In many ways it is easier to enrol in an Executive MBA programme than in a conventional MBA. The programme, designed for already experienced professionals, is more flexible and the EMBA admission requirements are less exacting to some extent.
The specific target group for EMBA programmes is working executives and managers who want to enhance their career. These programmes are for professionals who are already experts in a field or industry and need to boost their general management skills. An EMBA is essentially a part-time MBA, but the average student profile is slightly different. These programmes are aimed at experienced executives who prefer not to leave their well-paying jobs to enrol in a full-time MBA programme and typically require significant business experience.
To enrol in an EMBA programme, you need to follow some basic steps that are part of any application process. The steps in general are the same as in the MBA admission procedure. You need to know how to manage your time well, and also to prepare your resume, write essays, get references, and get ready for the interview.
Differences
However, there are differences, and the key one is the profile of the prospective candidate. The emphasis is placed on the profile as a combination of work experience, professional achievements, and personal characteristics of the EMBA applicant, rather than on other aspects like high test scores. In other words, the personality and experience of the prospective candidate matters the most. The candidate profile is certainly more important than the performance in the GMAT test, for instance.
Most MBA programmes use a combination of GMAT scores and undergraduate grade averages to evaluate candidates. Students with undergraduate degrees in non-business fields may be required to successfully complete ‘core’ business courses before being allowed to enrol in the programme.
EMBA programmes, in contrast, do not always require candidates to take the GMAT, focusing instead on the professional background of their potential students. Still, many business schools require a high score in a test as proof of analytical, numeric, and verbal abilities. It may be the GMAT or the school’s own admission test.
Career path
What most differentiates the EMBA from the conventional MBA programme is the requirement for substantial professional experience. The business schools want their EMBA students to have extensive knowledge and skill in a particular business area.
In the HEC Paris Business School (France) EMBA classroom, the average age is 39 years, and the medium professional experience is 15 years. Work experience of at least four years is required by the EMBA programme at the . ESADE Business School (Spain). The school also requires EMBA applicants to be able to speak advanced business English. EMBA students at the London Business School (UK) typically have an average of 12 years’ professional experience, ranging from six to 20 for the London-based class of 2017.
Read: How the EMBA Programme Transformed My Career
So, it is crucial to present yourself, your personality, personal achievements, personal targets, and personal view while preparing yourself to apply for an EMBA programme in the best possible way. However, nobody is perfect and business schools are absolutely aware of this. As well as your strengths, they also want to see that you are self-aware and realistic, so don't be afraid to reveal your weaknesses. In fact, this may help your case with the admission committee. A story about how you learned from a failure, improved upon a weakness, or faced challenges could actually be your trump card.
