Something that's great about part time programs is that everyone you're in school with is in the same boat - they already have generally decent careers but are ambitious and capable enough to make the investment in furthering themselves (or pivoting) - that's a great group. The full-time MBAs kinda felt like "kids" in comparison - I don't mean that as a put down, they were capable and driven in their own way, I just think the part timers are special in that way.
Something that worked for me - I didn't feel the urge to graduate quickly (would be different if I needed the degree to pivot roles) so I graduated in 5 years whereas others did it in 2. This had multiple benefits: I got to focus more on each class w/o burning out, and I got to meet WAY more people and do many more social things - ski trips, study abroad, etc.
I also took the strategy of trying to learn what I don't know. My background is in engineering/tech/economics, so I made sure to not take any "Managing IT" type classes and to test out of as much Econ as possible. Instead, I focused on things I didn't know anything about (entrepreneurship, marketing, competitive strategy etc.) All of that served me well.
Mainly, the MBA is social and fun. A bit after I graduated, I opted for an in person graduate program in Data Science and promptly bailed. The social element was so boring that there was no reason to be traveling to campus - was missing out nothing compared to studying at home. But the MBA, the material is good but I found the social/personal evolution just as if not more valuable.
Happy to answer anything else. What school are you going to?
It was 100% in person, it was around 2011. I wonder how much remoteness there is in MBA programs now. I imagine those are the programs that would lose the most from lack of physical proximity.
Something that's great about part time programs is that everyone you're in school with is in the same boat - they already have generally decent careers but are ambitious and capable enough to make the investment in furthering themselves (or pivoting) - that's a great group. The full-time MBAs kinda felt like "kids" in comparison - I don't mean that as a put down, they were capable and driven in their own way, I just think the part timers are special in that way.
Something that worked for me - I didn't feel the urge to graduate quickly (would be different if I needed the degree to pivot roles) so I graduated in 5 years whereas others did it in 2. This had multiple benefits: I got to focus more on each class w/o burning out, and I got to meet WAY more people and do many more social things - ski trips, study abroad, etc.
I also took the strategy of trying to learn what I don't know. My background is in engineering/tech/economics, so I made sure to not take any "Managing IT" type classes and to test out of as much Econ as possible. Instead, I focused on things I didn't know anything about (entrepreneurship, marketing, competitive strategy etc.) All of that served me well.
Mainly, the MBA is social and fun. A bit after I graduated, I opted for an in person graduate program in Data Science and promptly bailed. The social element was so boring that there was no reason to be traveling to campus - was missing out nothing compared to studying at home. But the MBA, the material is good but I found the social/personal evolution just as if not more valuable.
Happy to answer anything else. What school are you going to?