糖心Vlog

Meredith鈥檚 Accelerated MBA program allows the College鈥檚 undergraduate students to earn a graduate degree in just one additional year, saving both time and money. Also referred to as a聽 鈥�4+1 MBA,鈥� the program launched in 2018 and the first cohort graduated in May 2020 with two students, Sydney Spadaro, 鈥�18, 鈥�20 (MBA) and Christina Cowperthwait, 鈥�18, 鈥�20 (MBA). Both had a 4.0 GPA and Cowperthwait was named MBA Student of the Year for 2020. She recently landed a new job after completing the program, and said she felt her MBA was a deciding factor.

鈥淭he job market was not what I imagined it would be when I began the program. I applied to nearly 75 jobs and only heard back from a handful of companies,鈥� said Cowperthwait. 鈥淚 decided to attend Meredith鈥檚 Virtual Career Fair and am so grateful that I did. I received an invite to interview with one of the companies and later accepted a position. I believe having my MBA at such a young age set me apart from other more experienced candidates who might have only had a B.S.鈥�

A Growing Program

The program continues to expand, with seven accelerated MBA students currently enrolled. Miranda Davis, 鈥�20, who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration in the spring, is on track to complete her MBA in summer 2021.

鈥淏ecause I studied business as an undergraduate, I was familiar with many of the MBA professors and eager to take their classes at a higher level,鈥� said Davis. 鈥淭he job market is more competitive than ever right now so I am hopeful that my MBA will allow me to set myself apart from other applicants.鈥�

Ansley Friesz, 鈥�21, 鈥�22 (MBA) is an interior design major who is just completing her first class toward her MBA. Friesz hopes to eventually own an interior design firm and said she thinks having her MBA will give her additional employment options and an advantage in the job market.

鈥淎lthough it can be challenging balancing the workload of my undergraduate classes with my MBA course, my professor has been amazing and the faculty is very supportive,鈥� said Friesz. 鈥淭he faculty are extremely dedicated to your learning, growth, and success.鈥�

Assistant Professor of Management Lisa Delise said students accepted into the program are typically high-achieving students already engaged in activities on campus, so they are well-prepared to manage the demands of the program.

鈥淓very 4+1 student I鈥檝e had in a course possesses the integral time management skills they need to determine how to best handle the additional workload and higher expectations,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n fact, I often notice that my 4+1 students bring to the class a closer reading of the material than some of the working professionals, and they鈥檙e often the ones citing the articles and reminding the class of specific arguments from authors.鈥�

In return, she observed, the 4+1 students value hearing the experiences of the working professionals.

鈥淭heir academic knowledge is truly supplemented by learning about situations their classmates have encountered and solutions they鈥檝e implemented in the workplace,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen the 4+1 students are integrated into discussion groups, it鈥檚 easy to observe the mutually beneficial relationships in the classroom, whether face-to-face or virtual.鈥�

Alli Barrow, 鈥�20, 鈥�22 (MBA) , said being enrolled in the Accelerated MBA as a senior helped with her job search.

鈥淏eing a part of the 4+1 MBA program was something that I could leverage in conversations with potential employers. It showed them I valued continuous learning and was purposeful in preparing for my future career,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow that I am starting my career in project management at MetLife, I see it helping me to advance in the company.鈥�

About the Program

Qualified students complete a core set of business courses during their first three years at Meredith. During their senior year, students in the program will take two MBA courses that will count toward their undergraduate and graduate requirements. After earning an undergraduate degree, students will be able to complete the Meredith MBA with two semesters and two summer sessions.

• Open to any major at Meredith.
• It combines well with an undergraduate degree in fields including, but not limited to, the arts, English, communication, STEM fields, or design, making it an ideal option for non-business majors.
• Students should enroll by sophomore year in order to complete the program in five years.
• Seniors have dual-advising to help ensure success on the undergraduate level and in the Meredith MBA
• Meredith鈥檚 competitive, nationally-ranked MBA program is the most affordable AACSB program in the Triangle.

Contact MBA Associate Director Carolina Diaz at (919) 760-2281 or mba@meredith.edu to learn more about how to enroll in the Accelerated MBA program.