Following the lead and inspiration from Scott H. Young, I have decided to challenge myself to study the MBA courses from MIT's OpenCourseWare initiative. Over the next 2 years, I am going to *self* study the Sloan School of Management's MBA courses without enrolling into the program.
Why Am I Doing This?
I had always wanted to pursue a MBA degree. But, getting an MBA from a good school is extremely costly. Tuition fees from the top MBA schools like Wharton, Harvard, Emory, Sloan, Kellogg can range from $100K to $200K. I am not at a point where I can afford these tuition fees, nor can I justify their ROI. Plus, I am looking for flexibility where I can study at my own pace. Due to these reasons, I am pursuing this self-study option. Even if I don't complete all courses, I will have no regrets of losing money.
Am I Qualified for a MBA?
Yes, I feel that I am qualified for this education, but I will have to figure out ways to optimize work-life balance. I have a bachelors degree in Engineering from one of the reputed government colleges in India. Additionally, I have two Masters degrees from universities in the US. Plus, I am currently serving at a mid-level management role with a fortune 500 company. With this MBA education, I want to be full ready and be prepared for the leadership position as and when it arrives. More About Me.
What If I Fail?
My second Masters degree was completely online. So, I know I can follow-through on this challenge through its completion. If I fail, I will just consider this as as failed experiment where I did not execute on my commitment. Since no money is involved, I will have no regrets. Even if I absorb only 50% of the material, it is still better than not studying at all. So, no harm in trying.
What Are Disadvantages of Self-Study?
Of course, there is a reason why top MBA schools charge top dollars for their students. They provide networking opportunities for executives and professionals which would not be available to me. Secondly, I will not be able to have class interaction with fellow students and faculty. Lastly, this self-study program is NOT going to lead to a degree.
How Will I Study?
As much as possible, I will follow the class curriculum including reading assignments, homework, tests, and final exams. If answers are available, I will grade them according to answers provided by the professors. If no answers are available, I will use my own criteria to evaluate my answers. If I fail in a course, I will retake the course or find another suitable course in its place.
How Many Course Will I Take?
I will plan on taking a total of 12 courses, 5 of which would be core courses, and remaining 7 will be from their electives from Enterprise Management and Innovation tracks. Here is a tentative list of courses I will be taking. I will refine this list as I go along.
15.011 Economic Analysis for Business Decisions
15.060 Data, Models, and Decisions
15.280 Communication for Managers
15.311 Organizational Processes
15.515 Financial Accounting
15.760B Introduction to Operations Management
15.352 Managing Innovation: Emerging Trends
15.356 How to Develop "Breakthrough" Products and Services
15.783J / 2.739J Product Design and Development
15.821 Listening to the Customer
15.667 Negotiation and Conflict Management
MAS.666 / 15.971 Developmental Entrepreneurship
15.768 Management of Services: Concepts, Design, and Delivery
15.433 Investments
How Much Will This Cost Me?
I would say NOT MUCH. My ONLY costs are going to be books and my own time. In terms of books, I have noticed that some of the used books are available on Amazon for under $10. My initial estimate for the books is around $300. This may change a little as I refine my course selections.
What is MIT OpenCourseWare?
MIT OpenCourseWare is a FREE publication of MIT course materials that reflects almost all the undergraduate and graduate subjects taught at MIT. More Info.
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