#flexmba

Having now been in the program for over a full year, I’ve used the strategy below to help me maintain a healthy and (mostly) stress free school, work, and wedding planning balance:

Plan Ahead

My fiancé and I live by our calendars. We have all work-related events and activities, my class schedule and assignments, and our general wedding planning timeline and deadlines on both of our calendars. This allows us to plan ahead and better prioritize our responsibilities, especially during months that are extremely busy for us.

Pro Tip: Use different colors on your calendar for school, work, and wedding responsibilities. It’s a game changer.

Invest in Help

While wedding planners can be expensive, I have found this to be one of the best investments I made during the wedding planning process. There are simply decisions that I don’t have time to fully research or situations I did not plan for (COVID-19, anyone?) and having someone to lean on to execute our wedding vision is invaluable. Most planners offer different packages and are willing to customize a package to help meet budget needs. So, hire one and trust me – you won’t regret it!

Accept That You Can’t Do It All

This has admittedly been the most challenging strategy for me to follow. I’ve had to say no to a lot of things this past year – happy hours, dinners, trips – and while I’ve been disappointed to miss out on these things, I’ve come to accept that sometimes I just have to study on a Friday night or work on the weekends and that is what I signed up for. Which brings me to my final point….

Make Time For You

Juggling school, work and wedding planning can be overwhelming, even when utilizing the strategies I’ve outlined above. At the end of the day, make sure you do something just for you whether that be exercising, meditating, reading - the list goes on. Trust me, the work emails, homework, and guest lists will still be there when you return.

1. Have a Non-Career Focus (That Brings You Back to Reality)

For me, it’s my wife and 10-month old daughter (and hopefully, future little ones). The main reason that I am taking the time and energy to invest in my MBA education is so that I can be more present with my family in the long-term. Having a career that fits my unique strengths and values will allow me the internal resources to be there for my family. In the midst of the current stressors and deadlines, I remind myself that I am doing this for them — not for grades or future status.

For others, the non-career focus may be a hobby, a spiritual practice, or a friend group outside of McDonough. Having an external outlet gives me strength and poise during the weeks when I need 30 hours in a day instead of the standard 24.

2. Have a Career Plan on Day 1

As part of my transition to McDonough, I quit a successful career as the founding winemaker of a local winery because I realized that the career didn't fit my personality or my long-term life goals. I realized that Real Estate — particularly the finance/acquisitions function — fits my personality and goals much better. I came to Georgetown because it has one of the best Real Estate programs on the east coast. This focus has helped me to effectively manage the constant FOMO that I experience on a weekly basis in the Flex Program.

There is always another event to go to, another person to network with, or another club to join, but there is never enough time to do it all (we do have full-time jobs after all). Instead of spiraling about how to spend my time, I have a focus: Real Estate. I joined the Real Estate Club on Day 1. If I ever have an event conflict, I choose the Real Estate option. Instead of my networking being very broad, I know exactly the types of people I need to be reaching out to.

I believe this career focus is crucial to finding balance in the Flex Program. There are so many other items to juggle once you begin the program. Having a clear career plan going in is one less thing to worry about when your life is insanely busy. This focus is also optimal for taking targeted advantage of all the resources Georgetown has to offer.

3. Trust “The Process”

Like most 30-something males from the Southeastern U.S., I follow college football. “The Process” is a term coined by Alabama’s coach Nick Saban — arguably the greatest football coach of all time. Trusting the process is the practice of breaking down complex tasks (e.g., executing a 5-year career plan and finishing an MBA); focusing on the details of preparation and hard work; and trusting that the desired outcomes will result. This philosophy has proven wildly successful for Saban, along with countless others. One of the many keys to The Process is not getting distracted by negative circumstances or items outside of one’s control.

My career circumstances are less than optimal. I am 31 and just started an entry-level position in my third career. This is not exactly a coveted position to be in. I likely will need to climb another rung or two on the organizational chart before I finish the Flex MBA in 2022 – at least if I want to hit the freshly published median Georgetown MBA salary. It is very tempting to get overwhelmed by the network I need to build, skills I need to hone, and the information I need to grasp. I can easily feel like I am “behind” my classmates who, on average, are younger, don’t have children, and have more years of “traditional” work experience.

If I get distracted by my circumstances, I become anxious and impatient. If I trust The Process, I know the desired outcomes will happen. Georgetown has the resources, the alumni network, and the support I need to ensure that I will be where I want to be in five years. I simply need to execute the daily, weekly actions: networking, studying, building my skills, investing in my club of choice, etc. When I trust The Process, I am more present to what is happening around me. I reach a state of flow and I am better able to add value to others.

You’ve somehow managed to study for the GMAT, apply, and get into the Georgetown MBA program – all while working full-time. This probably is an indicator that you’re a high-achieving, driven individual who plans to succeed in business school. 

You will be placed into groups and instructed to build two companies – one in the manufacturing sector and the other in lodging – with limited guidelines on what product or service to provide, where to place your supply chain, and how to execute your business plan. This three credit course, which is condensed into three short weeks, is quite intense.

Tip #1: Your Group = Family

You will be working with your group very closely during SGI. Get to know who everyone is, what they like to do on their free time, and where their interests and passions lie before diving straight into the work. Establishing trust and a strong relationship foundation will go a long way in effectively working together as a team. Be transparent with expectations and keep each other accountable. Remember, you’re family.

Tip #2: Prioritize & Let Go

As an Evening Program student, you will quickly realize that the work/life/study balance will be a lot to juggle, especially during SGI. Prioritize the case studies and accept that it is unlikely you’ll get through all the readings. Find peace in knowing that everyone else is in the same boat, and most importantly - remember to sleep!

Tip#3: Airlie

For many students, the location is arguably the most beloved component of SGI. Airlie conference center, located in rural Virginia, is where you will spend a weekend taking classes and getting to know each other. Take advantage of this camp-like opportunity to mingle with students outside of your group and cohort. This is a rare and unique opportunity to establish friendships that will likely last throughout your years at McDonough.

Hard choices – Flex MBA vs. Full-time MBA

Two years ago, I wrestled with the decision of choosing an evening or full-time MBA program. While aspects of a full-time program were certainly enticing, when weighing the pros and cons of each program, here is what tipped the scales to Georgetown’s evening program for me.

Advancing in my current career/industry

One reason to pursue an MBA is the opportunity to enhance your skills for advancement in your current profession, or perhaps you wish to acquire a new set of skills that allow you to switch industries, locations, and/or functions in your career. Either scenario may lead to increased opportunities for leadership in business and a significantly higher salary. While both scenarios are possible with evening or full-time programs, if your goal is to change industries, functions, and locations, a full-time program may be more beneficial because of the internship opportunities available to you. As someone with high job satisfaction (thanks Mathematica Policy Research!) and a strong network of friends and community in Washington D.C., I sought an MBA program that would advance my career without uprooting my life. And, continuing to receive a paycheck each month is definitely appreciated!

Combining on-the-job experience with the classroom

Prior to starting at Georgetown, my career experience and network was limited primarily to those working in the same industry as me: public policy. For me, a strong benefit of the Evening MBA program was that my classmates would bring a wealth of current experiences from a variety of industries different from my own. I also presumed that my fellow MBA classmates must have a relatively high level of commitment to their career to choose to juggle both obligations. Luckily, I was right! The level of engagement, diverse experiences, and thoughtfulness that my classmates bring to discussions inside and outside of the classroom is unparalleled. The connections that my classmates and I make between our MBA curriculum and our careers serve us well in both aspects of our lives.

Georgetown’s commitment to the Flex MBA

“At Georgetown, we value cura personalis, or care for the whole person. It’s important to us that students can concurrently gain an education, advance their careers, and remain connected to family and friends,” said Prashant Malaviya, senior associate dean for MBA programs. “There is more than one way to successfully deliver an MBA program. By adding flexibility to our MBA format while retaining our close-knit cohort community, high-quality education, and signature learning experiences, we ensure that our students co-create the program that is the right fit for them.”

The new Flex MBA is a continuation of the school’s highly regarded Evening MBA offering, which has been one of the nation’s premier part-time MBA programs since 2005. It will retain its commitment to a cohort format and an identical curriculum to the school’s highly ranked Full-time MBA, including the foundational Structure of Global Industries course in the opening term and the capstone Global Business Experience consulting project.

The program’s flexibility comes from three new features. First, the school is infusing innovations in the use of technology to adapt several electives into a hybrid format, with on-campus class sessions supplemented with virtual ones. These courses allow for less travel time to and from campus and provide a way for students who travel for work, have a long commute, or have other personal and professional obligations to continue to participate in their classes in a more flexible delivery method.

Second, the program will offer a more flexible schedule for delivery of its courses, with select electives now offered on Saturdays to ease students’ weekday commitments and commute time. There also will be more times during the course of the program when one- and two-week-long Intensive Learning Experience (ILE) courses are available to part-time students.

Third, while the traditional timeline to complete the program is three years, the program can now potentially be completed in as little as 28 months or as long as five years. For students who have completed prior graduate coursework, they can request approval to transfer up to 12 credit hours into the program to shorten the duration required to complete the degree.

“Our new Flex MBA is a reflection of market research and feedback we’ve received from prospective students,” said Shelly Heinrich, interim associate dean for MBA Admissions. “The need for greater flexibility often comes from work responsibilities that vary in intensity through the year, impending military deployments or changes in duty station, the desire to complete a degree while balancing demands of raising a family, and budget constraints. The Flex MBA meets these needs so our students can focus on what’s most important to them.”