If you’re on the fence about enrolling in an MBA program and aren’t sure whether it’s the right move for your career, here are a few underrated ways you’ll likely benefit.

1. Make important connections that will help your career

When you go through a rigorous program like an MBA, it’s inevitable that you’ll form strong bonds with your fellow classmates and even a professor or two.

The good news is that these relationships can prove beneficial throughout your career since you’ve built an instant network of like-minded business professionals you can consult with, discuss new opportunities with and perhaps even work directly with in some capacity. What’s more is that the school itself can offer an array of alumni career services, so be sure to ask about such offerings when doing your research.

2. Have a chance to be the boss

There really is no better forum for getting the chance to take on a business leadership role and polish your negotiating, delegating and directing skills (without your job being on the line) than in an MBA program. That’s because you’ll likely have to work in teams to complete projects, so you’ll get the chance to assume various roles you might not otherwise get to take on in a corporate setting. These lessons and simulations can help prepare you for the real thing and get you used to navigating challenges and dealing with different personalities.

3. Meet prominent business leaders

You can learn a lot by reading case studies and articles in business journals and blogs, but nothing beats hearing true tales from the trenches and strategies for success straight from CEOs and other business executives. (Click here to tweet this thought.)

MBA programs often give students access to these business minds by hosting seminars and guest lectures. Think of these events as extra credit that can raise your career GPA. And if you really work those opportunities, you might even add a few quality connections to your network.

4. Cultivate your business specialty

Though many students pursue MBA studies to achieve general business knowledge, some discover a passion for a specialized area such as finance, marketing, e-commerce or international business. The different study tracks and elective classes available in business school can help shape your career and open your mind to new possibilities.

5. Overcome your fear of public speaking

You can’t succeed in business without the ability to present your ideas — at a staff or client meeting at the very least. The pressure to be “on” will only increase if you’re not comfortable speaking to a group.

Throughout MBA programs, students spend time in front of the classroom making presentations to their peers; you may even be required to take a speech class. These exercises will help develop the confidence and speaking skills necessary to command a room and make sure your message is heard.

The decision to go to business school is not one that should be taken lightly; it’s an expensive and time-intensive pursuit. But don’t make the decision based only on dollars and cents, or because you think you “need” an MBA. By taking into account whether some of the fringe benefits above might propel your career forward, you can better assess whether an MBA is right for you.

Dawn Papandrea is a Staten Island, NY-based freelance writer who specializes in higher education, careers, personal finance, and parenting. Follow her on Twitter @DawnPapandrea.

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The post 5 Underrated Reasons for Earning Your MBA appeared first on Brazen Life.

If you’ve been in the business world for a while, you’re accustomed to assessing things in terms of ROI. And with scary stats like the cost of graduate school and the debt some grads carry afterward, it’s no wonder many people who are looking to get ahead in their careers are thinking twice about pursuing that MBA or a similar degree.

But then you hear all those learn-to-earn facts, how those with a master’s degree can expect to earn more every week than those with just a bachelor’s degree. Add that doctorate and professional degree holders make even more than those with master’s degrees (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), and you’ve got yourself a good case for heading back to the classroom.

Which brings us back to the sugar daddy scenario. Here are a few creative ways to fund your way through grad school:

Work your loan off

There’s one sure way to get student loan lenders off your back—through loan forgiveness. You may be eligible for significant loan reductions if you choose to give back to society after the completion of your degree by committing to public service through organizations like Teach for America, Peace Corps or AmeriCorps.

As a bonus, you’ll feel good because of all the great work you’ll be doing for others. Win-win!

Give your boss a pimp hat

No, not literally. But employer tuition is pretty much all about your workplace paying your way through school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics’ report Trends in Student Financing of Graduate and First-Professional Education, 21 percent of all graduate students received employer tuition assistance in 2008. For MBA study, that number climbs to 40 percent.

In other words, there’s a good chance your employer might be willing to foot some of your tuition bill. (Go ahead and picture your boss in a purple and orange pinstripe suit and a cane—we won’t tell!) Be aware that some conditions will apply, like maintaining a certain grade point average or agreeing to keep working for that employer for a specified amount of time.

Flaunt your assets

Show ‘em what you got! After all, your work and volunteer experiences could actually be worth hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars because they could earn you college credits. Many career-focused degrees and vocational programs offer prior learning assessments so students can bypass a couple of those pesky introductory courses.

You can also try taking CLEP exams, which allow you to test out of prerequisite courses if you already have the foundational knowledge.

Adult-rated college cash

Don’t assume that only high schoolers are eligible for federal aid assistance. The same goes for scholarships, which are sometimes earmarked for nontraditional or online degree students. To score some nontraditional student aid, your best bet is to apply via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s worth a shot!

By staying open-minded about your education financing options, you can take ownership of your future on someone else’s dime. Not a bad deal!

Dawn Papandrea is the managing editor of MyEducation.com, which helps aspiring students explore and research degree programs. The MyEducation blog features admissions advice, financial aid tips, degree spotlights and higher education news.

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The post How to Find a Graduate School Sugar Daddy appeared first on Brazen Life.