Questions & Answers with Part-time Smith Students

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The following excerpts are from recent online discussions between prospective applicants and current students. 

How much time do you spend a week on classes?
I spend about 12 hours per week in class, and at least that amount of time outside of class working on projects and studying.

Do you work full-time?
Yes. I am an account executive for a mortgage lender. A majority of students in the part-time program work full-time, and find the workload manageable. The program will quickly test your time management skills.

Did you find the core classes relatively easy and the electives to be much more difficult?
I found the core courses to be challenging, because they were topics that I had not studied before MBA school. The electives more deeply explore topics that interest me, so that has made studying for those classes easier.

How did you like working in groups and were there a lot of group projects?
There is typically a group project in just about every class. The MBA school encourages working in teams and communicating within your group to get (group) projects done.

How much group work did you do in your first month of graduate school (particularly in Financial Accounting & Leadership/Teamwork classes if you recall)?
At the time, I thought there was a lot of group work in my first semester at Smith, especially in Leadership/Teamwork. Now I realize how light that load seems in retrospect. When I started, these two classes were only 8 weeks long. If they are still only 8 weeks long, you should ask the professor the impact of missing two classes.

Have you had any fellow classmates who need to miss a class?
Yes, Several classmates and teammates have been out of town at some point while we had class. Some had to miss presentations, but not many. Talk with your teammates and explain your situation. I am sure that they would want their team to accommodate them if they were in your shoes.

In general, how flexible did/do you find team members to be if you have to miss a class?
Team members can be pretty flexible -- everyone typically has a situation in which they may have to miss a class at some point during the first year. Just make sure that you carry your weight and make up for any lost time.

If I wanted to accelerate my studies by taking winter classes, how would I do that?
Check the long-term schedule on the Smith website http://www.mba.umd.edu/schedule/LTindex.asp. If there are classes that you would like to take during the winter, just sign up. Note: you have to complete your core classes before you can accelerate by taking electives.

Do you know anyone who is accelerating or is that rarely the case?
I have accelerated and plan to graduate a half-year early. I have found the workload to be challenging, but manageable. I know others who have done the same.

On financing for classes, do you know much about the TERP payment plan?
I know with the TERP payment plan you can stagger tuition payments over ten months. Check out the website: http://www.inform.umd.edu/bursar/enrollForm.html

Here is another website you might find useful: http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu:8001/part-time/related_sites.asp

If I ever had to miss a class, would it be possible to make it up?
This is something you will have to work out with each professor -- they are usually understanding about travel for work. In my experience, professors have allowed me to make up a class on an alternate night. However, this is not always possible since different sections may learn the material at different paces.

How often are you meeting with your teammates? I am guessing that every other weekend you're in class, and then in the off weekend, you meet with your team ... is this accurate?
I would say that is fairly accurate. This semester, members of my groups have done a lot of the work individually, then met via conference call to discuss the results and compilation.

Each class and semester may vary a bit. When I first started, I attended class on weeknights. My groups met about every other weekend. Now that I am a weekend student, members of my groups have had less time to meet in person.

You will find other students who have schedules and needs similar to your own. You should gravitate towards those students' groups when possible.

How many students use laptops?
Several students use laptops in and around the classrooms at the Reagan Building. A laptop is not required, but would certainly be helpful. I would guess around 10% of the students bring a laptop with them to class.

If you do purchase one, be sure to get a wireless internet card, as the wireless web is accessible in most DC classrooms now.

What kind of laptop are you using?
I am one of the 90% who does not bring a laptop. I do not yet own one. I have been looking at the Dell.

Does the Reagan building have the wireless web (similar to Van Munching Hall)?
Yes. The wireless web is accessible in all classrooms now (as of last semester). If you own or buy a laptop computer, you can use the wireless internet at the Smith campus in DC if you have a wireless network card.

Does the Reagan building have a study lounge?
Yes. There are two lounges, which are really just open areas where students travel through on their way to the classrooms. They are not very private, so I usually have group meetings in the conference room (on the concourse level) or in one of the offices on the 3rd floor (by the upstairs classrooms)


Where do you study? My house has too many distractions with a wife, a dog and three cats. Is there any library space that I can secure in the area?
I usually study at home -- when I get home after class, my apartment is usually pretty quiet. However, Smith is part of a consortium of schools in the DC area. With your Smith student ID, you can access libraries at Georgetown, George Washington and American University.

How often is there a break in the schedule? It looks a bit foreboding!
There are regular breaks to make the workload less stressful. For example, there is a long break for the evening students after the fall semester (from ca. December 20 - January 28) and two short breaks after the spring semester and Summer Session II. After my first semester, I have found the workload to be completely manageable. Plan to devote your spare hours studying and working on group projects, and manage your time well. The best stress relief is sticking to your schedule and budgeting your time to include everything you have to do (be sure to include time with your family).

Is it the norm for part-time students to have a notebook computer?
You do not have to have a notebook computer in the part-time program.

Are there computer requirements (Windows XP and MS Office Professional)?
You do not have to have Windows XP or MS Office Professional. Older versions of MS Office and any recent OS are acceptable.

How close is metro to the Regan building? Are most people using the metro?
Federal Triangle (Blue line) is right next to the Reagan Building, and Metro Center (Red Line) is just a few blocks away.

I am coming from Rockville MD is it manageable to drive to the Washington, D.C. campus?
Definitely manageable. I drive in from Greenbelt for class, against traffic. I would imagine that the commute from Rockville into DC would be against traffic as well.

Is it possible to do my second or third year in Shady Grove campus if I am taking my core classes at the Washington, D.C. campus?
Yes. Once you complete your core courses, you can take your electives courses at any campus you so chose.

When do you have to declare your concentration (IT)?
You don't have to declare a concentration. All MBA students receive the same degree. I chose Financial Engineering when I began taking the appropriate electives for that concentration. However, there was no official declaration.

I am a career switcher interested in real estate finance. I know that going full time offers you more time to networking and attending functions, but does the part time option still provide support for career options? Or is the part time program geared more for someone who is just going back to move up with a company they are already with?
The part-time program should give you plenty of opportunities to build your network and get the word out that you are interested in starting a career in real estate finance. Going full time may afford you more time to network and attend recruiting functions, but you can also make it a priority to attend these events while in the part-time program.

I switched careers mid-program when I entered the subprime residential mortgage industry (I used to be in retail banking). I may choose to move to another company if the offer is the right one. However, the greatest output from the part-time MBA program (aside from the academics) has been the network I have built.

Many of my schoolmates plan to switch careers after they get their MBA, and many plan to stay where they are (and hopefully move up). If I were you, I would get the perspective of a full-time student for contrast. Then, you can decide what is right for you.

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