Chicago Booth EMBA program - FAQ and Resources

If you are considering applying to Chicago EMBA program, you should start reading "EMBA Evolution", a blog by Patty Keegan and Glenn Sykes, Associate Deans for Executive MBA programs at the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business.

Some general information and FAQ about Chicago Booth EMBA program:

• The Chicago EMBA is ranked 15^th in the world by Business week (as part of the open enrollment studies) and 4^th in the world based on the FT ranking of Executive MBA programs. Booth schools of business offers program in 3 campuses: Chicago, London and Singapore. There are about 90 students in each class per campus.
  
• The upcoming deadline for this year is April 1^st. The decision notification is as follows: Chicago: on or before May 15, 2010, Singapore: 4-6 weeks after application is submitted, and for London: 4-6 weeks after application is submitted
  
• 
  
  Chicago EMBA essays question:
  • Why are you seeking an MBA from Chicago Booth, what do you hope to experience and contribute to the program?
    
  • Chicago Booth Career Services delivers innovative educational programming, offers one-on-one coaching, provides numerous networking opportunities, and provides access to job search tools in order to support your own career management. We would like to learn more about your career strategy and objectives. Please outline your career objectives, how you hope to achieve them, and what you hope to gain from the MBA to help you achieve them.
    
  • OPTIONAL: If there is anything else you would like the admissions committee to know about you, please share that information here.
    
    
• 
  
  Chicago Booth EMBA class profile:
  • 21% Female, 79% Male.
    
  • Industries represented: Investment management 17%, Financial services 13%, Consulting 10%, Computer related business 9%, Heath care 7%.
    
  • Geographic representation: US 35%, Western Europe 18%, Asia 33%.
    
    
• How do students from the three campuses interact?
  All students from all three campuses begin the program together in late June at the Chicago campus. During the second summer of the program, students from the three campuses work and study together as part of the international exchange sessions. A total of four weeks—25 percent of the program—will be spent working with students from the other two campuses.
  
• Do candidates need to take the GMAT or GRE examinations?
  Neither examination is required, but Chicago EMBA strongly encourages applicants to take the GMAT and submit their scores.
  
• Is an interview required to get into Booth EMBA?
  An interview is required as part of the application process. Admissions interviews (45 minutes to 1 hour) can be scheduled at any time in the application process; however, Chicago EMBA asks that you have your essays, resume and transcripts submitted seven days prior to the scheduled interview date.
  

If you are applying to the Chicago EMBA program and have any questions about the process or would like feedback about your chances, send your resume/essay for free EMBA evaluation via email or phone.

MBA Deadlines in February and March

February and March are busy months for MBA application - there are multiple deadline  in the US and  Europe. Here's a selected list of upcoming MBA deadlines, as well as resources regarding the program, the essays and more.


February 2010

• February 2^nd  -INSEAD – France
  
• February 22^nd IESE – Spain
  
• February 22^nd - 22 Jones - Rice University
  
  
  

March 2010

• March 1^st - Kelley – Indiana University
  
• March 1^st – Olin, Washington University
  
• March 3^rd – Broad, Michigan State University
  
• March 3^rd – Columbia University, September 2010 Intake
  
• March 3^rd – London Business School
  
• March 5^th – Esade, Spain, September 2010 intake
  
• March 8^th – Judge, Cambridge
  
• March 8^th – Tepper, Carnegie Mellon University
  
• March 9^th – HEC Paris, September 2010 intake
  
• March 10^th – INSEAD, First round for the January 2011 intake (France/Singapore)
  
• March 15^th – Olin, Babson college
  
• March 15^th - Mendoza – Notre Dame University
• March 15 – Simon, Rochester University
  
  
  If you applying to any of these upcoming MBA deadline, send me your resume or sample essay for free MBA evaluation, or in order to schedule a free phone consultation. This offer is valid until 2/28 only.
  
  
  

INSEAD, NYU, Columbia and Cornell Panel

I attended an MBA admissions panel this week, including INSEAD representative, Cassandra Pittman and Chris Gaeta from NYU, as well as representatives from Cornell and CBS as well. All Admission officers were very direct about the process and what the schools are looking for.

Here are some of my favorite parts of the Q&A. Please note that this is only a recap of their response as I've heard them, and nothing official or a transcript…

1. 
   
   
   Regarding the question of applicants getting the wrong school name into the application
   1. INSEAD: that's a deal breaker, the application is not going to move to the next step, no matter how strong is the applicant.
      
   2. 
      
      
      NYU: we don't throw your application in the wrong bucket just because of a typo or a mistake in the schools name. If the overall profile is good we will keep reviewing it.
      ** On a personal note – I know someone who wrote "Columbia" In one part of his application to NYU, but still got in.
      
      
2. In general – should applicants mention that they are applying to multiple schools? All representatives (Cornell, Columbia, NYU, and INSEAD) mentioned that they are aware that people in this process apply to more school. The important thing is to make sure you have a theme – if you tell Cornell that you're applying because you like the setting of the school and the size of the class, but when asked specifically about the schools list some of the huge program (Columbia, Wharton, Chicago to name a few) it won't hold water.
   
3. The important of the GMAT – INSEAD Admission mentioned that they are looking for at least above 70% in both verbal and quantitative section. INSEAD said that for them it's one of the only way of comparing various undergrad education and one of the best indicators of your ability to perform with limited resources. NYU Admission said that this is only one part of the application. The interesting thing is that the mean GMAT is higher for NYU (717) compared with INSEAD (704) and same for the 80% range – 680-760 for NYU versus 650-760 for INSEAD.
   
4. INSEAD MBA very clearly discourages re-applicants. They are also not taking in applicants without work experience. A good point that INSEAD Admissions brought up is that you need to make the right decision, and if you're applying too early you're missing you chance with them.
   
5. Cornell MBA is one of the only programs that I'm familiar with that gives feedback about applications. So if you got dinged from Cornell they are going to give you specific information on what was missing and how you can improve your application. This is amazing and if you have applied to Cornell MBA and was either waitlisted or dinged you should ask for feedback. The truth is this is helpful to some applicants but not all. There are many strong applicants with great resume, leadership, good GPA and GMAT that don't get into top business school every year. It is also a result of supply and demand – if you are applying from a group that is overly represented in MBA application (such as Technology, Finance, Consulting) and your story doesn't stand out much you are just facing harder competition than others.
   
6. INSEAD mentioned how in some schools a representative from the career services offices is part of the Admission committee, and are not looking to making their job harder. This mean, as I mentioned in past blogs, when you are come up with your application strategy and short term career goals, you want to be realistic.
   
7. NYU emphasizes that they are mostly interested in your short term goals, and want them to be very specific, but could be more generic about your long term goal; it's more about getting to know you beyond the career goals and understand the process. I think that it was Cornell Admission that mentioned they want to understand how you arrived at your short term career goals, that they want an insight into your though process. Cornell said that sometimes they short term career goal just appear in the essays, without preparation. Aim for zero surprises in that aspect – you want to make sure MBA Admissions understand why you have reached these decisions regarding your future direction.
   
8. 
   
   
   Each MBA Admissions rep was ask to list few characteristics that are important to the program in candidates, so here's the list :
   1. Columbia : Resilient, articulate
      
   2. INSEAD: Global minded, passionate, engaging
      
   3. NYU: team player, communicator, analytical skills
      
   4. Cornell: enthusiasm, passionate, focused
      

 
If you are applying to any of these MBA programs – NYU, Columbia, Cornell or INSEAD – and needs additional feedback on your chances or essays, send me a copy of your resume or essay draft today for a free evaluation.

Study Abroad Tips for MBAs

Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online degree programs for OnlineDegreePrograms.org.

Thinking about studying abroad? You're not alone. A recent Global MBA Graduate Survey found that 24 percent of MBA students choose to attend a school outside their countries of citizenship. Some do so to broaden their international experience. Others are seeking better education or more career opportunities. Whatever your reasons are for studying abroad, there are a few things you should explore and consider before seeking a degree internationally.

Cultural and Social Experience

Every country will provide a different cultural and social experience for MBA students. These differences will have a definite impact on your study abroad experience. Be sure to take time to carefully evaluate various cultures so that you can choose the option that best fits your personality and academic goals.

Academic Environment

The academic environment of the country or school you choose is also important. Every country has different education styles and protocols. For example, in some countries it is perfectly acceptable to express different ideas and interact casually with professors. In other countries, these same actions could be considered too forward or disrespectful. Taking time to research academic environments in different countries, schools, and classrooms will make it easier to find an environment that suits your personal preferences and learning style.

Student Support Services

Most graduate schools are very welcoming to international students. However, there are some schools that are more accommodating than others. Check to see if the university you are considering has an International Office, Office of Student Exchange, or some other support service that is willing to answer questions, assist with visa requirements, and help international students settle into a new environment.

Language Barriers

Many of the world's top universities teach in English. If English is your first language, you should be comfortable in class. However, it is always a good idea to try to learn the language--even if it's just basic phrases--of the country in which you will be studying. If English is not your first language, you may need to demonstrate your English language proficiency before being accepted to schools where English is the language of instruction.

Financial Implications

The cost of studying abroad can vary from country to country and school to school. You should make an effort to get a realistic estimate of how much money you will need to fund your graduate education and pay for living expenses. Once you have that estimate, you can find out whether or not there are enough grants, scholarships, student loans, and other aid options to provide the cash you need to study at your desired school.

Career Opportunities

Many of the MBA students who make the decision to study abroad do so in hopes of getting a job in their country of study after graduation. If you are one of these students, it is important to get information from your school’s job placement office about internship opportunities, the companies that recruit on campus, and your chances of getting hired after graduation.