Student Profile: Matt Stanley |
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I'm a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Oklahoma City. I received an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. At present, I'm pursuing a Masters in Business Administration from Kelley Direct and am in the process of completing my third and fourth courses.
An advanced degree is strongly recommended for promotion in the Air Force, and it's required for promotion to senior ranks. I decided to purse an advanced degree not only to enhance and broaden my career options, but also to learn more about business.
I did a lot of research online prior to selecting a program. I searched different journals that rank schools, like BusinessWeek and U.S. News and World Report. I looked for schools that offered online programs; schools where I would be accepted; schools that were affordable but still had a good reputation; and programs I felt I could complete based on military constraints. Kelley Direct was the only top tier school that met all the criteria.
Kelley Direct does an excellent job of selecting text books. It may seem like a small thing, but when you're learning in an online environment, you have to read the book, particularly when business knowledge is limited. The readability, the currency of the text book, how recently it was produced, and the relevancy of it have all been outstanding.
I've been pleased with the faculty, the level of knowledge, the professionalism and the instruction that I've received. The instructor's ability to crank out messages and create a forum type format that fosters interaction is critical. Their dedication and motivation helps keep the students motivated too.
From a technical perspective, Kelley Direct's online environment is outstanding. The organization and presentation of the Web site make it a warm and inviting place to do e-work. The most obvious advantage of Kelley Direct's online format is the asynchronicity of it. As a pilot, I have a very erratic schedule and typically work long days. I often fly 10-hour missions, and I wouldn't be able to attend class in the evenings. I also travel for extended periods of time. Unlike conventional graduate programs, Kelley Direct allows students to complete work at the time and place of their choosing.
The best part of the learning process (to date) has been meeting other students at the in-residence. An important part of a business degree is the ability to network with peers, and the in-residence provides that. The depth of Kelley Direct students and the breadth of their experiences are amazing. Students literally come from all over the world and from many different companies and industries.
To me, the total value of Kelley Direct is determined by the academic/learning value and the financial value. It's too early for me to determine the financial value, but I can already tell the learning perspective will be invaluable.
