EMBA v. Full Time (Columbia v. Anderson)

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EMBA v. Full Time (Columbia v. Anderson)

by Ryan_TCPE » Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:48 pm
I have a dilemma.

At the moment I am trying to decide between Columbia's EMBA (weekends) and UCLA Anderson's full time program.

I am a partner in a small NYC artist management (music) firm. My position is unique in that I make my own hours and have the flexibility to (a) stay with my company full time while attending school part time or (b) to go to school full time and continue working remotely only 4 - 6 hrs per week in limited advisory role. I am welcome to return to the firm full time after school.

I have been accepted to both programs although my path to CBS EMBA acceptance was not exactly traditional: I applied to Columbia's full time program very late in the process (late March) and my decision letter stated that although adcom could not admit me to the full time program, they instead encouraged me to apply to their EMBA program because I am not looking to change industries. I applied and was accepted.

I had been leaning toward Anderson though, because (a) I wanted to be completely immersed in the MBA experience and (b) because I initially thought that the CBS EMBA program would not permit me to take electives with full time students. (Both schools have fantastic media & entertainment electives - a factor that is very important to me.)

However, as I now understand it - please correct me if I'm wrong - CBS still allows EMBA candidates to take classes with full time MBA students during the week, work schedule permitting. If this is the case, then given my relative autonomy at work, I could conceivably be able to enroll in any full time media & entertainment electives I want as long as I plan my work schedule correctly.

My questions are:
I. Is this true? Do EMBA students have the same chance to get a seat in elective courses as the full timers? Are full time MBA candidates given priority when registering for classes?

II. If I were able to take the electives and join the student groups I want at CBS, what would I be missing compared to the full time program at Anderson?

III. Generally speaking, how do EMBA degrees compare to full time MBA degrees in the eyes of potential employers?
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by Bryant@VeritasPrep » Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:00 pm
1. Is this true? Do EMBA students have the same chance to get a seat in elective courses as the full timers? Are full time MBA candidates given priority when registering for classes?

sorry, but i am going to have to defer to the admissions office for this one. If you call them directly this would be a very easy question for them to answer and it will get you familiar with the staff there which will be good if you go.

II. If I were able to take the electives and join the student groups I want at CBS, what would I be missing compared to the full time program at Anderson?

You are correct that you will feel more immersed into a full time program by far. Remember not just you, but all your classmates in an EMBA program are only dialed in on weekends and occasional evenings--no way to really bond. Also you will quickly see that the full time program simply gives you the luxury of drilling deeper into subjects and taking more classes. There are also clubs, activities and socials that are pretty much non-existent for the EMBAs, most of whom will be married with children and busy lives.

III. Generally speaking, how do EMBA degrees compare to full time MBA degrees in the eyes of potential employers?

The EMBA is gaining more respect in this regard than in the past, but you should check with CBS and see if they give the EMBAs the same access to and treatment from the full time career services office. Some schools don't let the EMBAs interview on the full timers recruiter schedules. If you want access to the recruiting companies, make sure up front this is how they do it. Also one thing you should be considering is the network after you graduate. Where are you planning to work? If it's in California music scene, then go UCLA. If it's back in NYC, go CBS. Remember the network lasts a lifetime.
Bryant Michaels
MBA Admissions Consultant


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