both the book – now a series of books – and the website provide provocative food for thought. Levitt and Dubner write many of the blog posts, give lectures and have even created a feature film based on the Freakonomics brand.
5. 13 Tips from MBA Students On How to Succeed in a Top-Tier Program
This self-help article for MBA students from Forbes provides practical strategies for navigating grad school. The advice comes from those who have been there and lived to tell the tale. Some of the top tips include:
- Explore all the career possibilities before choosing a focus
- Approach grad school with a holistic philosophy and take risks
- Be true to yourself
By giving you some snapshots of what to expect once you hit the ground running in your MBA program, the article helps you avoid common barriers to success.
Related Resource: Top 20 Best Value Online MBA Programs
Conclusion
These are just a few examples of the online resources available to MBA students. They are good places to start if you want to get ahead of the curve. Arming yourself with as much knowledge as possible is a smart strategy in any MBA program.