spideyeclipse27 wrote:
Hi
I am considering the Accelerated program and would like to know your views on the same. The questions I have in mind are things like how useful it would be to someone who is a career switcher. Please let me know.
Thanks.
Hey spidey,
I was very close to enrolling in the accelerated program instead of the traditional two-year, so I can provide feedback based on what I learned. Talking with one of the admissions officers during my application process, I was told the basic numbers they look for in an accelerated applicant is 700+ GMAT score and 9 years+ work experience. I was short on the work experience, but they were going to make an exception until some other complications got in the way, so the rules are not completely rigid. But, I was told that was what they looked at as their standard.
The reason they expect the high GMAT score is because previously attaining an advanced degree is a prerequisite of the accelerated program. Higher education leads to higher expectations, academically.
I moved here to Ithaca early and I have been working at Cornell this summer, and my conversations with staff and students have basically shown me that the reason the AMBA program would want so much prior work experience is because the students in the program are foregoing the internship. The more work experience a student has before starting the program, the less important it is that they are missing the internship. If you are a career switcher, you are missing that chance to work with a company in the industry you want to move in to. At the same time, the AMBA program has its own career fairs and meetings with recruiters, separate from the two-year students.
If you do opt for the AMBA, my main suggestion would be to be prepared to explain why you are doing so. I had some very helpful conversations with the admissions officers when I was looking toward the AMBA program, and that always came up.
Let me know if you have any other questions, and good luck with the decision process.