I'm 43, co-authored three books that you could physically buy in book stores when the technology was contemporary. I've lived a lot of life, but don't have a 4 year degree. I sit down and look at the curriculums of the 4 year degrees and there's nothing there for me to learn. Just about every MBA program I see has courses that are of interest to me. I want to get an MBA without getting an undergraduate degree.

I am a consultant in information technology. I can write code, talk to business executives and users, and work with the administrators that support everyone. I'm not looking for an MBA to get a job. I'm looking for an MBA to teach me things about business I don't know so that I can be a better consultant and better business owner.

I'm in the Northern Virginia area often and reside in South Florida. I still have a business to run and a family to support and am not entirely certain what kind of program would be best for me be it emba, online mba, partime mba.

My wife is from Spain so that sounds like an interesting option. I could also wait a few years until my daughter graduates high school and go to school every day in England, Spain or wherever. Maybe the next few years would be better served preparing for the GMAT? I took one online sample test cold and it indicated that I might score in the 75 percentile. I could have done a lot better if I was practiced in taking that kind of test, some of that stuff I really had to dig for. I didn't try the English. I estimate my reading comprehension is pretty good. I read, restate, and apply for a living.

So in summary I'm looking for a school and program that doesn't require an undergraduate degree that will make me a better business owner.

I'd recommend that you get some qualification (frankly, any qualification) first. If you don't your choices might be limited to rather weak courses.

Admissions managers will look for students who can handle the sustained workload of an MBA, and courses show that in the way that the GMAT does.

It's easier than you'd imagine to get a serious, accredited degree when you have a lot of experience. The "Big Three" regionally-accredited colleges will let you test out the whole curriculum. There are also alternatives to bachelors' degrees, like undergraduate certificates and diploma as well as associates degrees.

If you have an impressive track record, some schools will consider admitting you to an initial phase. The OU has http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/s01.htm while IMD has http://www.imd.org/executive-education/ped/#/executive-development/description-dates-fees/

Ashridge also offers this: http://www.ashridge.org.uk/Website/Content.nsf/wDEG/MSc+in+Management+-+FAQ?opendocument

Despite your good intentions and well-rounded profile, I have a feeling that it will be a challenge to find an MBA program that will not ask you for an undergraduate degree (and will be worth the investment.)

I think the traditional route for somebody like you is an online or distance learning MBA program - and the ones I'm aware of (MBA@UNC, ASU - Carey, etc.) all have an undergraduate degree as a hard requirement.

HOWEVER. Since you're in the market for an MBA as a pure learning experience (as opposed to needing it to get to the next step in your career) - you may want to reach out to some of these online MBA programs to see if they would let you audit some classes. I'm not sure how effective this would be, but I know that on the IU Kelley website (great online MBA program, IMO), it says something along the lines of "if you want to take classes as a non-degree student, contact us directly," so there may be routes for you to do something like this.

Otherwise, there's a number of business courses available on iTunes U, Coursera, etc., which could be just as fulfilling based on your expectations.

Hope this helps!

With warm regards hello to all,
I have a query regarding which university will be suitable for me to go for a 2 year MBA program from US.I would like to tell my academic details:I have done a 4 year graduation in Agriculture sciences in 2010 and then i did a full time 2 year post graduate diploma in Agribusiness Management in 2012.since then i am working for an Indian company with a profile of public relation and business development roles.

But still i am not satisfied with my career & i do not want to wait for years to gain work experience sufficient enough to get into the kind of career i dream. I want to get into global multinational companies working in India who takes candidates either from premier management/engineering schools in India or those who has done MBA from a good university abroad.So please suggest me which are those universities in US to which i could apply and what are the avg.GMAT scores they need.

The GMAT is the most important factor, but it may be your lack of work experience that hold you back.

Take a look at http://www.find-mba.com/board/27082

Dear Mr.Duncan,
Thanks a lot for your quick response.I would like to say that till i will apply for 2014 program i will attain almost 2 years of work experience .will it be okay for making me eligible for a full time MBA program in any university accompanied by a good score in GMAT.

Well, US schools are more flexible than European schools. If you look at this site http://business-schools.findthebest.com/ you'll see the averages. To get entry, you need to be above average on at least some criteria. There will be students with below average work experience, but they might tend to be above average on their undergraduate GPA, on the quality of their work experience, and in terms of the diversity they bring to the class.

Dear Mr.Duncan,
Its unfortunate that i have only 2.88 GPA in my undergraduate on 4 point scale.But i am preparing hard for my GMAT score.If i could score above 700 then what will be the possibilities for my admission.Sir i just need your clear guidelines that what i should do now,as i have to anyhow get into US MBA.so please suggest best out of the least where i can fit.
Even if i am below average in some of the criteria there must be some colleges who give more weightage to GMAT score as that is the only thing that i can get now better than others.

Please guide me whether i go for a GMAT exam this year or wait some more years for gaining more work experience.
my stats: UG GPA:2.88
WORK EX.: ~ 2 YRS
Projected GMAT score: ~ 700
with above stat should i go ahead for GMAT this year or stop trying.

If you get 700 then there a dozens of AACSB accredited schools in the US that will admit you. The question for you is to ask what your career goals are and, therefore, which schools you should be targeting. Use this approach http://www.find-mba.com/board/33571 to identify the top schools with MBA alumni in the roles or industries that you are focussed on. Then use FindTheBest to compare their average candidates' profiles. Apply initially to three schools: one safe school where you are similar to the average, one where you are better on most of the criteria but not all; and one where you are better on only one or two.

The extra work experience will be a big help for you because your GMAT is well below average, as well as your current work experience.

Please guide me whether i go for a GMAT exam this year or wait some more years for gaining more work experience.
my stats: UG GPA:2.88
WORK EX.: ~ 2 YRS
Projected GMAT score: ~ 700
with above stat should i go ahead for GMAT this year or stop trying.

hii Myself Dinesh satpute, residing in india. currently persuing my Mcom part 2 from mumbai university, working as an Real estate consultant. Planning to do an MBA in Real Estate. please advise which university or program should i go for which consist of construction, legal technical, interiar, financial planning, investment decision etc. to get the in depth knowledge of real estate to become good developer.

Dinesh, if you want to stay in India then ask on an Indian website. But you you want to study abroad, then you should know that the best MBAs outside India will require at least three years' work experience first.

Take a look at http://bus.wisc.edu/degrees-programs/msmacc/grem

thanks for ur reply. yes i know that for study abroad we required 3 years of work experience, yes i have total 6 years of experience, i worked 2years with TCS BPO and 1 year with Altisource business Solutions as well as i am working as an estate consultant from last 4 years and we have our own partnership firm called sawali property solutions. i think its enough for as concern for work experience. waiting for ur suggestion for study abroad.

hii Myself Dinesh satpute, residing in india. currently persuing my Mcom part 2 from mumbai university, working as an Real estate consultant. Planning to do an MBA in Real Estate. please advise which university or program should i go for which consist of construction, legal technical, interiar, financial planning, investment decision etc. to get the in depth knowledge of real estate to become good developer.