One Year MBA

Jeff Rozic explains why an accelerated MBA was the best choice for him

Business students today have more options than ever for pursuing an MBA, from the traditional two-year program to a growing assortment of alternatives, including my personal favorite- the Accelerated MBA. Why would a prospective student choose an intensive, abbreviated program that yields a Masters in 12 months or less? Having just completed my MBA in just under a year, I have some first-hand insight on getting it done fast. 

Intuitively, the best way to choose an MBA program is to know exactly what you want out of it. Are you looking to change career directions, build management credentials, take advantage of tuition reimbursement, find like-minded entrepreneurial types, or boost your salary? Each of these motives could suggest a different approach to getting an MBA.

What I wanted was to be fully immersed in class and outside activities, to be inspired by great faculty and similarly entrepreneurial students, all while minimizing the financial impact and not taking too much time away from work, since I'm married and thinking about both a family and starting a business soon. All of this pointed to finding the one-year program that met these characteristics.

My accelerated curriculum was similar to the other programs at the business school - similar courses, the same outstanding faculty, and emphasis on leadership and organizational development. The real difference is that I bypassed the first course in most subjects, since I studied them extensively as an undergrad. I got to the electives more quickly. By the second semester I was in the entrepreneurial marketing classes that I had been drawn to initially. 

A potential drawback of accelerated programs is that it normally doesn't allow time for a full-time internship. This may not be a major sacrifice for the typical accelerated candidate, although it could be a problem for a student looking to significantly change career direction. As a marketing professional, I wasn't looking to make a big change, but I still wanted to do an internship, so I squeezed a part-time position into my final semester. 

Accelerated programs still offer all the resources you need to make it a successful endeavor, from faculty and alumni support to help from career services and financial aid professionals. But especially for those of us who have a shorter time to make use of them, it's entirely up to you to, in the words of a favorite administrator of mine, "Drive your own train." 

I began meeting with the career office and contacting alumni immediately, and by the time my classes were over, I had undertaken a thorough job search and found a great position. I still managed plenty of time to experience all the benefits of being an MBA student, get involved in student professional groups, help recruit next year's students, submit a business plan to the school's competition, and work with area start-ups.  In the accelerated MBA program, there's little time to waste, but plenty of time for everything that's important to you.

Jeff Rozic, an Ohio native, completed his 12-month MBA at Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, in August, 2006.  He is now working with Google in Orange County, California