Fast Forward Mba, Question: Low-cost MBA Equivalent

Q: I would like to learn, in my spare time, the material that one learns in a top-rate MBA program, but I have no interest in getting the degree. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this inexpensively?

A:MIT's OpenCourseware Project (ocw.mit.edu) intends to publish the course materials - notes, syllabi, required texts, etc - for all of their courses online, "free and open to the world." From their website: "This initiative supports MIT's fundamental mission - to advance knowledge and education to best serve the nation and the world. "MIT OpenCourseWare is: A publication of MIT course materials. Free and open to the world. " MIT OpenCourseWare is not: A degree- or certificate-granting program. An MIT education." This includes the Sloan School of Management. The publication rate is slow, but their goal is to have everything online by 2007. There are eight Sloan courses available today. There have been quite a few discussions on this group regarding the value, or lack thereof, one gets from an MB

A: I doubt that your goal is to strictly gain book knowledge. What is your real objective? If you want to learn more about business, and more about how to be successful in business, there are better, more productive ways to go. go to a top school, find the curriculum for the MB

A: Then look at the books and case studies they will use in each class and then at the end of each term, go in and buy the books second hand. Of course, the people who actually spend the money and time to get the degree

will always be promoted over you in a corporate setting. There are also several books available that claim to cram all the knowledge of an MBA into one book. There is also a series of books that start with "Fast Forward MBA in" and then have different topics. They are pretty good books. What you won't get by these methods is experience in teamwork, leadership, debate of ideas etc. There are also some alternatives you might consider. Since by your email address it appears you are already in school, why not try to get a job at the school. Most colleges offer free tuition to it's employees. I know a gal that got her MBA at University of MA that way.