I have until September to find a career. My EI runs out then. So, I am applying for AU’s MBA for the upcoming September session, which starts in August. In contrast, a physical university Doctor of Business Administration costs over $100,000 out of pocket. I can’t afford that by any means. I also submitted the physical university business school’s PhD quick assessment form, which can lead to a fully funded PhD program. Still, I’m missing the GMAT and another required test, which makes me an unlikely candidate. So, I’ve settled for the AU MBA. Any education we receive is beneficial, especially if we’ve taken career and personality tests to determine what field of study would lead to our most passionate vocation. And AU’s MBA has the ultimate, highly credible accreditation. So, it’s well recognized as a leading business school, especially for online education. It’s on par with the best universities in Canada in terms of accreditation.
So, as soon as I receive Metis status, I’m applying for scholarships and government funding as quickly as possible. AU students often say they get declined financing from the government or the funding doesn’t come on time, compromising their academic futures. Oddly, the AU MBA start date is August instead of September. To hedge, I’m applying for scholarships and grants immediately and hopefully getting an early start on the application process. We should all apply for scholarships and grants, seeking them out every month.
I also aim to buy the textbooks in advance and get a head start on the course material through Udemy. So, I’ve got an exciting educational hedge in place, assuming I can pay the application fee promptly. When we are financially coming to a crossroads, chances are other people are, too, so safeguards are likely in place by the government. With advanced planning and execution, we can overcome any barrier.
I’d apply for a physical university’s Communications Studies PhD, as I have a master’s degree in communications, but I looked at the courses and had zero interest in the topics. I looked again just now, as the barriers to entry into the program would be relatively low, but it’s like encountering a dark room before even opening the door. The cinema aspect of the Communications Studies PhD might be fascinating, but it’s “critical” cinema. I now understand why my GPA was considerably lower for me in the master’s than in the undergrad. My undergrad was almost 4.0, but the master’s dropped drastically. I was in the wrong faculty. On the other hand, every course in the business school looks super stimulating and beyond fun. Choose our faculties wisely; a “correct” choice can catapult us to a rewarding journey toward high-probability success.
However, AU’s application fee for the MBA is over $200, while the physical university’s application for a PhD in Communications is just over $100, and I can’t afford the AU’s application fee. I’ve debated attending the physical university’s PhD communications program, which would feel like a prison term. A PhD in Business Administration would be the ultimate route, with an exciting MBA second. So, I’m scrambling to figure out a way to acquire the application fee money. It means spending lots of time on the phone with bankers. No amount of hardship or struggle can block our path if we keep our hearts full of joy and anticipation, even if we stumble face-first into the cement. That’s because what comes “after” the trauma matters most. Trauma is not meant to break us but to motivate us to seek God’s love, wisdom, and all the pure light He sheds. Ideally, we bypass the trauma and bounce into success.
In the worst-case scenario, getting hit on the financial front is a good wake-up call about the finiteness of life and what truly matters. However, that’s a wake-up call that is best avoided. Suppose I get a career paying over $100,000 annually. In that case, the application for the MBA will be nullified, and I’ll work full-time while taking Continuing Education courses on project management during the evenings. Surely, with persistence, planning, and optimism, everything will work out beyond our wildest dreams. After all, God can use anything—good or bad—for the betterment of everyone. In the grand scheme of things, it’s all about love, whether we have millions or nothing—ideally, millions.v