Return to:
Capella University
Rebecca Mott
Manager
Class of 2011, master’s degree in business administration
Capella University
Happy with her current employer, Rebecca Mott was simply looking for a way to enhance her management skills when she started researching business administration master’s programs. She initially began attending an MBA program at a brick-and-mortar school, but found the evening classes to be a strain with her busy schedule. Soon after, she turned her research towards online education. “I chose online education because it afforded me the flexibility to study on a schedule that fit my busy lifestyle,” said Mott. In comparing the curricula, she found that one school in particular had rigorous standards that measured up to some of the best business schools in the country — Capella University. “I reviewed the quality of the materials used in the online courses,” she said. “I found that the textbooks used at Capella were the same textbooks used at other top business schools, like Harvard University. I really liked the flexibility of Capella’s classes, but also the fact that they are challenging.”
Mott enrolled in Capella’s online MBA program in the fall of 2007. Continuing to work full-time as a project manager for a laboratory, she also balanced her school work with a busy personal life. Mott admitted it was not easy, but Capella’s asynchronous learning environment made it feasible. “I could log on in the middle of the night – I did many times – and complete discussion assignments,” she said. Still, Mott warned prospective students not to underestimate the level of work they will have to contribute to their courses, which she estimated was at least 10-20 hours a week. “It is the same commitment of time as attending a brick-and-mortar program, yet you can complete your work on your own schedule,” she noted. “The flexibility is a key component of being able to balance it all.”
As she progressed through the program, Mott found her course work was directly applicable to her job as a manager. “Most of the MBA classes require a challenging final project in order to complete the course,” Mott explained. “I was able to use real-life subject matter from my current job to explore challenges currently facing my team.” This implementation even won her praise from upper management. “My boss commented many times on my growth as a manager as I went through the classes,” she said. In addition, Mott enjoyed group assignments that gave her the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of online students. “One of my team mates was a soldier stationed in Iraq,” she noted. “The great thing about Capella is that you get to meet so many different people from all walks of life and different industries. I don’t believe I would have had that kind of enriching experience attending a local college.”
Mott graduated from Capella’s online MBA program in Febuary 2011. In comparing her experience with traditional higher education programs, Mott did admit there were some hurdles in the online environment, but believed these were learning opportunities of their own. “It is more difficult to engage people when you are using only emails or discussion boards to connect,” she said. “However, it does challenge you to learn how to communicate effectively when face-to-face discussions are not possible. My job requires a lot of interfacing via email and telephone, so I was able to strengthen the communication skills I needed to be more effective in my position.”
Mott also encouraged those considering online education to take advantage of all the resources available to them such as free writing and study tips, but most importantly their peers and professors. “One of the benefits of an online program such as Capella is that you do get to network with so many people,” she said. “I would strongly encourage students to connect, connect, connect!” Networking is a very important aspect of the educational experience that should not be ignored, especially for those who are looking to change career paths Mott emphasized.
As for what makes Capella the best online college, Mott credits the supportive learning environment. “They challenge you, but at the same time, they want to see you succeed,” she explained. “I also like the fact that the professors at Capella have a real-world perspective. It is one thing to read about some theory in a book; it is another thing to actually apply what you are learning to real-life situations.” Capella’s faculty and staff understand this key aspect of adult education and put it at the forefront of their curriculum. “This ended up being one of the greatest benefits of the MBA program with Capella,” said Mott.
