Don't pay for your MBA : the faster, cheaper, better way to get the business education you need

Who needs a mountain of debt? Each year, the nations top business schools are flooded with applications from people eager to pursue their MBA dreams. But those aspirations come at a steep price. According to U.S. News and World Report , the average debt load for graduates of NYUs Stern School of Business, MITs Sloan School of Management, and other top business schools exceeds $100,000. Like most, author Laurie Pickard couldnt shoulder that. But she faced a dilemma: despite two degrees and a Peace Corps stint, she needed a business education to land her dream job in international development. She decided to take her education into her own hands, and found that some of those same prestigious business schools offer MOOCs (massive online open courses) for low or even no cost. By picking the right classes from the best schools, she gained the skills without all the debt. In Dont Pay for Your MBA , Pickard shows self-starters, career changers, and budding entrepreneurs how to navigate the expanding universe of online education. Building on her popular No-Pay MBA blog, Pickard reveals how to: Define your goals and tailor a curriculum that works for you Master the language of business Build a strong network Choose a concentration and deepen your expertise Showcase your nontraditional education in a way that attracts offers Self-directed learning fills gaps in your training, positions you for promotions, and opens up new opportunities. Why pay exorbitant tuition when you can MOOC your way to success? The average debt load for graduates of the top business schools has now exceeded $100,000! For most young professionals, this means spending the first half of their career in the red and feeling pressure to take the first position offered to them so that they can start paying off their debt. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Author and businesswoman Laurie Pickard discovered a way to get the business education she needed to land her dream job while avoiding the massive school loans that plague so many. And in Don’t Pay for Your MBA, she shares all that she learned so that others can benefit as well.Pickard discovered that the same prestigious business schools that offer the MBAs so many covet also offer MOOCs (massive online open courses) for low or even no cost. By picking the right classes from the best schools, she gained the skills she needed and avoided the debt she could not afford to take on. The most difficult part was knowing how to begin and where to look. So she has provided this resource for other self-starters, career changers, and budding entrepreneurs so that they can best learn how to navigate the expanding universe of online education. Within these pages, learn how to:• Define your goals and tailor a curriculum that is geared toward your dream job• Master the language of business• Build a strong network• Choose a concentration and deepen your expertise• Showcase your nontraditional education in a way that attracts companiesDon’t fall for the lies that pressure countless graduates every year into MBA programs and insurmountable debt. Self-directed online learning can fill gaps in your training, position you for promotions, and open up new opportunities--at a fraction of the cost! The average debt load for graduates of the top business schools has now exceeded $100,000! For most young professionals, this means spending the first half of their career in the red and feeling pressure to take the first position offered to them so that they can start paying off their debt. But it doesn't have to be that way! Author and businesswoman Laurie Pickard discovered a way to get the business education she needed to land her dream job while avoiding the massive school loans that plague so many. And in Don't Pay for Your MBA, she shares all that she learned so that others can benefit as well.Pickard discovered that the same prestigious business schools that offer the MBAs so many covet also offer MOOCs (massive online open courses) for low or even no cost. By picking the right classes from the best schools, she gained the skills she needed and avoided the debt she could not afford to take on. The most difficult part was knowing how to begin and where to look. So she has provided this resource for other self-starters, career changers, and budding entrepreneurs so that they can best learn how to navigate the expanding universe of online education. Within these pages, learn how to: Define your goals and tailor a curriculum that is geared toward your dream job Master the language of business Build a strong network Choose a concentration and deepen your expertise Showcase your nontraditional education in a way that attracts companiesDon't fall for the lies that pressure countless graduates every year into MBA programs and insurmountable debt. Self-directed online learning can fill gaps in your training, position you for promotions, and open up new opportunities#8212;at a fraction of the cost! Discover the secrets and tips to get the business education you need, the faster and cheaper way. The average debt load for graduates of the top business schools has now exceeded $100,000. For most young professionals, this means spending the first half of their career in the red and feeling pressure to take the first position offered to them so that they can start paying off their debt. However, it doesn't have to be that way. Author and businesswoman Laurie Pickard discovered a way to get the business education she needed to land her dream job while avoiding the massive school loans that plague so many. In Don't Pay for Your MBA, she shares all that she learned so that others can benefit as well. Pickard discovered that the same prestigious business schools that offer the MBAs so many covet also offer MOOCs (massive online open courses) for low or even no cost. Within these pages, you will learn how to: Define your goals and tailor a curriculum that is geared toward your dream job Master the language of business Build a strong network Choose a concentration and deepen your expertise Showcase your nontraditional education in a way that attracts companies Don't fall for the lies that pressure countless graduates every year into MBA programs and insurmountable debt. Self-directed online learning can fill gaps in your training, position you for promotions, and open new opportunities—at a fraction of the cost! "The average debt load for graduates of the top business schools has now exceeded $100,000! For most young professionals, this means spending the first half of their career in the red and feeling pressure to take the first position offered to them so that they can start paying off their debt. But it doesn't have to be that way! Author and businesswoman Laurie Pickard discovered a way to get the business education she needed to land her dream job while avoiding the massive school loans that plague so many. And in Don't Pay for Your MBA, she shares all that she learned so that others can benefit as well. Pickard discovered that the same prestigious business schools that offer the MBAs so many covet also offer MOOCs (massive online open courses) for low or even no cost. By picking the right classes from the best schools, she gained the skills she needed and avoided the debt she could not afford to take on. The most difficult part was knowing how to begin and where to look. So she has provided this resource for other self-starters, career changers, and budding entrepreneurs so that they can best learn how to navigate the expanding universe of online education."-- Amazon.com Prep for success : administering your own admissions process -- Meet the modern MOOC : attending your virtual orientation -- Lay your foundation: -- Learning to speak the language of business -- Sharpen your skill : assembling your business toolkit -- Create your career : charting a professional path -- Meet your people : building a business network -- Deepen your expertise : establishing your professional credibility -- Graduate to the next level : using your self-directed business education to advance your career -- Learn forever : continuing your business education throughout your career -- Conclusion: believe in yourself -- Appendix A Recommended courses by subject -- Appendix B Sample study plans -- Appendix C Sample course lists for various MBA concentrations -- Appendix D For further reading -- Appendix E Resources at nopaymba.com. Building on her popular No-Pay MBA blog, Laurie Pickard reveals how to get a business education without a mountain of debt. She found that many prestigious business schools offer MOOCs (massive online open courses) for low or even no cost. By picking the right classes from the best schools, she gained the skills she needed to land her dream job--without all the debt. In Don't Pay for Your MBA, Pickard shows self-starters, career changers, and budding entrepreneurs how to navigate the expanding universe of online education You don’t have to build a mountain of debt getting an MBA. Instead, you can MOOC your way to your dream job at low or even no cost!