teaforte wrote:
Hi All,
Thanks in advance for your advise. I'm 33-yr old Asian American female trying to decide between MBA and EMBA.
Undergrad: large state school, BA & MPA, GPA 3.1-3.3ish
Extracurricular: Founded a club while in school, grew the students of a new major by 4 times, obtained funding during the 2009 crisis and held a very successful student-company event; otherwise typical involvement with other clubs and volunteering work while in school. I then volunteered in South America. Afterwards, minimum involvement while at work.
GMAT: yet to be taken, aiming for 760+, can probably obtain 710+ (I took it once w/out preparation for the MPA application and got 710, the score has expired)
Work: 3 years in China, 5 years in Germany; manufacturing sector; responsibilities include: corporate development/M&A/change management/innovation/greenfield startup etc. I started out as an intern and rose to managerial roles the second year while in China and by the time I left, I had 9 direct reports and was the acting head of a department. I gave up that management role to go to Germany and started as a normal employee. Promoted to manager 2 years later and now to director and head of strategy. So I'd say I have roughly 5 years management experience in total. Right now I work for a mid-cap (3-4000 employee) company with international locations and report directly to the C-suite.
Why MBA/ Post-MBA Goals: I gained most of my knowledge through actual work and would like to combine that with good and up-to-date theory. I also miss the intellectual stimulation of working with very smart people. I've mostly worked outside the US until now, but I feel like it was enough international perspective and would like to return to work in the US post MBA. Most of my contacts/network are non-US, so forming a strong network through MBA/EMBA is also something I'm looking for. Post MBA, I plan to stay within the corporate world, manufacturing is okay, also curious about other industries. Additionally, I want to find positions with bigger companies/better brands. Eventually I'd also want to try founding own business.
Questions: As I'm in EU right now, as is my husband, going to school in EU would be much easier and cheaper for me. But I know going to a US program is going to help me the most since I plan to stay and work in the US afterwards. Also, I feel like I'm on the young side for most EMBAs and old side for most MBAs, so far I've narrowed my scope down to 1-year programs in US and Europe as well as joint EU-US EMBA programs. I'm just not sure which one would help the most to achieve my career goals.For example full-time MBAs have career services, but would the positions offered be what I'm looking for? On the other hand, some say EMBAs allows you to form executive network through classmates and that can also lead to opportunities; how strong can the bound be with classmates through a weekend program when everyone is trying to balance school/work? Finally, I looked on linked-in and it seems that even for INSEAD/LBS, not so many alumni work in the states, and most of them had a job before EMBA and simply returned to the same organization. How much help and recognition should I expect to receive in US if I were to go with an EU program?
In Short: EMBA or MBA? EU or US? For a 33-yr old looking to work for top companies in the US afterwards.
Teaforte hi
Indeed many questions
We at
ARINGO face many of these questions with many candidates who are, like you, on the borderline between "too much" experience for full-time MBAs and a bit young for the senior programs.
Sounds like you have a terrific background. very international, lots of experiences, and advancements. I'm curious to see what you land in your GMAT (710 vs. 760 is a huge difference
), but actually, with your experience, and dependant on the programs you go for, the GMAT might not be a big factor.
Let's try to make it simple (black or white kind of thing)
I agree with your analysis. you should go for 1y programs in the US or part-time programs with a "US leg"
The best programs for you would be:
US 1Y programs: Stanford MSc, MIT Sloan Fellows, Foster IBear, Kellogg 1Y MBA, Cornell 1Y MBA
EU-US part-time: Trium (LSE, HEC, NYU), EMBA Global (Columbia, LBS), Chicago EMBA (London Campus)
Other good international EU 1Y programs? Well I would probably only consider INSEAD and perhaps Oxford or Cambridge (LBS, IESE, HEC are great too, but longer programs)
How should you decide? it's really up to you! like you said, a full-time program is a big investment (tuition + not working) but the career services is really strong and can help you secure the job you are looking for. in this case, I think the US programs will be better for you, as most positions available for students, post-MBA tend to be in the US. The EMBA might be an "easier" option (as you can work throughout the degree), and gives you the same platform (network, career services, job opportunities, brand), but you might need to make your way and use the business school infrastructure to find a job. I think this might be a better option for you, considering you currently live in EU and want to work in the US, but again, this is your call
(Happy to answer additional questions on
shimriw@ARINGO.com)
GOOD LUCK!