Rejected FT, Offered PT/EMBA consideration... This happens?

Question

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has heard of the following scenario:

Applied to top20 school, rejected. In the rejection letter, indicated I would be better suited for PTMBA or EMBA. Looks like interview is immanent.

The above basically happened to me, and I am sort of confused, if not for the fact that if the new career development at work pans out, it might even be better for me...

Just wondering if anyone had experience with the above, applying for FT, then getting "laned" into a PT.

toriburu · Answer

are you referring to UCLA? If so I also got the same paragraph in my rejection letter. Have you heard anything from the adcoms about this?

GMATLA · Answer

I know for UCLA there is a box you could have checked that would allow the adcoms to consider you for the other programs (Executive or Part Time). If it is UCLA, the FEMBA program and Executive Program are top notch, so I would definitely consider it.

Most likely they saw something that would make you a good candidate for part time program. I would give it some serious thought, visit an open house, and see what you think.

One of the biggest expenses of bschool is the opportunity cost of losing 2 years of work experience and 2 years of salary. If you have the drive and motivation to do a 27-36 month program, you can keep those two things while getting a degree from a top school. Plus, I've now heard of many students taking internships in their last year (leaving their current job) and then landing somewhere new. It's quite interesting to see...

wallstreetbarbie · Answer

Thats actually pretty cool... usually its the other way around... they tell EMBA candidates to consider full time (::cough:: wharton ::cough::)

sadly this means another round of apps and interviews? I sure hope they can leverage some of your app as is

HaasEWMBA2015 · Answer

Did Wharton tell you that after the interview or after you submitted your application? Just curious as I'm looking at the Wharton EMBA program and while I haven't gotten my results back from the application, the interview went extremely well.

wallstreetbarbie · Answer

I have not applied yet. I did go to one of their info sessions in NYC and spoke to their ad com. I have almost 6 years of experience. In order to be admitted to their EMBA program one must have 8 or apply as a "fellow."

"Fellow" - less than 8 years of experience candidate must have 100% financial support from employer. This is what I was told from ad com people.

Sadly my company is cheap (there is no free water on the floor... yes I know insane) and they only do 10k per year. So I guess I will wait... or get another place of employment.

kosk · Answer

Heh. Id rather not confirm nor deny the institution, as it is currently "in process" so to speak, but after things shake out I'd be glad to share. FWIW, my perception of this so far is that it is NOT typical. Also, it seems PTMBA/EMBA have come a long way as well...

IMHO, a PTMBA might be "the entrepreneur's MBA"... I mean you have normal office hours open (9-5), access to all the classes and resources, clubs, advisers, career center, and you are going to go into debt either way. Seems like a perfect time to see if you can get something off the ground in 2.5 years and if not, "fall back" on your degree and career center. Thoughts?

I know I know, probably shouldn't start with a safety net in mind, but some of us have kids to feed, bills to pay, etc.

azhangie · Answer

I had no idea this occurs either. I am in the same boat as you. I guess it's better than a total ding?

scorpionz · Answer

While this has not happened to me, I can recall at least 4-5 instances over the past couple of years where folks at GC have been suggested that some other fancy program (EMBA, Global MBA etc.) is more suitable for them than the FT MBA program they were applying to..Never heard anything about anyone being told that PT was a better option for him/her than FT.

Needless to say that this was not taken kindly by any of the applicants because they had applied to the FT program for a reason..As if getting dinged was not enough, selling another program in the rejection letter is just salt to the wounds..Not sure about the schools that did this and don't quote me on it but I believe Fuqua was one of the prominent schools doing this..

I'll rack my brains and see if I can come up with the GC members I'm referring to here..

kosk · Answer

So its not just me, I am pretty sure this event is an exception to the rule. While obviously it isn't getting what you apply for, it wasn't exactly selling the other program, it seemed that a reapplication was not needed, and they would be going off the FT app.

I know not all EMBA/PTMBAs are created equal, but when I looked into it, there was a lot that was desirable, same this, same that, access to career center, and minimal second class citizen feeling. They even help you out with an internship if you so please. So there were a lot of things that made it seem more like just a nights a weekends MBA rather than a 9-5 MBA. Does that make sense? I guess my point is that now that it has kind of been presented in front of me, there is a lot of draw to the PTMBA/EMBA IMHO.... but why is there a perception (me included) that PTMBAs and EMBAs are the "ugly stepsister" of MBA programs?

HaasEWMBA2015 · Answer

There are negative perceptions for a reason, some valid while others are not. Some part-time and executive MBA programs do not have the same course work, rigor, or professors teaching the programs, which in turn cause the perceived value to decrease. Others, like Wharton's EMBA program, have many full-time professors who would love to teach if only there was space available. The Wharton EMBA program also requires the same amount of classroom time and study time as the full-time program, and is considered by the school to be an identical degree (the program is 24 months with no breaks).

I think if you're considering a part-time or EMBA program, you'll need to stick with the top-10 (I would personally stick with the top-5) if you want an education that rivals the best full-time programs. Perhaps some admissions consultants can chime in and provide some additional light on this topic.

scorpionz · Answer

@kosk

Yes, the general perception is that PT is, as you called, an "ugly stepsister" of the FT MBA. The reasons for the origin of that perception are not hard to fathom. In an FT MBA, you have 
- greater access to professors & the school facilities in general
- better opportunities to network with industry contacts
- better bonding opportunities with your own peers and the opportunity to build your own network
- singular focus on your education without distractions emanating from your work
- option of switching functions / industries during recruitment
- mandatory internship that greatly helps you test the waters

And that's not even listing all the potential benefits of an FT MBA...

However that is not to say that the PT MBA is without value. For many individuals for whom many of the above reasons might not be worth sacrificing two years of earnings, the PT MBA is a great option. I know of several people who have done the PT MBA at Booth & Kellogg and have flourished in their chosen careers.

I think PT MBAs get a bad name because 
- many schools use it as a money minting business with lax entry barriers when compared to a FT MBA
- people get into a PT MBA "imagining" that they would get great career jumps after the MBA but get disappointed when they are not able to leverage it at all. Such people also complain the most about the value of the PT MBA while not realizing that there was probably a problem in their initial expectation setting
- FT students often do not like PT students because the PT students get almost equal opportunities during the recruiting season (depends on schools). Not that this is an incredibly major factor, but a perceived lack of value of the PT MBA is certainly propagated by FT students.

So all said & done, it is my opinion that a PT MBA from a top 5 or top 10 is definitely worth considering if one is clear and assured that it will eventually help you reach where you want to...

kosk · Answer

Thanks for sharing everyone, your input is appreciated.

I definitely think this is a great opportunity and will see how far down the path goes. I'll keep everyone updated!

kosk · Answer

Now that we are yet a couple weeks deeper into the process, I was wondering if anyone else had experience or experiences to share about this? Still no update from my end...

toriburu · Answer

difficult to share experiences if we do not know what school you are referring to. if it is ucla i can share my experiences so far

MasterAdmissions · Answer

Full-time and part-time programs are really different experiences, for certain. The name of the school and the professors and even the philosophy may be the same, but the process is entirely different. The full-time b-school experience is a lot about the learning process -- the admissions committees fashion a class of anywhere from 200 to 900 ambitious 26-year olds who will live together, study together, party together, interview for jobs together.... you get the idea. The full-time programs try to molds the student into a certain type of leader, teaching social/emotional intelligence through group participation projects.

The part-time programs can be equally intense, in that students are juggling jobs, and in the case of the EMBA, a possible road warrior commute. And that can create a bonding experience too. That feeling of, "we made it against all odds!" is still omnipresent. But there's always the anchor of the full-time job.

Career options will differ. If you want to work as an investment banking analyst or a top-3 management consultant, you'll have to fight your way in to get noticed. But the part-time programs will present a whole new set of networking opportunities, and seriously, 5 years down the road, is anyone going to ask, "oh, were you in the FT or the PT program?" (And if they do, you are allowed to laugh at them).

So in short, it depends on where you are now and where you want to go.

Let us know what you decide!

Best to you,
Betsy

kosk · Answer

Just to update everyone, I think notices all went out for everyone that had that extra paragraph for UCLA! I am in!

krazo · Answer

To PT or FT?

kosk · Answer

PT.

cecilpaladin32 · Answer

Congratulations. Granted this was for undergraduate, some of my friends received rejection letters from Cornell that guaranteed them admission as a sophmore via transfer, as long as they maintained at least a 3.5 gpa in their first year of undergraduate (regardless of where they went to school, oddly enough). It seems that admissions committees sometimes have weird quirks, but if they desire you as a student enough, they come up with workarounds...

Rejected FT, Offered PT/EMBA consideration... This happens?

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