Looking for an MBA

[cookderosa]

Long time lurker, first time power. I graduated in October from WGU's BSIT program since it was the fastest possible degree plan for me to finish. Now, I'm gunning for an MBA. My hope, therefore, is that someone here will be willing and able to help me out.

Before starting any program, I'll be familiarizing myself with business-related topics. I've already devised a comprehensive personal study plan that is intended to ready me enough to handle any such program.

Desired Criteria:

• First, I'm really sick and tired of proctored exams. Most online MBA programs I've found expect me to take 2-3 proctored exams per course, each exam being 2-3 hours, all on the same day. I have neither time nor the inclination to spend 6-9 hours a day, three days a semester, doing nothing but testing. Plus, mental fatigue would set in sooner or later, making my last test score far lower than the others.
  

• Second, I want to avoid programs where every class involves 15-20 pages of writing per week. It's one thing to have a few papers per class, but eight week courses that all want 200 pages of writing is a bit extreme.
  

• Third, I'd like to wrap this up in no more than 18 months, and preferably online or DL in some other capacity. If there's a really excellent option near me (Dallas, TX), I would definitely consider
  

• Fourth, I'd like to spend under $15,000.
  
• Fifth, if at all possible, I'd like to have a concentration in Strategy or Strategic Management. It may seem vain, but I can't be TheStrategist without some education in strategy.
  

Options I've ruled out:

• UT Permian Basin MBA Finance: Each class involves multiple proctored exams, even some proctored quizzes, all of which must be completed on the same day. I don't have 4-6 hours a day to dedicate just for testing, otherwise I'd be able to manage full-time classes.
  

• Anything in the TAMU system: Some classes can be proctored, and the tests are 2-3 hours each. If taking 2-3 classes, I'd have to dedicate 6-9 hours on a dedicated testing day, which I can't (and won't) do.
  

• U of I Urbana Champaign: This was a really great option, despite costing $22k. The biggest issue is that it involves 24 separate units, each with a "Capstone" assignment that requires you to work with existing businesses and takes at least two years to complete. Working with real businesses doesn't bother me, but not for 24 separate assignments.
  
• Heriot Watt MBA: Despite cost being low, I'm not hot on the uber-comprehensive exam model. To wrap it up in less than two years would require me to take and pass 5 exams each year, during a two-day block, in a highly formalized setting with rigid scheduling and time blocks.
  

Options I'm still considering:

• Amberton MBA Strategic Management: Despite requiring a lot of papers, this is a very affordable option that is somewhat local to me (I'm in Plano, campus is in Garland). If anyone knows how much writing each class really entails (syllabi don't really cover page counts) and is willing to share, it would be greatly appreciated.
  
• WGU MBA: One proctored exam per course is perfectly fine, as are papers. Total writing load for each class is also reasonable. I scoped out the courses for this prior to finishing my BSIT.
  
• Patten MBA Strategic Management: One proctored exam and one paper per course. Biggest issue with this is the for-profit model and the related stigma.
  

My husband is in his last MBA semester at Johnson and Wales University. He's doing it online though he also is on faculty there. He didn't do the 18 month option, he only took 1 class at a time, so 36 months. No GMAT/entrance exam.
His MBA is cake. So far ZERO proctored exams. No thesis (just capstone which he's doing now). Minimal writing. Lot's of team projects- way too many for my taste, but group powerpoints in every class, lots of discussion forum, lots of short writing assignments/case studies. (His concentration is in the same field as his undergrad degree, so he didn't have to fill in the gaps ahead of time.)
This program doesn't meet your budget request, however, I'm sharing because it's the opposite of the things you're frustrated by.