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[beyonder]

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[Lisa Anderson]

Dear beyonder,

I think you need to weigh your options through the lens of your career goals and rationale for getting a graduate degree. If you are looking to continue in the insurance industry, then it seems you want a program that offers coursework that will be most valuable to your long-term goal. Perhaps look at the education profiles of current executives in insurance firms you plan to target? See if they hold graduate degrees and what kind (MBA? MS?). Unfortunately, I'm not intimately familiar with the insurance industry, as I have never worked in it, so I can't really comment on whether one will be viewed as more valuable or how the online MBA will be perceived. For you though, you need to determine which degree will give you the knowledge and tools that are necessary for being an executive. Since you are already in the industry, perhaps the more general and versatile MBA is better for the long-term? Or, maybe the MS in Insurance is better as you are needing in depth courses specific to your industry? As for the online versus classroom option, I think you need to ask yourself which program is best for you--will you gain more by being in a classroom, having more interaction with your peers? or are you just looking to gain more of the credential with more limited, virtual interaction? At the end of the day, you are making a large investment no matter which option, so be sure it will meet your expectations and enable you to reach your goals.

Good luck,
Lisa