#UCR MBA Program與 Flex MBA Program的差異分析

willtong

#UCR MBA Program與 UCR Flex MBA Program差異分析

    你是否在申請UCR MBA Program(MBA)時收到校方一封詢問是否願意同時申請Flex MBA Program(Flex MBA)的信件?在你決定申請Flex MBA前建議你先仔細讀完這篇差異分析，因為你一旦接受Flex MBA，你就不再有任何機會收到原本MBA的入學通知。

    Flex MBA基本介紹可從UCR官方網站中得知，但網站對於Flex MBA簡介相當攏統，簡介中說明Flex MBA可以提供更彈性的修業年限及可以邊就業邊就讀，但對於國際學生來說是與普通MBA沒有差別，因為學校要求國際學生必須為全職學生(Full-time)，每學期規定最少必須修習12學分(3門課程)，因此選擇Flex MBA的國際學生根本不可能有任何彈性的修業年限或是邊就業邊就讀的情況產生，加上主要課程在未完成前會擋修選修課程，基本上最快還是需要兩年時間(20個月)來完成Flex MBA。

以下為MBA與 Flex MBA的主要差異分析：

1.    學費計算方式不同：MBA學費每學期是繳固定金額(本地學生與外國學生有部分差異)；而Flex MBA學費是根據你選課的學分數多寡決定(學分數*USD$1,200=學費)，所以Flex MBA學生如果不多修任何一堂課(畢業學分80學分) 總學費會比MBA少USD$2,000左右，但是只要你多修習任何一堂課，你就必須負擔比MBA更高的學費(例如：如果學期開始的數學測驗未通過，必需修習不計算於畢業學分的一門數學課程(4學分)，Flex MBA的總學費就會超過MBA的總學費)

2.    選課考量不同：MBA學生可以任意的選課，在開學第一堂課後再進行加退選，沒有任何額外的成本；Flex MBA學生必須慎重考慮你的選擇，因為你多選一堂課(4學分)你的學費就會提高$4,800，必須在開學前繳交學費，在一定時限內退選時，學校才會把多付的學費退還，因此若不提前考慮清楚或興趣過於廣泛的同學，就必須先準備一筆雄厚的學費才能恣意的選課。

3.    課程時間限制不同：MBA學生在主要課程中可以選擇兩個時段的課程；而Flex MBA學生在第一年的主要課程只能選擇晚上時段的課程。

4.    學生保險方面：MBA學費中強制參加學校的學生保險，因此基於學生保險生病時，學校健康中心是給予免費看診服務；Flex MBA學費中不包含學生保險，而且令人詫異的是學校不允許Flex MBA學生加保，所以生病時，不能使用學校健康中心資源，而只能花高額看診費向外面的醫療診所求診，或是具備自我療癒的能力。

5.    助教及研究助理的限制：MBA學生在完成第一年的學業後，國際學生必須通過口試測驗(Speaking Test)，即可申請擔任助教或研究助理的職位(在校GPA為主要考量之一)，擔任助教或研究助理是可以補助生活在美國所需之高額的財務支出(包含可賺取時薪及部分減免學費)；但是Flex MBA學生不被允許申請擔任助教或研究助理，因此無法獲得任何財務上的補助，即使你的GPA再高也沒用。而此點限制，Flex MBA學費基本上會遠遠超出原本MBA的學費，請別再相信網站上提供的費用預估比較。

    我是目前首屆Flex MBA的學生，原本也是申請MBA，但因為資訊不足，考慮不周，也未好好仔細詢問差異就決定接受學校來信的建議，兩方都遞出申請，雖然最後拿到的學位相同，但面對龐大的學費支出，目前後悔莫及。你還在考慮接受「Flex」 MBA的建議嗎?

# Differences between UCR MBA Program and UCR FlexMBA Program

    Do you receive a letter from UCR askingthat if you willing to apply for Flex MBA program when you apply for theoriginal MBA program? Before you decide to apply for Flex MBA program, Isuggest that you have to read this analyze of the differences between MBA programand Flex MBA program carefully. Because once you accept the school suggestionto apply for Flex MBA program, you will have no chance to receive the offerfrom MBA program.

    Information of Flex MBA program can befound at the UCR website, but it is really unclearly. It mentions about FlexMBA program can provide more flexible time schedule for graduation and Flex MBAstudents can study with daily job. However, for international students, thereis no difference from MBA program, because UCR requires that internationalstudents must be full-time students. In addition, every quarter you must enrollin at least 12 units (three courses). Therefore, choosing Flex MBA program doesnot have any opportunity to study with daily job. Because the main courses willblock the elective courses before those main courses are completed, youbasically still need to spend two years (20 months) to complete the Flex MBAprogram.

Thefollowing points are the difference between MBA program and Flex MBA program:

1.   Different calculation method of tuitionfees:

MBA program tuition fees perquarter are fixed amount. (Native student and international student are somedifferences.) Flex MBA program tuition fees are based on how many units youchoose for that quarter. (Units * USD $ 1,200 = tuition fees.) If Flex MBAstudent only take 80 units for graduation, the tuition fees will be less thanMBA’s tuition fees (around USD$ 2,000). However, if Flex MBA student choosesany extra class, he/she has to pay higher tuition fees than MBA student. (Forexample: If you did not pass the math test at the beginning of fall quarter,the math class will cost you extra tuition fees.)

2.   Different considerations ofchoosing courses :

MBA students can feel free tochoose any course they want. They can add or drop the class after first classintroduction without any additional cost. However, Flex MBA students mustcarefully consider what they want before enrolling in the classes. Because onemore class (4 units) you enroll in, you need to pay additional tuition fees ofUSD$4,800. In addition, you have to pay that before the quarter start. Only whenyou drop the class in a certain period, the school will refund the payment toyou. Therefore, if Flex MBA student does not think clearly or if he/she has toowide interests in different areas, he/she needs to prepare a huge amount ofmoney to pay the tuition fees first.

3.   Limit of choosing course time :

MBA students can choose sectionone (daytime) or section two (nighttime) courses, but Flex MBA students onlycan choose section two class in their first year.

4.   Student insurance :

MBA program tuition fees areincluding students insurance. When MBA student feels sick, he/she can just goto visit the doctor in school health center for free services. However, FlexMBA program tuition fees are not including student insurance. What more surprisingly,the school does not allow Flex MBA students to add in the student insurance services.Therefore, when Flex MBA student feels sick, he/she only can spend the superexpensive fees to visit the doctor off-campus or he/she needs to have theability of self-healing.

5.   Teaching assistants (TA) andresearch assistants (RA) :

After first year, MBA studentscan apply for a TA or RA position. (International students must pass a speakingtest.) (GPA is one of the main considerations of choosing to be TA.) Being TAor RA is huge benefit on student finance by earning hourly wages and reducingpart of tuition fees. However, Flex MBA students are not allowed to apply for aTA or RA. Therefore, Flex MBA student cannot have any financial support. Nomatter how high your GPA is useless. Because of this limitation, Flex MBA programtuition fees will go far beyond the original MBA program tuition fees. Pleasedon’t believe the cost estimation of MBA and Flex MBA program which provided onthe website anymore.

    Actually I am currently Flex MBA student andI had applied for original MBA program before. Because of lacking informationand without thinking twice, I accepted the suggestion from the E-mail to applyFlex MBA program at that time. I regret my choice, although, I know thatfinally I will get the same degree as MBA program. When I face to the followinghuge amount of Flex MBA program tuition fees, I cannot to try to apply for a TAto support my education and there are so many limitations in this program. Areyou still thinking to accept the e-mail suggestion to apply “Flex” MBA?

bigjoe

一开始以为是软文，再一看发现是黑文，也可能是高级黑