Disadvantages Of Part Time Programs

Although going to business school part-time may sound appealing, the decision has many disadvantages. In fact, going to business school part-time all the way through your program may keep you from graduating. Fewer than 10 percent of graduate students go to business school part-time, and there are several reasons they make this choice.

Takes Too Long to Finish

When you're going back to school, the first question you'll begin considering is when you will finish. Going to school part-time can double or triple your anticipated graduation date. If you are considering changing jobs after finishing business school, then you will be stuck waiting even longer to make your career change.

In addition, most business schools have a time limit on how long you can take to finish school. Generally, the cutoff date is about six years. If you are in a thirty-six hour program, you can go six years, taking only three hours per semester, and you'll barely finish on time. If you had to take one semester off, you wouldn't be allowed to graduate.

Skills Become Dull

The entire reason to go to graduate school is to sharpen your skills (I know, there's probably a raise involved too, but that's because you'll be sharpening your skills). If, however, you take six years to finish the program, the skills you learn may become dull by the time your graduate. Unless you are actually implementing what you learn as you go, you will find that your skills are no longer sharp, and you're probably in the same position you started in.

Waiting for a Raise

Many students return to business school in order to get a raise. Over half of business students are in school simply so that they'll make more money in the long run. If you are spending six years trying to get your degree, then you won't be getting that raise for a long time to come.

Your Employer May Cut the Program

If your employer is currently funding your program, watch out. Although you may have a great deal now, your employer could be part of a merger or they could simply decide to cut the program for financial reasons. If you can't afford to continue your education on your own, you end up with a few credits and no degree, making it more difficult for you to move to a new company.

What to Do?

If at all possible, go to business school full-time. If you find that you simply can't go full-time this year, consider going full-time in the next couple of years and bumping up your credit hours per semester. You may also want to consider online universities if you are traveling often - these programs are flexible and most employers love working with them. There are lots of options, so do what you can to go to business school full-time, enhance your skills, and better your life.

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