Veritas Prep Admissions Consultant
Joined: 25 Jul 2010
Affiliations: Veritas Prep
Posts: 1910
Given Kudos: 3
Re: Ross vs Darden vs UNC vs USC vs McCombs vs Olin EMBA
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06 May 2011, 09:12
For the most part, ranking the EMBA programs is still the wild west. Not every school has the same measurables (for example, some schools require the GMAT, some don't). For EMBA, one good thing to consider is the network you are getting. remember, even though you are not going through the full time program, you will have access to the alumni network of the full time program, so think about where and how you will leverage your post MBA career and see which school's network might figure in more helpfully. Also, along the same lines, you might consider the ranking of your target schools' fulltime programs, since again, this will be the perception of the recruiters and future employers (your resume will always say MBA from XXXX, not EMBA from XXX, so you will essentially be inheriting the reputation of your school's fulltime program). As for education, the best indicator of quality will be testimonials from current or former students. Ask the admissions office if they keep any materials with such information, or if they would be willing to put you in touch with students or recent graduates of the programs to get their take. Another thing to consider is whether your target schools give you access to the career services that the fulltime program has. Are you going to switch jobs, or are you looking to enhance your current position? If it's the former, then access to recruiters and contacts through career services will be valuable. If you are simply trying to advance your value in your current position, this may not be as important. Ultimately, all of the schools you mentioned will indeed be quality programs, so the reality is that you will get what you need from any of them. This is why the softer nuances of which program is right for you may come into play.