Executive MBA

Asia

Live Chat With Executive Mba Admissions

You have questions - we have answers. Executive MBA Directors will be on hand to address anything you want to know about the program. Do you have questions about the application, curriculum, student life, or international travel? Come spend an hour with us as we answer these questions and more during this highly interactive chat.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014: Noon - 1 p.m. CT

From -> To Message
Moderator -> Everyone Hello everyone! Thank you for joining us today. Our chat will begin promptly at 12:00 p.m. CDT. Feel free to begin submitting your questions now so we can start providing answers at noon.
Moderator -> Everyone Hello everyone. Welcome to our live chat! Thank you for joining us today. We are eager to answer all your questions, so please submit them now.
Moderator -> Everyone Hello everyone. Welcome to our live chat! Thank you for joining us today. We are eager to answer all your questions, so please submit them now.
Patricia -> Everyone Hello Everyone! Thanks for joining us today.
Melissa -> Everyone Welcome everyone! Thank you for joining us today. I am looking forward to answering your questions.
Shino -> Patricia Hello, can you please explain the difference between the EMBA America, London and Asia. Is it the same program just on different prime locations (main in Chicago, London or HK)?
Patricia -> Shino Shino: Thanks for your question. The only difference between the program in London and Hong Kong is the program format. The North America program format is every other weekend for classes. In London and Hong Kong the format is week long modules, every 6 weeks. The admissions criteria is the same.
Brad -> Everyone Hello and welcome!
Stephen -> Melissa Will you also be able to answer questions on your weekend program? I would like to take classes over a 4-5 year period
Melissa -> Stephen Stephen, thank you for your question. I would recommend that you contact the Evening and Weekend program directly with your questions. They can be reached at eveningweekend-admissions@ChicagoBooth.edu or 312.464.8700
Shamby -> Brad what are the chances of getting on campus job for part time students?
Brad -> Shamby I'm sorry but EMBA students do not qualify for part time employment at the University.
Shino -> Melissa do you still consider application from potential students who are younger / have less experience than the cohort's average?
Melissa -> Shino Shino, the information we publish regarding average age of our students and average work experience is exactly that - average. As such, we definitely have students on the younger end of this and older end. When reviewing applications, we are looking at the quality of what you bring to the classroom.
Tamas -> Brad How many full week sessions are required domestically (in the US) and other countries during the entire length of the EMBA program (21 month). Is the current tuition covering those costs of travel, lodging, etc?
Brad -> Tamas 3 full week sessions are required in the US (Chicago) as well as 1 full week session in London 1 full week session in Hong Kong. The tuition covers the host of lodging at for all 5 weeks for North American students, but not travel expense.
San -> Melissa Hi, I am working on my application. I am in west coast. Can you help me in connecting with another student or alumnus who can give me some insight.
Melissa -> San San, I would be happy to connect you with a current student or alum on the west coast. Please feel free to send a request to xp@chicagobooth.edu and I will address your request.
mahesh -> Patricia Hi, my question is regarding the average level of experience in the EMBA class - are most at entry-level to mid-level managers or is this program for senior-management folks?
Patricia -> mahesh Hi Mahesh - The program is not strictly for senior level managers. The experience level in our Executive MBA programs vary mid-level managers to high level managers. It's about the value and contribution you can bring to the program at any of these levels.
Tamas -> Brad For the Chicago program are all classes at Booth's Gleacher Center?
Brad -> Tamas Classes are held at the Gleachers Center during kick off week and regular class weekends but Electives week classes are held in the Harper Center in Hyde Park.
Andrew -> Melissa I have some very basic questions about the EMBA application, so please just confirm this is the correct forum for those types of specific questions. Otherwise, I'm happy to pick up the phone to discuss. Whichever is easier for you all.
Melissa -> Andrew Andrew, you can definitely ask your application questions on this forum or you can feel free to contact our office via xp@chicagobooth.edu or 312.464.8750.
Frank_K -> Brad Could you let us know what costs are not covered by tuition for the EMBA program?
Brad -> Frank_K Travel to London and Hong Kong, as well as lodging for regular class weekends in Chicago are not covered by your tuition cost.
Shino -> Patricia Thank you Patricia. London program, does it mean that the education is mainly in London apart from 2 in Chicago and one in HK?
Patricia -> Shino Yes, Shino - absolutely. The London and Hong Kong programs are held in those locations, with the exception of the residential weeks (3 weeks in Chicago - 1) Kick off/Global Orientation, 2) Two weeks taking Elective Courses). Hope this helps!
Sarah -> Patricia For the application process, only the contact information for the three recommenders needs to be submitted with the rest of the application material, right?
Patricia -> Sarah Hi Sarah: Yes, you should only submit the contact info for the recommendors (3) when you start the application. I'll be happy to work with you as you go through the process!
Tamas -> Brad Are the week long sessions manditory? What happens if I am unable to attend the London or Hong Kong session?
Brad -> Tamas The week long sessions are mandatory. If you are unable to attend you will delay your graduation from the program.
kash -> Melissa I have an MBA in information systems and been in corporate finance for the past 7 years, I want to change gears completely in to marketing, would the Exec MBA help me in this regard?
Melissa -> kash Kash, our MBA is designed to have a general management focus and will cover a broad spectrum of subjects. As such, you will take foundational classes, functional classes, management classes, as well as electives and classes focused on the business environment. Marketing classes will be part of your functional study. In addition, the electives give you the opportunity to focus on specific areas of study.
Tamas -> Brad What library resources do you have for EMBA students at the Gleacher Center or perhaps accessible online?
Brad -> Tamas Students do have access to resources in the Career Services Library at the Gleacher Center as well as the online University Resources
Shino -> Patty for the europe program, are there more opportunities to study in other locations (apart from the 4 weeks in Chicago and HK)
Patty -> Shino Hi Shino. Our students study at our own campuses in Chicago, London and Hong Kong. We do not offer studies in other locations.
Sol -> Brad what is the average class size for the EMBA program?
Brad -> Sol The Booth EMBA class size will rage from 90 to 85 students per local cohort.
San -> Melissa Do you have any minimum GMAT score requirement? Are you considering Integrated Reasoning score during evaluation process?
Melissa -> San San, we do not have a minimum GMAT score requirement as part of the application process. We review and consider all aspects of the application, of which the GMAT score is only one part. In regards to the Integrated Reasoning score, we do review all components of the GMAT scores.
Tamas -> Patty Do you have a lift of classes that are offered along with a description of each class? I am interested in the Entrepreneurial track.
Patty -> Tamas Hi Tamas. You can learn more about our curriculum and courses at the this page
Frank_K -> Brad Where do most students stay for the classes in Chicago if they are from another location?
Brad -> Frank_K Many students stay at the Sheraton Chicago or the Club Quarter's Wacker.
Frank_K -> Brad Where do most students stay for the classes in Chicago if they are from another location?
Brad -> Frank_K Many students stay at the Sheraton Chicago or the Club Quarter's Wacker.
Shino -> Toby is there an accent made on entrepreneurship, or facilities available for students who want to build their own business?
Toby -> Shino Hi Shino - Chicago Booth has been a leader in Entrepreneurship Education for many years. I could talk at great length about the many opportunities available for potential entrepreneurs. You are able to take an elective track focusing on Entrepreneurship, you are able to participate in the GNVC (Global New Venture Challenge) competition with classmates from around the world and you are able to take advantage of the resources of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (click here to learn more)
San -> Brad What career services do you offer for EMBA students?
Brad -> San EMBA students have full access to career Services. EMBA Career Services.
dodocal -> Toby Hi, I am currently based in Houston and working on my application. Would like to connect with alums in Houston.
Toby -> dodocal Great timing dodocal - I'm coming to Houston next Tuesday for a dinner with alumni and prospective students. Click below to register if you're available. If not send an email directly to xp@chicagobooth.edu and we can make a connection for you. Register
Tamas -> Patricia Where can I find financial information (loans, grants, scholarships, etc.)
Patricia -> Tamas Hi Tamas: You can find information about financial aid on our website.
Ram -> Patty I have 12+ years of IT Experience. Is it mandatory to go for TOEFL / GRE / GMAT? I live in Chicago for about close to 7 years
Patty -> Ram Hi, Ram. We require the GMAT or GRE for admission. There is a waiver process that is detailed in our online application. For more information, please visit here
mahesh -> Patricia I submitted my GMAT score to the weekend program, do I need to submit again to EMBA program?
Patricia -> mahesh Hi Mahesh: If you submitted your score to the weekend program, we can pull it from that application. Just contact us offline for further assistance. patricia.coffey@ChicagoBooth.edu
Frank_K -> Toby Who is eligible for a GMAT waiver?
Toby -> Frank_K Hi Frank - Senior level managers, usually with twelve or more years of management experience may be granted an exemption from the GMAT requirement. Examples might include CEOs, Managing Directors, CFOs, and Division Heads, etc. A waiver may also be considered for a candidate whose work experience and training indicate a high level of quantitative and analytical skill and an ability to apply those skills to a rigorous and analytical MBA Program.
Moderator -> Everyone We are almost half way through the chat and have had great questions so far. Please continue to submit your questions! We will try to answer all of them today.
Shino -> Patricia do you need the GMAt score sent directly to you?
Patricia -> Shino Shino: You do not need to send your score directly to us. Once you take the exam, just give us, Chicago Booth, permission to pull your score from the official site.
Ram -> Melissa What is the difference / advantage between part time / week end MBA & Executive MBA?
Melissa -> Ram Ram, thank you for your question. At Booth, we offer one MBA degree with four options for earning the degree - Full-time, Evening, Weekend, and Executive MBA. So, the Executive MBA program and the Evening / Weekend programs result in the same degree and are designed for working professionals. Classes for the Evening / Weekend students meet once a week and the program generally take 2.5 - 3 years. The classes for the Executive MBA program meet every other week, all day Friday and all day Saturday, and the program take 21 months. The curriculum is flexible for the part-time programs, while it is a lockstep, set curriculum for the Executive MBA program. The average age of students for the part-time programs is 29-30 years old and is 37 years old for the Executive program. Finally, the Executive MBA program includes an international travel aspect and a broader global cohort.
Shino -> Patricia do you need the GMAt score sent directly to you?
Patricia -> Shino Shino: You do not need to send your score directly to us. Once you take the exam, just give us, Chicago Booth, permission to pull your score from the official site.
Shino -> Melissa are the application on a roll on basis?
Melissa -> Shino Shino, yes, we have a rolling admissions process. As such, you can submit your application whenever it is complete and you will likely receive an admissions decision within about six weeks.
Rob -> Toby I have two questions concerning the application. What kinds of things do people write for the activities and hobbies question? I am finding that because of my demanding work schedule, my hobbies and activities outside of work are limited. I am also thinking of writing a third essay, but wanted to make sure I am adding value and not wasting admission times. What types of things do you look for in a third essay?
Toby -> Rob Hi Rob - regarding activities and hobbies they just provide an opportunity for you to paint a better picture of what you like to do outside of work. I certainly empathize with the limited time to participate in all the things you would like.
The third essay is there for you to tell us about anything that you feel you haven't been able to tell us about in the rest of the application. We get everything from explanation of poor grades to personal stories of triumph to a deeper discussion on activities and hobbies - so really anything.
San -> Melissa Thanks Melissa regarding my question on GMAT score. I have an unbalanced GMAT score. Can I connect with you offline to discuss my situation?
Melissa -> San San, yes, let's connect offline. I can be reached at 312.464.8754 or melissa.patterson@chicagobooth.edu.
Tamas -> Melissa Based on a rolling admission, what would be the latest date to complete and submit my application and have ample time for review and start in June 2014?
Melissa -> Tamas Tamas, our last submission deadline is April 1.
Tamas -> Patty I am currently employed at a global pharmaceutical company but also I have a start up. I hope to transition to my start up Q1-2 of 2014, what "employer" should I use for my application?
Patty -> Tamas Hi, Tamas. If you have completely left your employer, please use your start up as your employer by sending a statement to that effect.
mahesh -> Toby also, it's not clear from the website about the schedule of the program -- is it every other weekend? if so, which days..
Toby -> mahesh Hi Mahesh - below is a link to the EXACT calendar for students starting the program this summer. You will see that for the most part the program is every other weekend with the 5 weeklong session spread throughout as well. Calendar
Shino -> Toby can an application be transferred from a program to another : from executive MBA to part time for example?
Toby -> Shino Hi Shino - some of the pieces of the application can be transferred like your transcripts and general contact information etc. but the essays and recommendation letters for example are slightly different from program to program and can't be transferred. So it's in your best interest to be sure of the program you want before you apply.
Sarah -> Patricia I am scheduled to attend the information session on 3/13 but may have submitted my application prior to that date. While not ideal, is there any concern with that order from an admission evaluation perspective?
Patricia -> Sarah Hi Sarah,

We look forward to meeting you at the 3/13 info session. Applicants who submit their applications continue to engage with us coming to information session, visiting a class, or talking to alumni and current students. We embrace that fact that you continue to remain engaged with us even after your application is submitted.
Sol -> Patty If a prospective student is in the process of interviewing for new job, are there any reservations to be considered in the admission process for the EMBA program?
Patty -> Sol Hi, Sol. We do require that applicants/students are employed full-time while pursuing the program. You and your classmates benefit the most from the experience if you can apply what you learn immediately to the workplace. With that said, we understand when students are in transition and work with you to find out details of your transition.
Mike -> Toby I constantly get this confused as its mentioned multiple times that you require applicants/students to be employed full-time but then you would still consider those in transition? In some sense, full-time employment is not a pre-requisite?
Toby -> Mike Hi Mike - see Patty's answer above - in short we're reasonable and work with you on a case by case basis.
Rob -> Patty After the application is submitted, does each applicant get interviewed? Are those interviews in Chicago, over the phone, or with an alumni close to where the candidate lives?
Patty -> Rob Hi, Rob. Applicants are invited in to interview, so we do not interview everyone. The interview is conducted in person at Gleacher Center in Chicago. Both staff and alumni serve as interviewers.
Moderator -> Everyone Our chat will be ending in 15 minutes. Please submit your final questions so we can answer all of them!
SG -> Toby Could you describe the student population of the program?
Toby -> SG Hi SG - In a word... Diverse. Diverse in terms of professional background, diverse in terms of cultural background, diverse in terms of life experience, diverse in terms of geographic location... i could go on. Other words I would use are - intelligent, accomplished, driven, ambitious, fun. I love working with our students for obvious reasons.
SG -> Toby international residencies, are the classes taught by the local professor? Or are the students located in Hong Kong and London taught by Chicago professors from the USA??
Toby -> SG All classes are taught by Chicago Booth faculty. Our faculty travel to London and Hong Kong to teach our students.
SG -> Patricia how accessible are the professors?
Patricia -> SG SG: The professors at Booth are very accessible.. In fact, students have been able to send an email to a faculty member and get a response almost immediately.
Frank_K -> Patty Are there recommended resources (books, on-line tutorials, courses, etc.) for students to prepare for the EMBA program?
Patty -> Frank_K Hi, Frank. We teach an analytical methods course at the beginning of the program. In addition, we have a variety of books we recommend. Barron's publishes Forgotten Calculus, Forgotten Algebra and Algebra the Easy Way. Finally, if you have never taken a financial accounting course or a basic statistics course, taking one online or at a community college can be helpful.
SG -> Brad What percent of students already have an advanced degree?
Brad -> SG Hello SG, about 30 to 35% of students already have advanced degrees before receiving an MBA from the Booth Executive MBA Program.
Mike -> Patty Is there a breakdown % of people who join the EMBA program from Private Equity/Venture Capital and whether you can put me in contact with some alums on Rationale etc.?
Patty -> Mike Hi, Mike. In a typical cohort, we may see about 5-6 people in PE/VC. We can certainly connect you to an alumnus or two in that industry. Please send an email to xp@chicagobooth.edu
Frank_K -> Melissa Is it possible to get EMBA alumni references based on their industry or background? I am curious of the post-EMBA career path for graduates who began the program with a background similar to mine.
Melissa -> Frank_K Frank, if you send your request with the industry information to xp@chicagobooth.edu, I would be happy to try to connect you with an alumni in that field.
DW -> Toby How extensive are the networking opportunities during and after completing the program?
Toby -> DW Hi DW - VERY.... during the program you take at least 2/3 of your classes with the same group of around 90 people. You get to know them very well and become very close. Our Alumni Affairs team hosts hundreds of events all over the world every year ranging from informal networking events to content driven speaker series to large blacktie celebrations.
Frank_K -> Toby What percentage of students are self-funded versus company-funded?
Toby -> Frank_K Hi Frank - 50% self-funded, 25% fully funded by employer, 25% getting SOMETHING from employer but not fully funded.
Moderator -> Everyone Also, please visit our blog at blogs.chicagobooth.edu/embaevolution to read about what is happening in our Executive MBA program
Toby -> Everyone Thanks everyone - please send any more questions to xp@chicagobooth.edu and have a great day!
Brad -> Everyone Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today!
Patty -> Everyone Thank you for joining us today. We appreciate your interest in Chicago Booth and our Executive MBA Program.
Melissa -> Everyone Thank you all for joining us today and for your interest in Chicago Booth!
Patricia -> Everyone Thanks for joining us. Have a great day!