2 of 3: At the half-way mark!
Written: Aug 11 '03 (Updated Feb 10 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Required increasing significant self-discipline to stay on top of workload.
Cons: Perfectionists should not be working for this program.
The Bottom Line: Warn your family you'll be commandeering the computer until the program is complete....
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| myoptical's Full Review: University of Phoenix |
My assessment of this school will be broken into 3 reviews:
1-Application and Enrollment
2-Mid-program assessment
3-Program completion (goal is 2-2.5 years)
This is the second of a set of reviews where I will narrate and offer my "epinions" about matriculating through University of Phoenix's Online MBA curriculum.
I just had to complete a Financial Aid renewal for the 2003-2004 school year. The complete process was facilitated online - what a relief.
I originally enrolled in MBA school for a few reasons: (1) To fast-track my learning curve to mid-management level of thinking and knowledge, (2) To enhance my ability to drive my organization's business vision forward.
Currently, I am enrolled in an e-Business Concepts and Principles course. Having completed the base MBA course load I am now taking the classes specific to my Technology Management MBA focus. To date the Accounting, Economics and Finance courses have been invaluable in my account management position with the Infrastructure Managed Services division of Unisys. Even though I took Cal 3 in undergrad, I abhorred the twisted mathematical logic of the Accounting profession. Economics was much more palatable as it behaves more like a living organism; which is easily understood by a biology undergrad major. Finance was almost as challenging as the previous two fiscal-related courses. It built on them as well as adding its own content. When I was half-way through this course I began to truly understand the value of a graduate business degree.
Statistics & Research Methods and the Operations Management
courses were engaging and could immediately be put to use although they came before the courses refernce previously. However, the Accounting, Finance and Economics classes made a lasting and significant change to my pervue of project and program management. My business awareness, ability to articulate as well as identify potential risks, along with the skills necessary to develop recommendations or an action plan to address them, has increased four-fold; and I'm only half way through the program.
UoPHx has moved away from defaulting to hard copy text materials and has gone totally electronic. There are always at least two formats: one published to be 'easy to read' and another for enhanced printing. Also, each format can be downloaded section-by-section. One of the financial benefits is that there is just one "rEsource" fee for all your electronic class materials. This makes budgeting for each class simplified.
Macromedia simulations now accompany most of my courses. This allows, at a very high level, to test the theory referenced in the reading materials.
UoPhx has made several attempts to enhance and upgrade the Online environment. Not all of them have been successful, however. Luckily they were following good project management methodology and had a backout plan.
One drawback that I just have to mention is that I change Student Advisors and Financial Aid advisors about every 3 months. Still haven't figured out why they change so frequently. Nonetheless, they are very responsive and I infrequently have to wait more than a day for an email or phone response.
By June 2004 I should complete my matriculation and can have my freetime back. Hooray!
All-in-all, the program is good and getting better.
Study Hard,
Myoptical
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
myoptical
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Member: JOHN B. WADE III, all liberties reserved
Location: near Chicago, Illinois Republic
Reviews written: 59
Trusted by: 64 members
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