Tiffany Bruss
Meet Tiffany Bruss
Name: Tiffany Bruss
Age: 25
Marital Status: Single
Location: Florida
Future Academic Goals: To stay on top by continually taking courses, and eventually earning a Ph.D.
School: Regis University
Target: M.B.A. in Marketing, Summer 2007
Glass ceiling? What glass ceiling? For this ambitious marketing professional, a Master of Business Administration is a one-way ticket to the top. That's what Tiffany, a student at Regis University pursuing an online MBA, firmly believes.
Tiffany, 25, earned her bachelor's degree in Marketing traditionally, on campus, from the University of South Florida in 2003. Though she had taken one class online as a undergraduate, it was the extent of distance learning for her at the time. Little did she know that she would pursue an entire degree via distance learning shortly after graduating.
The Tampa, Florida, resident started her MBA at
Regis University, based in Colorado, with an emphasis in marketing in 2004, and plans to wrap up her degree in August.
"I knew I had to [get my MBA] in order to advance in the business world," says Tiffany. But her passion for learning goes deeper than that, as education has always been a focus in her family. With two sisters that also have advanced degrees, she has been motivated to do the same.
"I know that I am only going to go even further once I obtain a fair share of work experience. The degree has already paid itself off, and I have only just begun," says Tiffany, who currently works for a Florida-based marketing firm.
We caught up with her to find out the truth about distance learning, and to hear firsthand how difficult getting a degree online can be.
What is the most difficult aspect of distance learning?
The hardest thing about online learning is that you have to be 100% committed. Since you're not physically driving to a campus and see your professor every week, it is easy to put your classes at the back of your mind.
Also, considering the fact that I held a full-time job and was working 50+ hours a week, it was sometimes difficult to place the same importance on finishing my coursework as I did on completing my work objectives.
Nobody is telling you that you have to do it, and nobody is going to check to see if you've done everything. You are only held accountable to yourself. If you are not committed to giving it your all and sticking through it, then you will find it difficult to get through the program.
On the reverse, what is the easiest thing?
The easiest thing about the program was being able to understand the course objectives and navigate around the Web site. I was a little apprehensive about taking online classes because I thought it would be too much for me to handle in terms of technology.
Once I logged in for the first time and started looking around, I realized everything was made pretty intuitive and I was no longer afraid. The courses are split into weekly modules with a clear outline discussing the assignments and course objectives.
What aspects of your program do you like best?
What I liked best was the message board feature. Having weekly discussions about topics relevant to today's business world helped me enormously in understanding the impact of various issues on the global marketplace.
With my classmates scattered across the nation, I got a broader understanding of each topic area because I learned how it affected them.
And the worst?
The worst thing about the program was not being able to see my professor and peers. There is a lot more interaction in online programs versus traditional classrooms, but I always wished I knew what everyone looked like.
Is online learning easier than traditional classes?
I did not find that online learning was any easier than traditional classes. I've heard a lot of people say that they thought it was going to be, but it is definitely not. The courses are accelerated, so the superfluous banter that happens in a traditional classroom setting does not occur. There is no wasted time, so you need to make sure that you keep up with your weekly assignments. It would be easy to fall behind.
Do you ever feel like you're basically just teaching yourself without a professor to instruct you?
I did not feel like it was a self-taught program. We had weekly lectures just like in a normal classroom setting, and the streaming audio and video format made it feel like the professor was right in my living room speaking directly to me.
If I had any questions, I would either post it on the message board or e-mail the professor directly. They always responded within twenty-four hours. I never felt like I was alone.
Have you had a favorite online course so far?
My favorite course was Product Management. It was my second to last class, so I was feeling the momentum of almost being done. The course itself was really fun and included a simulation that was extremely representative of today's business environment.
Each week, we made executive-level decisions impacting all areas of a business. We had to custom build a product, determine how many to produce, figure out where to distribute, design a marketing plan, and analyze the competition the whole time to be sure that we were maintaining market dominance. My partner and I ran the most successful business in the class, and we really enjoyed competing with our peers.
What do you currently do for a living?
I am currently employed as an associate marketing manager and webinar producer at a sales and marketing company in Florida. I am responsible for coordinating the marketing efforts for several of our brands as well as developing live and recorded presentations to inform our target market about the benefits of our services.
Do you plan to pursue other online degrees after this?
Since I am still young and have a limited amount of work experience, I will not pursue another degree for some time. Eventually, I would love to get my PhD. In the immediate future, I will probably take some continuing education courses online to maintain a fresh base of knowledge and stay competitive.
When it's all said and done, how much will the MBA have cost you and how are you paying for it?
Total tuition for the MBA program was about $23,400. My employer offers tuition assistance, so I was responsible for the cost of the books and materials. I researched a lot of programs, and Regis's was one of the most affordable for me. I lucked out by working for a company that values education as much as I do and was willing to help me accomplish my educational goals.
Do you have any advice for people considering online education?
My advice for someone considering online education would be to do a lot of research before selecting a program. Make sure that whatever program you choose will fit into your life and provide you with the tools and resources necessary to complete your degree.
You also want to make sure you are attending a school that is regionally accredited so that it is recognized and respected by employers. Lastly, stay focused on the reason you started to begin with and don't give up. You have what it takes to accomplish your goal, so make a promise to yourself to finish and then do it.
