北美EMBA Application分享与讨论

NetworkMITBBS

Just wrapped up my Exec MBA application, and open this thread to share my brief experience and answer questions anyone might have. <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>My Application Process:</strong><br />1.Decided to pursue an MBA, then decided to go with Exec MBA, not full-time<br />2.School visit: Wharton, Berkeley/Columbia, Booth, Kellogg, and Foster<br />3.Applied and accepted: Wharton<br /><br /><strong>Background:</strong><br />1.B.E. from China; M.S from U.S.; GMAT 710<br />2.Working Experience: Interned in a silicon valley startup, followed by seven years at a major tech company on west coast. Started as an engineer, then a technical lead and program manager, then a people manager of a R&D team with >10 engineers, most recently, a people manager of a cross-function team, report to both engineering and marketing directors, who wrote the rec letters for me.

gastank

you don't need GMAT for EMBA.

kimbleli

楼主你好，我也在准备2012年底申请EMBA，目标学校和你差不多，主要是在硅谷附近的沃顿，UC berkeley和stanford sloan，但是很难在网上查到emba申请的一些信息，能否透露一下EMBA申请和MBA申请的区别？比如wharton的EMBA和普通MBA的申请区别在哪？

kimbleli

写几个具体的问题吧。以wharton为标准，希望能得到楼主的回复：
1. EMBA的ESSAY、GMAT分数、TOEFL分数要求和MBA的差别？
2. EMBA的具体申请过程里面，最看重的是什么？看到有些帖子说是看重工作背景，但是又有帖子说他们不看重essay。那这样综合下来，就只是看简历体现的工作经历？那就是看简历了，觉得有点虚。希望楼主能说说自己的感受。
3. wharton，好像是可以先interview，再提交材料，楼主是咋样做的？EMBA的interview主要是问哪些方面呢？
4. wharton的EMBA的同学感觉如何？很多人说EMBA的同学关系比较松散，没法建立很深厚的友谊，是这样么？

我也说一下自己的背景吧。国内特一般的大学本科EE专业，大学基本都在创业赚钱导致GPA只有2.4，毕业以后在Microsoft做了5年Channel，作为微软内部新项目的第一个员工建立了微软中国第一个服务渠道体系。接下来到eBay，还是个公司内部创业项目做了3年，做了一个新site；然后作为co-founder从eBay拆分了这个项目独立创业，做了5年，现在是国内这个领域的TOP site。
这次申请的目标是硅谷附近的几所学校：wharton、UC b、stanford sloan。现在在准备TOEFL和GMAT，估计7月底能搞定GMAT700，TOEFL100。

yuns

硅谷附近的wharton？斯坦福的sloan？难道我精神错乱了。。。

kimbleli

谢谢楼上的解释。：）

NetworkMITBBS

Most of information can be found on the program's website.

Overall, the EMBA program cares more about your work experience especially managerial experience, less about academic credentials. For example, if you are a director in a Fortune 500 company, even your undergrad GPA is 2.x, you will find a spot in at least one of leading EMBA programs in the States (Wharton, Kellogg, and Booth, etc).

However, each school does have their different focus. I visited quite a few programs and talked to their admission staff as well as students. Let me just use Wharton and Kellogg as a example. Wharton has Strong reputation in Finance, non-diluted curriculum and requirement compared to full-time MBA. For example, Wharton EMBA does requirement GMAT, and the median GMAT is not much different from full-time. The students are younger and highly motivated, although the majority of them have substantial managerial experience. Based on my experience so far, I can tell you the class is very stressful. We have class every other week, and I need to study 3-4 fours per day, and 7 days a week. Kellogg has strong reputation in Marketing and GM and does not requirement GMAT. Most of students are fairly senior. For example, my boss's boss attended the program when he was in his late 40s, after working in several large-cap corporations and selling his start-up. The class is not that stressful, but you definitely can learn a lot from those senior folks. Maybe some of them will hire you after a while

I just started my class and cannot comment much on the student relationship. Maybe I will provide some in a few months. What I can say now is, so far, I really enjoy working with folks in my study group, and all the other people I talked with in the class. I honestly do not think our friendship will be discounted since we do not see each other every day.

Let me know if this helps. I will provide you some comment on your individual case separately.

kimbleli

谢谢NetworkMITBBS的介绍，这些问题基本都清晰了。
尤其是你说的那个wharton的课程很有压力让我很明确的看到了两个项目的差别。

NetworkMITBBS

If you are serious about this, the best way to make your final decision is "class visit". Talk to a few students, also find a few alumni, and ask why they chose this school and how it eventually helps their career. After that, you can map back to your situation and do further evaluation.

Your background defintely makes you a strong candidate. The bigger question is if you need EMBA now, or, if you need it at all. After all, the program requires quite some efforts and commitment (today I just compared our full-time MBA resource guide with Exec MBA counterpart and found almost no difference in curriculum, academic requirements, etc.)  

If yes, go for it

kimbleli

I am so happy to know there is little difference in curriculum between EMBA and full time MBA. It is just what I need.

I will visit these schools in August. Thanks for your valuable suggestion, NetworkMITBBS!