Profile

Irene Poh
Senior Business Analyst, Procter and Gamble

Poh weighed these factors when exploring graduate schools:

• Type of program: Poh didn’t want to go back to school full time, so she opted for a weekend MBA program.

• School’s reputation and areas of specialty: Is the school recognized in your industry? Does it offer programs that are relevant to your work?

• Flexibility of the program: Can you choose your courses, or is there a set curriculum?

• Commute time: Poh commuted on Saturday mornings from Cincinnati to Chicago because the program offered exactly what she wanted. However, she admits there are disadvantages to attending a school outside your hometown. “Staying local gives you the ability to build a strong local network of peers and professors,” she says. “[When you commute], doing projects and socializing becomes a lot harder during the rest of the week. If you end up traveling for school, find a carpool or buddy to share travel costs and driving with.” Poh adds that participating in a carpool allowed her and her peers to use the commute time for group studying.

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