Avoiding Serious Trouble When Earning Your Online MBA Degree
With online MBA degree you can get a better job, a higher position, and a pay raise. But, a simple mistake such as choosing the wrong school or failing to network with your peers could harm your chances of finding success.

Avoid these common mistakes, if you really want to do well in your online MBA program:

1. Enrolling in a non-accredited online MBA program
- Avoid it: An unaccredited school degree may not be accepted by other universities and future employers. Before you enroll in any online MBA program, check to see if the school is accredited by the proper regional association.

- Fix it: Already attending a school that isn't properly accredited, try to transfer to a school that is.
Before enrolling in a new school, ask them to explain their transfer policy. Hopefully, you may still be able to salvage some of your work.

2. Not taking online MBA work seriously
- Avoid it: It is simple to do less than your best when an instructor isn't standing over your shoulder. You shouldn’t dig yourself into a hole by neglecting your assignments. Good grades indicate a better chance at scholarships and a better chance at nailing your first post business school job. Make a timetable allowing time for school as well as family, career, and anything else that is important to you. Save time each day to complete your work without distraction. Still having trouble getting your work done, consider taking a lighter load. Keep in mind that balance is a key.

- Fix it: If by now you are behind on work, arrange a phone meeting to talk to each of your professors. Make clear your situation, and your renewed commitment to complete your assignments. Offer to do extra credit or participate in special projects to get your grades back up. Once you find yourself slipping again, recruit family members and friends to help keep you on track.

3. Ignoring MBA program peers
- Avoid it: One of the biggest bonuses of business school is networking. Traditional students leave their MBA program with a rolodex full of contacts that can help them in their new profession. It’s probably hard to meet people through a virtual classroom, but it's not impossible. Get going your program right by introducing yourself to your peers and professors. Try always to participate in class chat sessions and message boards. Once you complete a course, send a message to your peers letting them know that you've enjoyed meeting them and giving them a way to contact you in the future. Ask your peers to respond likewise.

- Fix it: If you have let networking fall to the wayside, it's not too late. Begin with introducing yourself now. Before graduating, send out a note or an email to students you may be able to work with in the future.

4. Paying for an online MBA degree out of your own pocket
- Avoid it: There’re mountains of financial resources for online MBA students. Grants, scholarships, and special programs can help ease the cost of tuition. By starting your first semester, get as much financial help as possible. Be sure to arrange a meeting with your boss. Some managers can help pay an employee's tuition if they think the degree will benefit the company.

- Fix it: Already paying for everything out-of-pocket, check to see what opportunities are still available. If in your school is offered access to a financial counselor, call her up and ask for advice. Lots of scholarships give students a possibility to re-apply each year, giving you multiple chances to be granted cash.

5. Missing out on work experience
- Avoid it: Work-study programs and internships provide students with real-life business knowledge, valuable contacts, and, often, a new job. Because lots of online MBA programs don't require that students spend their summers interning for major corporations, some students simply forgo this opportunity. Don’t let this chance get away! Get in touch with your school and ask them what work experience programs are available or contact a company to ask for internship details.

- Fix it: Many of internships are only available to students, so be sure to arrange something before you graduate. If you already have a job you may still be able to get an internship for a brief period of time or during irregular hours.