<p>I guess the difference btw. part-time and full-time MBA degrees are self-explanatory, but what's the deal with executive MBA? Which types of students should choose which program?</p>
<p>Generally older people, with a lot more experience than your typical full-time MBA student. Basically, it's generally understood that the executive-MBA's have the following characteristics:</p>
<p>*Students are usually financially sponsored by their organization, which often means that you are obligated, at least ethically if not legally, to return to work with your sponsor. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Many EMBA programs are part-time, meaning that you are expected to keep you are in the program.</p></li>
<li><p>Older, more experienced types. EMBA programs strongly prefer candidates with lots of experience (i.e. 10+), who hold executive positions or are well on their way to holding such positions.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>That doesn't mean that every EMBA program has all these characteristics. However, the tendency is there. </p>
<p>Contrast the student profiles at, say, the Wharton MBA program and the Wharton EMBA program. The average age of students of the former is 28, with about 5-6 years of work experience, the latter average age is 33, with 10 years of experience. EMBA students also tend to be earning more than regular MBA students, which should surprise no-one when you consider the fact that they are older and more experienced. </p>
<p>Basically, EMBA programs are another twist on how MBA programs are run. They are arguably superior in the networking aspect because the quality of students they draw upon tends to be more experienced and more successful. So you will probably develop a better Rolodex by attending a EMBA program. On the other hand, they are not very good for career-changers and career-services, for the simple reason that most EMBA candidates are supposed to sponsored and so are going to return to their employer upon graduation. There may actually be restrictions in the Career Services office for EMBA students using their facilities, for the simple reason that many sponsoring employers don't want their sponsors running off and interviewing with other companies, so you may need a signed letter of authorization from your sponsor before you are even allowed in the door of Career Services. So if you are thinking of using an EMBA program to switch careers into, say, IB, you may want to think again. That's not what they are for.</p>
<p>Thanks for that informative analysis. When people say, "I'm studying to get my MBA," do they usually mean regular MBA or the EMBA? I would think most people would just do the MBA.</p>
<p>Not like I have to worry too much about this since I'm not even in undergrad college yet. But since I plan to attend an undergrad business school, I'm just trying to plan ahead a little to find out the options I would have after graduating.</p>
<p>When people say "I'm studying to get my MBA", they are usually referring to the regular MBA,</p>
<p>Upon graduation, your options are simple - get a job. It is extremely difficult to get into an elite business school without work experience. </p>
<p>What kind of job? To maximize your chances of business-school admission later in life, you should choose banking or consulting. Those are the traditional gateway paths into B-school.</p>
<p>Realizing this is a 2004 post…</p>
<p>EMBA is exactly what was described Sakky. The program is structured in lock-step with your “class” which may be as large as 60 people. You all take the same courses and graduate together. The idea is to learn from your experienced peers in addition to your professors. Emba programs also assume you have years OJT experience doing the skills regular MBAs have to be taught in the classroom (lots of regular MBAs have no business background or education). Reg MBA programs have to literally incorporate a fair amount of introductory business education into their curriculums. The EMBA curriculum takes experience into account and courses are taught with the believe that the students have a higher level of understanding on the topics covered. Less granular detail being taught. Strong emphasis on managerial development, decision making, and team-work. I believe the EMBA is a little less academic and a lot more practical. You are expected to immediately take what you are learning and implement it at your business. </p>
<p>I have an EMBA and I was not employer sponsored and I am not in a managerial position. Many of my classmates were however. The school I attended was AACSB accredited and I enjoyed the experience!</p>
<p>I think EMBAs and traditional MBAs are equally valuable and it really depends on what your preference or objective is. I value practical skills and learning from people who have real life experience. Others place higher value on the pure academics.</p>
<p>Programs I feel have little value are “1 year MBAs”. I feel the program is too condensed to offer a student real value. It’s important that you learn and can retain the high points of your education otherwise it’s not valuable at all. 12 month MBA programs raise red flag to me, and I don’t care what school offers it. I feel that’s more a money grab for the university meant to give you a diploma not an education.</p>