The top 10 schools for MBA programs include Columbia Business School. Attending CBS can be extremely beneficial to your career because of its location in the heart of New York City. However, CBS’s Executive MBA Program might be a better fit for you if you have more than 8 years of professional work experience as opposed to the traditional, full-time program.
When you fall into the “Executive” category, it’s common that you may have forgotten what it’s like to be in college or how the application process works. It can be challenging to start your research into selecting which programs to apply to, particularly when you have a full workload. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about Columbia Business School’s Executive MBA program and assist you in determining whether it’s the right fit for you since you’ve already completed step one by reading this page.
How the EMBA admissions processes differ
Many EMBA programs actually prescreen applicants to ensure they are a good fit for the program, whereas top full-time MBA programs receive thousands of applications each year.
Prospective EMBA applicants are often asked to send in a résumé and test scores, and a member of the admissions committee will either encourage or discourage them to apply, says Natalie Grinblatt Epstein, an MBA admissions consultant with Accepted. Admissions committee members confirm that a candidate is mid-career and is trending toward a role more focused on strategy or general management, she adds.
Bennett claims that ideal EMBA candidates are “in a position where all eyes are on them.” “They won’t get the return on investment in the program if they’re too low to have visibility within the organization. ”.
It’s not uncommon for members of the admissions committee to suggest candidates during the prescreen phase to apply instead for the school’s full-time or part-time MBA program—or to postpone their EMBA application for an additional two or three years—says Epstein.
This consultation approach really allows applicants to evaluate what they’re looking for in a program, says Mary Banks, an admissions consultant with Inspira Futures. Banks previously served as the associate director of admissions and assistant dean of student affairs and executive education at Columbia Business School.
“Student satisfaction is a very important factor,” she says. You don’t want to put the student in a position where they believe their needs and interests have not been met. ”.
Bennett assesses potential candidates’ level of organizational influence as well. Someone may not be the right fit if they are operating “under the radar” and not telling their employer that they want to take on more responsibility and pursue an EMBA. If you aren’t having the conversation, you can’t be in a position of visibility, she adds.
How to evaluate the quality of an EMBA program
Arush Chandna, co-founder of Inspira Futures, claims that school brand matters in EMBA programs as well. The brand-name association means that elite programs like Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, and Columbia will continue to be competitive, he claims.
He says that “the MBA is typically what the school’s brand is built on.” “An EMBA program is a great complement. ”.
Bennett also advises assessing the curriculum of a program to make sure you’ll receive the quantitative training required to assume fiscal responsibility in addition to a strategic component.
…but still, not everyone gets in
Even though there are fewer applicants for EMBA programs and many of them are prescreened, not everyone is admitted. According to experts, candidates must be clear about why they want to pursue an EMBA. A full-time MBA program can be a good starting point or a chance to completely change careers, but an EMBA is really targeted at leaders who want to apply what they learn to their current organization.
Top universities are seeking seasoned and rising C-suite executives, according to Banks. “They don’t want your run-of-the-mill student. ”.
Bennett, for instance, seeks candidates who have at least eight years of experience and are “really managing something pretty significant This may be demonstrated by their management style, the size or scope of the project they are working on, or their level of financial or budgetary responsibility.
Test results and undergraduate transcripts are less crucial to the EMBA application, but they are still a reliable predictor of candidates’ academic performance, according to experts. They claim that essay responses and recommendation letters are much more significant. According to Banks, EMBA admissions committees are more concerned with assembling a class of very experienced, demonstrated leaders who work at a higher level of management.
What Epstein likes to see in EMBA candidates is their capacity to foresee the future and make connections, he says. “Think like a CEO,” she suggests.
View Fortune’s rankings of the top executive, full-time, and online MBA programs to see how the institutions you are considering performed.
An Executive MBA with Immeasurable Value
FAQ
Is it hard to get into Columbia EMBA?
Columbia Business School (CBS) is one of six Ivy League Business Schools, making it extremely competitive. Columbia admissions are some of the most stringent when it comes to selecting incoming students.
How hard is it to get into Kellogg Executive MBA?
b) It may surprise you to learn that the Kellogg EMBA Program does not strictly require a GMAT score; instead, you are exempt from taking the GMAT if you have successfully completed your Bachelor’s degree. c) The acceptance rate for Kellogg is 20% each year; it is highly aspirational
Does Columbia Executive MBA require GMAT?
A valid self-reported GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE score is required of every applicant. Scores are considered valid by Columbia Business School for five years following the test date. In order to avoid having your scores expire, please send your score report and submit your application at least one day in advance.
Is EMBA easier to get into than MBA?
A cursory examination of the data indicates that admission to an executive MBA (EMBA) program is simpler than admission to an MBA program. After all, the acceptance rates for EMBA programs are much higher than those for conventional M.B.A. programs.