earn an MBA or an MBA/JD

I’m roughly 1/3 of the way through the Spring semester (although it does not feel anything like Spring tonight). I am somewhat tempted to enroll in a 10-day study abroad program this summer that would lead me to Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; and Prague, Czech Republic. The cost (including tuition, flight, hotel and tours BUT not including spending money and most meals) = $4,400. It could be an incredible experience… but would it be financially dumb?

I decided against the joint MBA/JD program at Stetson for one simple reason: I enjoy (and need to) work. My life would be a horrible bore and I would graduate a bitter though well-educated man. ;)

As it stands, provided I pass my two classes this semester, I will need only 8 more to earn my MBA. Perhaps that seems like a lot, but keep in mind that spent two semesters completing the prerequisites. I am on track to graduate in May 2010.

I am going to take some time in the next few days to again consider transferring from USF to Stetson for the opportunity to simultaneously pursue a JD.

“Students electing to enter this program will enjoy a significant savings in required course work. The MBA program accepts 12 semester hours from a list of approved electives in the law curriculum, and the College of Law accepts 12 semester hours from the MBA curriculum. The student’s net benefit is a 24-hour reduction when compared to pursuing the two degrees independently due to the 12 hours of cross-over credits accepted by each school.”

Hooray, I received an ‘A’ in my one and only summer course. :) Thankfully, I had an excellent project team which helped. Classes resume in late August. Until then, I can officially enjoy summer vacation… with the exception of a CAPM certification exam which I will take in July 28. Wish me luck.

By the age of 35, I will have completed my MBA and either (a) be engaged/married and looking forward to the start of a family (b) not engaged/married and likely enroll in law school part-time – partly because the subject matter intrigues me, and partly as an admittedly weird tribute to the only woman I truly loved and to whom I should have proposed. We dated throughout her time in law school.

Where did I leave off… ah yes, my prerequisites are complete and I have finished two courses that count toward my GPA and degree – one statistics course (required), and one management course (optional).

This summer I am taking one required course and in the fall I will take another two required courses.

I am on track to graduate in the Spring of 2009.

Economic, Accounting, Finance and Management = complete.
Next up… Operations Management

Three pre-requisites down: Economics, Accounting and now Finance. Four to go by semester’s end.

The University of South Florida Bulls have cracked the top 10 in the NCAA football rankings.

The Bulls are ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll.

For students without the benefir of undergraduate coursework (moi), USF offers MBA Essentials – “an intensive, one semester non-credit expereince that mixes Internet and in-class learning of basic concepts and terminology.”

The courses are: Economics, Accounting, Finance, Management, Operations Management, MIS and Marketing.

Each course spans two or three weeks.

Thus far I have taken and passed both Economics and Accounting. Finance is in progress. Wish me luck!