“I didn’t go back because my career was my priority.”
Nicole Carey had recently gotten her bachelor’s degree in business and accepted a job with a marketing firm in New York City. But she quickly realized that a bachelor’s alone was not going to propel her career in the way she wanted to go.
“After getting my bachelor’s, I thought about a Master of Business Administration, but I wasn’t really certain if it was necessary. Once I got a job, however, I found I didn’t feel as prepared as I wanted to be to work in the business field with just my bachelor’s. I decided that it would be better to leave my job and pursue an MBA to prepare me for more opportunities in the future.”
Being in New York City, Carey first looked at elite universities located there, but she found they didn’t meet her needs.
“I discovered that they’re rather expensive and very time-consuming. Obviously I knew that getting a higher-level degree was going to ultimately help me be more competitive in the workforce, but I wasn’t certain that the cost of these programs was something that I could absorb.
“I researched a lot of different schools to evaluate what was going to be best for me. When I found FlexPath, I knew I would be able to move forward at a much faster pace than I would otherwise. Ultimately the time and the cost really made Capella University the best option for me.”
Part of FlexPath’s appeal for Carey was the ability to progress more quickly than a traditional land-based MBA program, which can take approximately two years. She completed the degree in a year and a half, and at a considerably lower cost than a land-based program.
“When I first started looking at MBA programs, cost was one of my biggest concerns. The tuition costs at Ivy League schools were astronomical, which was more than I was willing to take on. Capella’s FlexPath has a flat rate per quarter, and you can finish as many classes or as few classes as you want for the same cost. Ultimately I ended up paying a fraction of what it would have cost me at an Ivy League.”
Carey has found numerous benefits from her experience with Capella’s FlexPath option.
“I noticed some immediate benefits, like my ability to think critically and use new analytical skills. I feel much more prepared to enter the workforce at a higher level and to be able to handle business challenges much more effectively.”
The flexibility of FlexPath was the greatest aspect of the program for her.
“I made a goal to try to finish in a year. That would have meant taking anywhere from 4 to 6 courses per quarter, which is pretty significant when you get down it, even if you are going full time. There was a point where it was just too much work, and life started to catch up. I had to slow down, and FlexPath allowed me to do that and be successful.”
Carey completed her FlexPath MBA in Business Administration within 18 months, and has unique plans for using her degree.
“I was accepted to serve with the Peace Corps for 27 months, working on capacity building and advising within the ministry of labor and social welfare in Kosovo. I’ll be able to pass on the knowledge that I gained from my MBA program.”
Interested in accelerated learning? Learn more about FlexPath.
See graduation rates, median student debt, and other information at Capella Results.
