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MBA Profile Review Please!

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MBA Profile Review Please!

by black_cat » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:28 pm
Hello, wow ... what an awesome site!

I'd love to know my chances of getting into an MBA program (full-time or part-time). Here are some details:

I have a B.A. in English (graduated in 1993); GPA 3.4

I have 15 years of full-time work experience with progressive responsibility. I am currently an executive and manage a team of 9 people and a $2 million marketing budget. I have 7 additional years of part-time work experience -- 3 internships from the ages of 16-23. My experience includes two Fortune 500 companies (banking and health care).

Current position: Director of Marketing (of a large non-profit health care system -- 10,000+ employees)

Reason for MBA: Well, look at my undergraduate degree! I have tons of "on-the-job business training," but am looking for some rigorous business classes, particularly in finance/accounting. I also see an MBA as a factor in helping me get future promotions.

Community activities: Over the past 15 years, I've served as the communications director on 6 different boards.

Letters of recommendation: one from my current supervisor (Chief Marketing Officer/Executive Vice President of my company) and one from a former supervisor (a Senior Vice President with a Fortune 100 company).

Essays: My expertise includes public relations and employee/executive communications, so I believe my essays are exceptionally strong due to my writing skills (which is good, because I am not that skilled in math!) :D I have one school (so far) that I am targeting and have completed their 5 required essays. (It is not a Top 10 B-school.)

GMAT: I am taking it in April and am studying about 30-40 hours per week for 10 weeks prior to the test.

I am female (not that it matters, but just thought I'd throw that in!).

Thanks for any feedback you can give!
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by Lisa Anderson » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:46 pm
Dear black_cat:

Wow--you have a great track record to present on your applications. Due to your level of experience, I would assume you are looking at Executive MBA programs. If not, I would strongly encourage you to consider an executive program as they are geared towards someone with your profile.

Based on what you have delineated, I would say you should have a strong application for most executive programs as long as you do not bomb the GMAT. :wink: Be sure to check each of your target schools' class profiles to see how you fall on each of the stats--at/above/below the average work experience, GPA, GMAT, etc. That will give you the best indication of your application's strengths and weaknesses.

Good luck!
Lisa
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by black_cat » Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:21 am
Hi Lisa,

Thank you for your feedback! You know, I did briefly check into the Executive MBA program at the school I'd like to attend and I didn't think I qualified (I thought you needed a higher level of experience). I went back to the web site just now and read about the program in more detail, and although I now think I would qualify, I'm still not crazy about the format. They do the classes in cohorts which meet for a full Friday and Saturday every other weekend. On the positive side, the degree only takes about 21 months to earn. The biggest barrier is the price. It's about 40% more expensive than the traditional MBA program and my employer (a non-profit) only covers $2,000/year. I will be paying the rest, which is fine if the total is only about $45,000 (the cost of the part-time program after my employer's contributions).

I almost screamed when I read that the Executive MBA doesn't require the GMAT as part of the application process! Rats!!! :cry: (Meaning, I would LOVE not to have to take it!)

So, if I stick with the more traditional MBA program, do you think they'll fairly consider me even though they may wonder why I didn't go for an EMBA? Their average GPA is 3.3, so I'm good there. And again, I have a ton of work experience, great essays and two very strong recommendations. As for my GMAT score, their average is 610. I'm taking the test in early April.
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by Lisa Anderson » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:18 pm
Dear black_cat:

Yes, it is true that many Executive MBA programs do not require the GMAT. All applicants are considered for the program they apply to, but you should be prepared to tell the interviewer or admissions staff why you are applying to the part-time versus the executive program.

While I understand your concern on the price, check with the school you have identified to see what the cost includes. Many EMBA programs have an all inclusive cost covering tuition, fees, books, and program materials. Likewise, many of them also provide meals during the weekend and pay for parking. Once you factor in all of these costs, it might not be as great a price difference as you think. Getting your MBA is an expensive proposition--but it is ultimately an investment in yourself.

More importantly than the price, however, the reason I suggested an EMBA program for your profile is what you gain from your classmates, both on teams and in the classroom. In a traditional full or part-time MBA program, you will be in class with folks with 0-10 years of experience (part-time programs may be 0-15 years). So there might be folks with the amount of professional experience you have, but it will not be a majority. Thus you might not have as enriching an experience as you would sitting in a class or working on a team with folks in the 10-30 year experience range.

If you have the chance to visit both programs, I would highly encourage you to do so. If you can attend a class for both, I think you would find it worth your time to really explore what the differences might be.

Regards,
Lisa
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by Dan_@_DukeEMBA » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:41 am
Dear black_cat,

I agree with Lisa. Based on your work profile, you are at a great level for an Executive MBA, and I think you would get a lot more from the network/fellow students than you would at a full-time program. Unless you wish to make a complete career-switch (and need to leverage an internship and a slate of electives to do it), I don't know why you would want to sacrifice your great position and two years of salary for a full-time program.

While it is true that many senior Executive MBA programs do not require the GMAT, that doesn't mean that they don't look at quantitative readiness. At Duke, we have a senior Executive MBA program called the Global Executive, and when we see people with very strong work profiles (like yours) who had a non-quantitative major, we will work closely with them to assess their quant readiness and recommend (or require) a course of action to get them prepared to start a program.

If you are interested in talking about Executive programs (not just Duke), drop me a line at [email protected].

Best of luck,

Dan McCleary
Director of Recruitment and Admissions
Duke University
Executive MBA Programs
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by black_cat » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:02 am
Lisa and Dan,

Thanks for the feedback. Just to be clear, I'm actually only considering a part-time program at this point. I realize my current position is too valuable to give up, plus I kind of like the paycheck. :D

I am now really torn between the part-time program and the EMBA program at the school I am targeting. I did call and speak with someone from their EMBA program the other day. I appreciate the fact I would be in classes with people who would have a similar level of experience, but again, the price difference is a big deal. I have assessed what's included in the price of each program and it's still way more expensive to go the EMBA route. As I mentioned, I can readily handle $50,000 in tuition (and a little more for fees, parking, etc.) over three years, but not $90,000 over two years. Since I'm paying for almost all of this myself, I can't see paying the 40% "premium" for the EMBA program. (If my employer paid it all, that would be different!)

I also worry that the EMBA program will be a larger course load than what I would take in the part-time program. I intend to get the most out of each class and want to be sensitive to the time I have available for school (I work 50-60 hours per week).

I am almost done with my part-time (online) application. The person at the EMBA program said they would accept that application for their program if I decided to switch.

This Saturday I am attending an information session for the part-time program. That will give me another opportunity to discuss this with the admissions folks.

So, unless I find a pot of gold somewhere (or preferably cash!), I think I'll be sticking with the part-time program. Ahhh, decisions, decisions. :?
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by Lisa Anderson » Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:24 pm
Dear black_cat:

Thanks for the update. Don't let the price tag scare you from the EMBA if you think it is the better fit. I'm not saying it is or it isn't; I just think you owe it to yourself to pick the best program for you. Thus I am delighted to hear you have spoken with folks in the EMBA office and will visit the part-time program this weekend. Try not to view the price as a "cost" but rather an "investment" in your future career potential. Remember, you are worth the best!

Good luck with your decision--it is definitely a tough one!
Lisa
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by hillzheng » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:27 pm
when will you take GMAT? good luck anyway
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