The Executive MBA: Frequently asked questions
In coming to your decision about whether an EMBA is for you, you will
probably have many questions regarding the program. You may find the
answers to some of your initial queries here.
An Executive MBA is a fully accredited MBA. Attendees are middle
to senior level managers with at least seven years' work experience
(schools vary) who maintain employment while attending classes. The
Executive MBA builds on the collective experience of the classroom
while applying practical and theoretical principles to the education.
Employers receive immediate payback as students apply class lessons
to the workplace. AN EMBA is considered one of the most practical forms
of graduate business education available. Other types of MBA programs
are traditional full- and part-time programs, distance-learning programs,
and customized, in-house corporate or industry-wide programs.
The EMBA learning model varies by class schedule and delivery format.
Some programs emphasize e-Learning and stagger class scheduling to
allow students anywhere in the world to attend, connect and communicate
with classes and classmates. Characteristics that contrast one EMBA
program with another include scheduling, program concentration, managerial
experience, location, content delivery and flexibility, study tours,
accepted time away from work and financial sponsorship requirements.
If you request this arrangement, some schools may accommodate
and roll over the application to the regular full- or part-time
program. Others will require a separate application and
additional fee, or may require you to attend a second interview.
As the use of online applications increases, schools may
become more amenable to requests to rollover the application
to a full- or part-time program.
This is a difficult and complex question. It depends
on your arrangement with your employer. If the employer
pays full tuition directly to the school, the school becomes
a creditor on the unpaid balance. If you are being reimbursed,
the employer may clear your balance upon dismissal and
not pay future semesters — or refuse to pay anything. If
the company goes bankrupt or files for Chapter 11, your
best bet is to meet with your school administrators and
seek possible options. Student loans may be necessary.
An EMBA is designed for the employee established in a
career and in employment. Although corporate recruiters
are more interested in recruiting newly minted MBAs for
entry-level positions, the university career office could
help. A better avenue for job opportunities might be classmates
and alumni. Some schools have contracts with executive
recruiters and placement agencies to assist EMBA graduates
in securing placement.
EMBA program administrators find this question difficult
to answer because they need to balance your credentials
with considerations such as what financial and professional
support you will have. Although they will give your application
an unbiased evaluation, not having financial and time support
from one's employer can prevent a student from performing
well and completing the program. Every administrator agrees
that time away from work (time sponsorship) is crucial
for acceptance.
If you have been out of school for many years, you may
need a refresher in calculus or general accounting. Most
programs offer a one- to two-month preliminary review prior
to official start date. There is no harm in taking a refresher
course, since it's included in the tuition and these prerequisites
will help get your mind back into the books.
Professors have graduate and Ph.D. candidates who also
serve as teaching assistants. As future instructors, these
candidates are usually eager to work with EMBA students.
Time commitment varies per student, per class and per
semester. You must ask yourself if you are a quick or slow
learner, reader and writer. Everyone learns at a different
pace so it depends on the individual.
A J.P. Morgan vice president, and NYU graduate, says
she studies two to three hours each night (after a ten-hour
workday) and another three to four hours each day of the
weekend. She explains, “The workload ebbs and flows much
like work demands. You find your rhythm and you manage — just
don't procrastinate.”
The Executive MBA Council recommends a minimum 15–20
hours a week for classroom work, computer and research
efforts and assignments. Study groups working collectively
on assignments can ease the demand a bit.
Although not all EMBA programs require the GMAT, take
the exam seriously. Scores do play a role in the acceptance
process.
In addition to maintaining accreditation, schools use
the GMAT to gauge a candidate's need for refresher classes
like algebra, writing, calculus or general accounting prior
to the first semester.
No matter what scores you earn on the exam, remember
that even top ranked schools accept all ranges. Don't allow
the GMAT dictate your future.
CAT relates to the GMAT. In a computer adaptive test,
the computer screen displays one question at a time, drawn
from a pool of questions, categorized by content and difficulty.
A correct response, results in the questions become increasingly
more difficult. The trick is to answer the first few questions
correctly so that you then maintain a scoring range based
on the threshold of questions previously answered correctly.
The test begins with 30 minutes each for two analytical
writing topics. Then you are given 75 minutes to complete
37 quantitative questions and 75 minutes for 41 verbal
questions. Quantitative questions test data sufficiency
and problem-solving while the verbal section addresses
sentence correction, critical reasoning and reading comprehension.
The entire exam including the essays is keyed into the
computer.
The scores are valid for three years and the test can
be taken up to five times. A written request for further
attempts must be made to GMAC. Visit GMAC for
further details.
The cost is likely to increase periodically. The exam
registration fee is over $200 and cancellation and rescheduling
fees apply. Be sure to cancel the test at least seven working
days prior to the scheduled appointment.
Yes. It has been rumored if you can play a musical instrument,
then you are almost automatically accepted into NYU. Don't
be shy to boast about your skills, interests and hobbies.
If you speak another language: speak up!
Waiving classes is not recommended unless the class is
your profession, like accounting. A test may be required
to determine your proficiency in a particular subject.
Capstone is the generic term used to represent a summation
of coursework in the form of a year-end exam or final project.
The exam evaluates accumulation of knowledge by working
through cases drawn from various coursework. As a final
project, students working in teams develop business plans
for their sponsoring organizations. Projects may include
a new market entry strategy, a product development project
or an organizational assessment with appropriate change
management.
The EMBA trains you in management — there is no avoiding
these core classes, but support for such classes will be
made available. Diversity in education is equal to diversity
in the classroom. Business schools don't stock up on specific
disciplines. Being an engineer is not a ticket into a program
if you are one of eighty engineers applying. You may have
to distance yourself from the flock of other engineers
who may be applying. The obscurity of your background or
professional strengths may be exactly what the program
needs.
The class structure makes it impossible to make up missed
classes. Too many missed classes in a semester may result
in a failed grade. It is best to talk to your professors
and administrator to make arrangements before classes are
missed. One option is to determine if the facility supports
video conferencing, recording or closed circuit television.
Another is to postpone the grade until the class is taught
again with another EMBA group or to attend a comparable
class in the regular or evening program. Missing classes
diminishes the EMBA experience. You will miss some exhilarating
classroom discussions and guest speakers, and may disrupt
your working group. Administrators, professors and classmates
will strongly advise that you don't miss classes, as they
count on your contribution in the classroom.
As a passive observer, yes — and it is encouraged. Talk
to the program administrator who will arrange this and
allow you to interact with students. But remember, no matter
how intriguing a discussion is, you can't interact while
class is in progress.
Be mindful of a school's certificate of accreditation.
The form of accreditation and the type of granting body
may matter to your current or future employer. It can also
affect your level of sponsorship. Check with human resources
as they can usually provide you with information as to
the types of accreditation accepted by the industry. American
Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredits
most graduate-level business schools in the US.
Accreditation organizations vary in scope and purpose.
Some focus locally, others internationally. Some focus
on the organization and delivery of the curriculum (the
AACSB) while others concentrate on the measures the schools
use to continuously improve the academic quality delivered
(the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs-ACBSP).
For admissions standards and accessibility, there is
the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Sister
to the GMAC in Europe is the Brussels-based European
Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) that
offers EQUIS accreditation and the AMBA accreditation from
the London-based Association
of MBAs . Most others address distance learning and
evaluate in-house corporate training programs or specialized
executive training.
The AACSB, the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for
business school is a not-for-profit organization founded
in 1916 to drive quality into the undergraduate and graduate
business school curriculum. In addition, the organization
attempts to standardize the quality of educational institutions
confirming business degrees including the Executive MBA.
The AACSB has approximately 405 accredited institutions:
391 in North America (382 in the US, seven in Canada, and
two in Mexico). The balance are in Europe, Asia, Central
and South America, and the Middle East. Each year, the
organization publishes a set of guidelines addressing the
function, operation and delivery of a business education.
It also encourages faculty diversity. Under section FD.2
of the AACSB accreditation guidelines it states, “The school
should demonstrate continuous efforts to achieve demographic
diversity in its faculty.” This principle applies to undergraduate
as well as graduate programs.
The EMBA Council supports EMBA program administrators
through its periodic benchmarking survey, which compares
peer schools on quality, standards and other forms of professional
development such as regional and annual conferences for
EMBA members. The council also works closely with the many
accreditation organizations mentioned above.
