Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy
Working through school and getting to graduation day is no easy task. It can be incredibly daunting, and keeping sight of your goal is paramount to perseverance. The essential things in life aren't easy; they're earned with blood, sweat, and tears. Balancing student life as a working adult is challenging enough—so what practices will protect your sanity when college isn’t easy?1. Stay in Contact with Your Professor
It’s essential to build a professional relationship and rapport with your instructors. They genuinely care about your educational and professional success; a strong connection with them can be invaluable. Make sure you communicate throughout the semester. If you’re struggling with an idea or principle, ask questions. Seek clarification not just to benefit your grade in the course but to gain knowledge and insight you can fall back on once you're applying your education in the workforce. Your instructors want you to take as much from their courses as possible.2. Remember Why You’re in School
It’s important not to lose sight of the opportunities you are living out as you travel through your educational journey. While graduation is the goal, the lessons and teachings are what make the degree hold weight. You are in school to learn and earn your degree, not to stress yourself out and be miserable. Stress is temporary, and its memory fades with time. Embrace positivity and focus on the steps you must take to reach the finish line.3. Take a Break
When you’re feeling burned out and overwhelmed, make time for yourself. This cannot be emphasized enough. Mental well-being is vital to being your best and producing the best work possible. Studies show that taking a step back from work improves overall brain function and increases the quality of work produced. Take the break you need, whether that looks like a 10-minute coffee break while studying or a weekend camping trip during a school-and-work marathon. When you can find balance in your relationships, mindset, and habits, you'll get more than an education you can use—you'll earn an education and live out an experience you genuinely appreciate.Is an MBA Worth It for Career Growth?
There are a few magical letters in the world. Everyone loves to hear Y-E-S. In baseball, it’s all about RBI. The military implements an endless catalog of acronyms. However, when it comes to business, an MBA is a credential that can launch careers and open doors to leadership opportunities. An often-asked question: What are the advantages of doing an MBA? That answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. To answer it for yourself, you must measure your goals and circumstances.How an MBA Shapes Your Career Path
A career is a long-term endeavor to which you can expect to commit roughly 45 years of your life. Along that journey, you’ll find substantial opportunities for growth. You’ll develop skills, enjoy numerous promotions, and increase your responsibility and impact on your workplace. Investments in your education, training, and network take time to mature and reap benefits. It’s a journey, not just one step. The important part is finding the courage to start!The Key Advantages of Doing an MBA
An MBA Demonstrates Work Ethic and Dedication While an MBA may not earn you an immediate promotion, it does make an undeniable statement about who you are. An MBA degree highlights your commitment to professional growth, leadership, and business expertise. It communicates to others how you’ll function in the workplace—you’re driven, knowledgeable, a finisher, and dedicated to success. An MBA Expands Career Flexibility and Business Knowledge Having an MBA also provides flexibility. One can enter various industries by building upon the foundational disciplines of economics, finance, management, and marketing. Best practices can be translated to other fields and shared with high-level executives, offering new career pathways and business leadership roles. An MBA Unlocks Leadership and Entrepreneurial Opportunities An MBA will help you achieve your goals if you are entrepreneurial or aspire to a leadership role within a corporation. Having an MBA isn’t a backstage pass to perpetual recognition in your career. But it can transform the opportunities that lie before you, open doors that would have otherwise remained sealed, and develop you into a capable and self-confident professional leading in today’s workplace and shaping tomorrow’s economy.Start Your MBA Journey Today
If you have questions about how Amberton’s MBA program can work for you, please contact our advising staff today!Making Moves in College
On its surface, returning to school may seem like continuing your education and pursuing your degree. But don’t be tempted to overlook the other aspects of the college experience that add value and help you advance. School is where you gather tools and give yourself the opportunity to have a professional leg up.
Cultivate Your Professional Network
As a working adult student, you know the importance of having a professional network. Developing and maintaining peer relationships will help you to have allies within your chosen profession. There will come a time when you’ll need them, and they’ll need you.
It will never be easier to build professional relationships than while you’re enrolled in college. When you’re engaged in a rigorous environment and working toward similar goals, developing camaraderie is natural, and it’s built to last.
Develop Or Clean Up Your Online Presence
This point shouldn’t surprise anyone. You may even wonder why bring it up, but if you’ve spent time around an HR department, you’ll know how much online behaviors impact the workplace.
If you’re behaving poorly online, stop it–it’s costing you, whether you see the impact or not. So, how should you use social platforms to your advantage?
Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Is it up-to-date? Are you connecting with your peers and actively using it? Use this educational period to work on your online presence. Take advantage of the added value!
There’s more to your professional online presence than just LinkedIn. X (Twitter) can be leveraged professionally, too. In any industry, there are influencers and motivators on X. Follow and engage with them and their followers to bolster your network.
Consider it research - what information or best practices can you glean from these individuals? Like any tool or technology, it’s all about utilizing it for good. The internet and social media are the same.
Take Advantage Of The School’s Professional Resources
No one has the perfect resume. No one has impeccable interviewing skills. These things are living tools. You wouldn’t get rid of your gardening tools once the flowers bloom, so don’t neglect the tools that help shape your career.
You should always be tweaking your resume, even if you’re happy with your career and place of employment. Anything can happen at any moment in the workplace, leaving you in need of an updated resume. If you’re not maintaining your resume, your skills will become dull. Losing your edge is the biggest catastrophe.
If your professors offer to evaluate your resume, allow them to do so. If you can submit your resume to a career services center on campus, do it. The more eyes on your resume, the more polished it will become.
Interviewing is an art form. Having the self-awareness to reflect and evaluate honestly how you present yourself and communicate in an interview is challenging. We’ve all heard that practice makes perfect, but there’s a caveat. In order to improve, you need forthright feedback.
In our professional culture, hiring managers rarely provide any assessment to candidates. Do yourself a favor and participate in mock interviews. You may be surprised to find something about yourself you didn’t even recognize.
Make the Most of Your Time
Don’t allow your time in school to pass by simply checking the boxes. If you’re just turning in your assignments and taking tests, let me assure you there’s so much more! At Amberton University, we want to prepare you to be ready, able, and excited for the next steps in your career. We want your toolbox to overflow.
Not all investments are created equal. Brand-new cars depreciate the second you pull off the lot. Stock values bounce up and down. The right education is certainly an investment. How do you determine the true value?
As you research and consider which school to enroll in, evaluate the tuition cost, faculty credentials, academic rigor, and job placement after graduation. Your education is an investment in your future, so will this institution educate you well?
Why Education is the Best Investment for Your Future
The return on your educational investment will vary depending on your location, economic uptops and downturns, and chosen career field. When you assess the categories that matter most, you’ll see why Amberton is such a special university.
With any college you choose, you should expect to receive a quality education and the skills necessary to perform competently in your chosen career. You expect a degree to elevate your competitive performance in the workforce. You also expect post-graduation support. That’s what you’re paying for. And who doesn’t love a little extra attention?
At Amberton, our professors show unparalleled enthusiasm for your education and success. They’re not trying to prove anything against you in the classroom; they’re genuinely rooting for your success and looking for ways to help you succeed.
“I am passionate about higher education because it puts students in a position to explore their passions, challenge their ideas, and reach their full potential, thereby allowing them to affect their families, workplaces, and communities positively.”
- Dr. Adam Guerrero, Associate Professor
As a nonprofit university, Amberton focuses solely on the educational needs of the students rather than the prestige often embodied by sports programs or campus facilities–all things paid for by elevated tuition. We believe Amberton University only succeeds when our students do.
“You have faculty, staff, and administrators all working harmoniously together for the benefit of that student.”
- Dr. Steven Tidwell, Business Professor
Amberton is a specialized institution designed to meet the specific educational needs of mature students. We tailor the schedule, experience, and curriculum for you. You can be confident that Amberton is committed to the continuous transformation of the educational process by directly responding to the needs of the students and the community. We want to adapt to the ever-evolving needs of the working adult so that education and the doors it unlocks are attainable.
“The faculty has a lot of experience and years of experience in their teaching disciplines. And our students - most of them are working students when they bring workplace issues to us, we can always help them,”
- Dr. Deborah Hill, Academic Dean & Business Professor
Together, we create personal growth and transformation that will last a lifetime. That is the greatest benefit of investing in the right education for college.
By Dr. Sharon Price
All of the buzz about AI is central to every conversation these days. Even late adopters are intrigued by the possibilities in the race to implement this emerging technology in their respective fields. Accounting is no different. The consensus of how AI will impact the accounting profession may still need to be entirely determined, but changes are here for the accounting industry, and more will arise.
Students are asking great questions as they navigate the changing landscape. What accounting knowledge is still relevant to me for my future career plans? Will we even have an accounting profession? Is this technology capable of replacing the role of accounting in business?
Adapting to AI: The Future Skills for Accountants
Undoubtedly, the role of accounting is changing along with the skills necessary to be successful and relevant, but accounting remains a wonderful profession with incredible career opportunities.
The AICPA has suggested through its publication Reimagining Professional Accounting: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Knowledge and Educational Processes that in order to adapt to AI opportunities, accounting education must adjust its focus towards skills with the most impact in this transforming world:
- Technical skills in data analytics will require ongoing training and development.
- Business acumen will require a broader comprehension of the industry landscape and an increased understanding of strategy.
- Critical Thinking must be employed to analyze AI outputs concerning multiple stakeholders. AI is not without ethical considerations, and outputs must be reviewed regarding potential bias and fairness.
- Communication skills will continue to be a focus for those in the industry to relate complex financial information to those with less technical expertise.
Students with an accounting degree will be well prepared to add value to businesses with these skills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the profession will continue to grow over the next ten years. At Amberton, we focus on developing the professional skills to help you succeed in tomorrow's workplace. Your Amberton degree or certificate is a foundation for a future of lifelong learning as you excel amidst the AI evolution and beyond.
Lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and the blitz to wrap up courses, there’s a little holiday called Thanksgiving. I think this day gets overlooked, and, as with many American holidays, the true meaning is skipped right over.
As Christians, we are mindful of the things we have to be grateful for. The word abundance has stuck with me in the weeks leading up to the holiday season.. We are blessed, living with more than enough provision. But it goes beyond that. We lead lives with an abundance of intangible blessings and grace.
If you look at from an American perspective, many of us are enjoying blessings that our parents and grandparents hoped for us. How many of us have the opportunity to “have it all” - the education, the family, the career, the house and car? We live in abundance.
Initially, the thought made me feel a twinge of guilt. I will be the first woman in my family to have all these things. But I recognized that in living in God’s gracious abundance, I have the opportunity to pour out even more.
How can I leverage my education to impact others around me? Can I use my skills and knowledge to help them achieve their own goals and ambitions? What is the calling in my life to further His kingdom with my career, based on the education I have been granted? How is my life positioned to make eternal impacts in ways not available to those before me?
These questions can be asked of you. How is God calling you to utilize the abundance in your storehouses?
The abundance we enjoy is not limited to the material possessions we have or the careers we’re working towards. We are abundantly blessed by the relationships and friendships fostered through our educational and professional networks. Don’t overlook the value or forsake the connections made during this season, especially in a like-minded, Christian environment.
How is God speaking to you this Thanksgiving season? How can you use your abundance for His glory?
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, from your family at Amberton University!
“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance.” - Matthew 13:12a
Letter writing is an artform. It requires one to deliberately set aside time to complete them, which is challenging given our chaotic and busy world. Yet letters are so invaluable.
Before you start your first round of college courses, sit down and write a letter to yourself to read when you graduate.
Write down what you expect to take from your time in school–you’ll be surprised at how much more you learn about yourself and your field of study. Tell your future self about the things that motivate and drive you. Remind yourself of the things that intimidate you and even worry you about college and the challenge you’re undertaking.
One day you’ll look back and see that you are so much greater than those doubts and fears, and you will see how you’ve grown and achieved your goals despite them.
Even though you’re an adult and have life experience, college will refine you. You envision challenges today in the abstract, but, as with anything, you don’t know how you’ll react until you’re in the situation. You’ll learn to think with a new perspective and gain fresh, valuable professional insights. Like iron sharpens iron, you will be tested and improved during your time in college.
Writing a letter will give voice to your thoughts and feelings. You’ll more clearly see the progress and change you’ve made. Graduation is a proud time. There’s a definite satisfaction to earning a degree.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 33 percent of American adults have an undergraduate degree and only 12 percent hold an advanced degree. Relish your achievement once you’re there, and give yourself a way to look back and see how far you’ve come.
Take a few minutes to self-reflect, plan and dream. Anticipate the challenges and victories of this upcoming season in your life, and then write it down. You’ll appreciate it on graduation day.
Amberton University does not require prospective graduate students to submit GRE or GMAT scores in their application. All 18 master’s programs are accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission. You can find full graduate application requirements here or contact an advisor to discuss your application today!
Getting all your ducks in a row to prepare your application for graduate school is a lengthy and detailed process. Taking the GRE or the GMAT is one of the most important boxes to check.
So, what’s the difference between the GRE and the GMAT? And why doesn’t every school require applicants to take one of these tests?
The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) and the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) are standardized tests for graduate-level admissions. Both tests include three sections: an analytical writing section, a quantitative section, and a verbal section.
The function of the GRE is to gauge a student’s ability to succeed in a graduate program and evaluate their general academic aptitude. The GRE is the most widely accepted graduate admissions test globally.
The GMAT is specifically used to predict a student’s success in a business program and is often required for admission to an MBA program. This test includes a fourth section, which assesses a student’s integrated reasoning skills.
The GRE and GMAT are graduate-level counterparts to the SAT and ACT. The tests are similar and evaluate like categories. Certain universities or degree programs prefer one test score over the other. Make sure you know what the program requires well before applying so you can adequately prepare and schedule to take the appropriate test.
Many universities are moving away from requiring the GRE or GMAT for graduate school admissions or are changing the emphasis placed on scores for specific circumstances. Admissions boards use substitute components to evaluate applicants, including resumes, portfolios, writing samples, professional work experience, etc. These markers often predict a student’s performance and professional success more than standardized testing.
On the flip side of the coin, a GRE or GMAT requirement does not indicate the degree program's quality. When choosing a graduate program, you should research the university and department’s reputation, determine if a school is accredited, and evaluate if online and on-campus courses and requirements mirror one another.
Finals are tough. No one enjoys taking them. But they’re a necessary evil for every college student.
Studying for the big test is important -- of course, you know that. As finals approach it’s important to
maintain consistent study sessions.
When you’re getting those study juices flowing, remember these tips to maximize your time and
efforts.
1. Make a Schedule
You’re a working adult student. You’ve had to carve out time to go to class, write papers, create presentations, study for tests; making time specifically to study for a final is not anything new to you. Don’t overlook or take for granted the time needed to study for the biggest exam of the semester. What’s the best way to eat a whole elephant? One bite at a time. Think of your study sessions the same way. You’ll retain more information if you divide up the material into manageable chunks, and spread out the units over the number of days you have for studying.2. Find a Quiet Place to Concentrate
No matter what your study and homework sessions looked like throughout the semester, you have to devote your time to studying without distractions before finals. Generally, it’s the biggest portion of your grade for the class. Do you really want to risk anything less than your best because your little one chucked macaroni at you, or the line at Starbucks wrapped around your study table?3. Ask Questions
Your professors are here to help you learn, grow, and retain the information so you can apply it in your career. If you’re unsure about a topic, ask for clarification. Make sure you set yourself up to understand. Pro tip: if your professor provides you with study guides or a practice final, complete it! Mark it up. Write all over it. And take the practice test a couple of times.4. Cater to Your Learning Style and Preferences
By the time finals roll around you should be familiar with what works for you during your study sessions. Stick to that game plan. It’s not the time to deviate and try something new. Do what you do, and then knock it out of the park!5. Take a Break and Rest
This is a biggie. Don’t get so bogged down studying before finals week that you kill your energy and have nothing left in the tank. Have faith that you’ve prepared yourself throughout the course for this last moment. Study and do your thing, but then take time for yourself and relax. Finish the race strong! Finals week sounds daunting and demanding than it really is. It is rigorous, but you’re a working adult student. You’re a rockstar! When you’re walking out of your exam know that you’ve accomplished a lot in taking and completing the course. Savor the feeling and know you’re thriving in college.
Graduation is bearing down. Completing your studies and walking across the stage to receive your degree is incredibly rewarding and is an accomplishment anyone should be proud of!
But what’s next? How do you make the most of your education and find success in life after school?
1. Stay true to yourself.
Your goals and dreams are yours. You’re passionate about ideas and causes that might not resonate with others. You have talents and skills that are uniquely your own and honed by your experiences and background. In the same vein, how you deem yourself successful is based on your definition of success and fulfillment. If your viewpoint of success is to land a well-paying job downtown, go out and conquer! Make sure you have all your ducks in a row for your portfolio—résumé, cover letter, references, and work samples. You know the drill. But keep in mind the journey to the top is winding and takes time. Remain patient. Stay calm. Your degree and résumé will get your foot in the door; it’s up to you to show the corporate world that you are knowledgeable, prepared, capable, and unstoppable. Excellence is a series of small things consistently done well. And if your picture of success is you looking amazing in your cap and gown—congratulations! You are a role model and have much to be proud of! No matter how you define success, recognize that you will always be a student and have opportunities to grow and discover. And be patient in the journey.2. Have a game plan.
It’s cliché but true—there’s no road map for success. But you’d better have a game plan and a sense of direction. Any sports fan knows a good game plan brings every tool and trick play.- Make sure you have a mentor. When the days of submitting applications get long, lean on them and glean professional wisdom. Learning from the experiences of others is invaluable and may save you from unnecessary struggles and pitfalls. Individuals who have worked their way through the corporate ladder know more than you; more than likely, they’re willing to impart their knowledge to you if you ask.
- Networking cannot be overstated. Building your relationships and leveraging the alumni network open up opportunities you may not have seen coming your way. Of course, the added bonus is having an advocate on your side within companies and around clients you’re working with.
- Be flexible in your game plan and leave room for adjustments. The road is unknown. Use perceived detours to hone your skills and discover more ways to apply the knowledge and tools you already possess. You will become a more well-rounded professional and ultimately have more to offer as you move through your career.