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Started at traditional, finished online

Eleven years after starting a degree on campus, she finished her studies online

By Laura Jeanne Hammond, 8/26/09

“In the late 80’s, I was a matriculated MBA student at a top business school. My classes were on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and my company was paying for my education,” says Dawn Palazzo of Rochester, N.Y.

For family reasons, she stopped taking classes—and thought about restarting 11 years later.

“About this time, online MBA programs became more popular. After hearing a segment on these programs on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America,’ I contacted the University of Phoenix,” Palazzo says. “The MBA program at the University of Phoenix was an accredited program and offered more classes on a rotating basis than others I was looking at, which meant that my studies wouldn’t be put on hold because of a lack of class offerings.”

Working online taught Palazzo much about teamwork and communication.

“Many professionals have designations that require them to maintain continuing educational requirements, and e-education is one of the most cost effective and time-efficient ways to meet those requirements,” she says. “It certainly worked for me.”

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