Senior Michael Gross will graduate in May 2006 with a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance under his belt. Gross is just one of 68 students who were selected to participate in the Kelley School of Business five-year MBA program.\n"This increase in knowledge can only help once I start my career," Gross said. "Kelley's MBA program is one of the top ranked, so I saw no reason to pay more money to go somewhere else. I will end up saving money because I am attending one less year of graduate school."\nWhile most students pursuing an MBA traditionally leave the workforce to return to school, the Kelley School of Business is unique in the way it offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to complete their undergraduate and MBA degrees in five years. \nThe five-year MBA in accounting program has seen a rise in enrollment, as many students are taking advantage of non-traditional MBA programs, such as part-time programs, including evening programs, which do not require
\nBut as enrollment in non-traditional programs rises, officials at the Kelley School of Business have noticed a decline in their traditional, two-year MBA program -- a trend that has affected programs throughout the country.\nAs students are looking away from a two-year master's degrees in business administration, they are looking toward a more competitive job market. \nAccording to the Kelley School of Business MBA program Web site, the number of students in the traditional MBA program decreased from 257 students in 2004 to 250 students in 2005.\nFlora Barker, associate director of admissions and financial aid for the five-year MBA in accounting program, said she has noticed changes in enrollments in both programs.\n"There has been an increase in smaller undergraduate programs like the MBA in accounting program, but a decrease in the traditional, full-time MBA programs," Barker said.\nSenior Jonathan Garber, an undergraduate accounting and finance major, did not choose to pursue the five year program, or any MBA program, because of a lack of practical work experience.\n"I wasn't sure at the time what career I wanted to pursue," he said. "I want to get experience before I return to school to get my MBA."\nGarber also thinks students aren't returning to school to get their MBAs because they are happy with their jobs.\n"People are able to find well-paying jobs without going back to school and paying to further their educations," Garber said.\nGross said many students are entering the workforce without the intent of returning to school to pursue an MBA because companies would rather have employees trained in the office rather than the classroom.\n"Many companies do not require an MBA. Likewise, recruiters and people in industry have told me that companies would rather train people in-house so they get exactly what they want from an individual," he said. \nSenior David Puchalsky, who is also in his first year of the five-year MBA in accounting program, feels students should look into an MBA program if they want to explore their educational potential.\n"If (students) want to continue to learn at a high level of education and want to have an advantage over other people in their age rage, then I recommend an (MBA) program," he said. \n-- Contact staff writer Eric Tash at etash@indiana.edu.
