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Live Chat with Executive MBA Admissions

Questions about time management, the international trip, or career services? Get answers to these questions and more from some recent alumni and current students.

Wednesday, March 14 - 12:00 Noon CST

From -> To	Message
Moderator -> Everyone	The chat will begin in 10 minutes. Please prepare your questions about the student experience and our panelists will be happy to respond when the chat begins.
Moderator -> Everyone	The chat is now beginning.
Patricia -> Everyone	Welcome! I'm Patricia Coffey, Associate Director of Admissions for the Executive MBA Program. I look forward to answering your questions today.
Santiago -> Everyone	Hi, I'm Santiago, and will be very happy to answer any questions regarding Booth.
Holly -> Everyone	Hello, my name is Holly Spurlock. I am an attorney at a large firm in Chicago. I graduated from the Executive Program in March 2011. I had a great experience and highly recommend Booth. Looking forward to talking to you today.
Toby -> Everyone	Hello everyone and welcome. We have some terrific alumni with us today to help answer any questions you have about their experience. Take advantage of this rare opportunity!
Texas -> Everyone	Hi, I'm Texas (yes, that's my name), and I'm with Slocum & Associates, a Minneapolis-based investment consulting firm. I'm responsible for the firm’s Endowment & Foundation practice. I'm a XP-79 (2010) graduate of Booth. Looking forward to answering your questions!
Brad -> Everyone	Welcome! I am Brad Krillenberger the Senior Associate Director of Student Services.
DeWayne -> Holly	Please describe the small study group structure. How big? Average meeting duration and frequency? How is travel for a member handled by the rest of the team?
Holly -> DeWayne	Study groups range in size from 5-8 and the meeting duration and frequency is driven by the group. In my experience, the study groups relaxed a bit as the program progessed and we all developed our own particular study habits. In each of my groups, I had a teleconference about once a week and met in person over the class weekend. If we had a project due or an exam, we met more often. Our traveling students always felt like equal participants in the group.
Steve -> Texas	Outside of the classroom time, what is the general time commitment needed to be successful in the EMBA program?
Texas -> Steve	Hi, Steve. I budgeted 2 hours a day, for 6 days a week, for all of the studying. It definitely is a sacrifice of time, but maintaining that discipline makes it a whole lot easier to work in the studying into our already busy lives. I know some other classmates spent more (and some less) time, but the 10-12 hours a week seemed to work well for me.
S_Thallikar -> Holly	Do you provide web conferencing and conference call resources for the study groups ?
Holly -> S_Thallikar	We have access to both web conference and conference call resources. Also, individual study group members may have access to these resources and gladly offer them up.
Avery -> Santiago	Will top consulting firms hire an EMBA graduate? How do they perceive EMBA versus FT MBA?
Santiago -> Avery	Hi Avery: Yes, they will. Somebody with the experience required to be accepted at the Booth EMBA is a big plus for a consulting firm and the formal degree makes a candidate very interesting. The difference between FT and EMBA is the experience of the candidates, the degree is the same, so there is no reason, unless you want to, for an employer to know what program you attended to.
Toby -> Everyone	Hi Everyone - just a reminder - we see some application questions coming in and the focus today is on the Student Experience. Please try to direct your questions toward the experience while in the program. Thanks!
Avery -> Patricia	Is there a tracking of average starting salary and employement after the completion of EMBA program?
Patricia -> Avery	Hi Avery - thank you for your question. Our offices does not track average salary and employment after completion of the program. You are welcome to contact the career services department for that information at Boothworks@ChicagoBooth.edu
DeWayne -> Holly	Obviously, Booth is rated very high. However, there are many strong schools. What were the main drivers for you to chose Booth?
Holly -> DeWayne	I selected Booth based on both objective and subjective criteria. I personally felt that I wanted to use business school as an opportunity to beef up areas that were my weaknesses. I had a limited math/finance background before I started and I was very interested in the course focus on those areas. I also appreciated the global opportunity. The clincher for me, however, was the class visit. I knew within a few minutes of attending a class, that Booth was a good fit.
Jaspal -> Patricia	Do Executive MBA students have access to career services available to regular MBA students?
Patricia -> Jaspal	Hi Jaspal - Yes, the Executive MBA students have full access to career services. The only service not avialable to executive students is the on-campus recruiting.
Steve -> Texas	Texas, did the 2/day include time with the study groups?
Texas -> Steve	Steve, yes. Some weeks required more time on the phone with the study groups than other weeks, and I'd say about an hour a week (1-2 hours for every two week period between classes) was what I spent with my group.
Gordon -> Patricia	When are books mailed to the students? Thanks
Patricia -> Gordon	Hello Gordon! Welcome to the chat. You will receive your textbooks for the summer quarter the first week of June. Textbooks are usually sent via UPS or you can pick them up from our office.
Bubba -> Santiago	any comment on networking opportunity for EMBA students who are travelling outside of chicago region?
Santiago -> Bubba	Bubba; I traveled from Boston and I have to say that few program offer more networking opportunities. Not only you meet people from all over the US, but from 58 countries.
ChrisNYC -> Holly	Hi Holly, were you local to Chicago while going through the program? Can you tell me what, if any, difference you perceived between local Chicago students with those that travelled into Chicago every other weekend? How was the networking/social component of the experience different?
Holly -> ChrisNYC	Chris, I am local and I definitely appreciate the fact that I did not have to travel. I think that once we were all at class or traveling together, it was seamless. I know that traveling was exhausting for some folks but the social and networking experience did not appear to be different. Santiago traveled and perhaps has something to add.
Steve -> Texas	At another schools program the noted that the group stays together the entire time. I take it that with Booth's approach that does not occur...?
Texas -> Steve	Steve, the study groups change every two quarters in the XP program. This rotation is a great opportunity to get to know more classmates over the whole program. Booth does a phenomenal job of making sure that each class is well "balanced" in terms of people with a variety of experiences, and I found the rotation helpful for me.
axle -> Holly	Did you have many team projects? If so, what software applications did you use for virtual team meetings and how would you rate those meetings compared to face to face meetings?
Holly -> axle	Yes, we had team projects in some classes. We used virtual meetings, conference calls and in-person opportunities. My groups were very comfortable with remote communications and I did not find it to be a hindrance.
Santiago -> Everyone	Chris; i flew from Boston. The experience was very different, and as with everything we had some pros and some cons. On the con side, it's easier for the locals to meet in between weeks, and to keep seeing eachother after graduation. On the pro, it was easier for us to make a clear break between work and school, with no pressure from family r work. when I was gone I was gone, but locals had to deal with a boss asking for a short meeting, or wife expecting them to run back home right after class. I'm glad I was not local....
Susan1 -> Holly	Did any of you use Career Services? If so how did they help you?
Holly -> Susan1	Susan - I used career services, and continue to do so. I think they do a great job helping you figure out what you want to do and keep you focused on planning and implementing strategies for career development. I have had the same counselor for over a year and a half now and she has been a tremendous resource. That said, Booth is a graduate school and use of career services requires you to put in the time and effort to get something out of it.
S_Thallikar -> Toby	How accessible are the professors other than the class days. Do they have a set timing / office hours / consulting hours during which we can call them / meet with them? Or is it appointment based?
Toby -> S_Thallikar	Hi S_Thallikar - The faculty are highly accessible. It is one of the aspects of the program we pride ourselves on. The relationships developed between students and faculty span far outside the classroom. The faculty recognize that the students here are leaders in their organizations and industries and potentially just as important members of their network as they are of yours.
Steve -> Texas	I am 50 years old. Did any of you have someone "of age" in your groups? Did you find them to be able to keep up with the younger crowd?
Texas -> Steve	Steve, the average age of the XP program at Booth is higher than at other schools' executive programs, and honestly that's one of the reasons that I was attracted the program. Not only did I want the experience of the professors, but also of my classmates. But to answer your question: yes, my class did have individuals "of age" (nice term!). And yes, they "kept up." In just about every subject, there is someone in the class who basically does that subject for a living, and those experiences played much more of a role in terms of who found particular subjects easier/harder, than age.
John -> Santiago	In the Executive MBA program, do you currently have events that allow an opportunity to network with students in the other MBA programs?
Santiago -> John	John; very little, because you are so busy with the program, but you can certainly take the initiative and create them. I organized an event to network with the EMBA class of Kellogg...
Steven -> Holly	@Holly: I do not have a strong Math/Finance background either, what challenges did you face when the program begins with Microeconomics and Financial Accounting?
Holly -> Steven	Steven - I had to embrace the concepts and not get too caught up with the mathematical/finance details. Once I was able to do that, I could study hard and my classmates supported me in preparing for exams. I feel really good about understanding the materials and I am so happy that I took on the extra challenge.
Jaspal -> Santiago	Are there activities conducted by the school to network with the fellow EMBA students outside the classroom?
Santiago -> Jaspal	Jaspal; yes, there are some organized by the school, and some organized by the Student Activities Council.
Andy -> Toby	Roughly what is the percentage of class members having a job title of Director or higher?
Toby -> Andy	Hi Andy - I don't know the answer and a specific title may not be reflective of responsibilities. Most if not all students are either already in general management positions or on the cusp of management positions in their organizations.
GordonC -> Patricia	For the course work involving financial related calculations, or statistics, was there a preferred software package. Ex. Microsoft Excel used a lot or another program? Thanks
Patricia -> GordonC	Gordon - The basic software package of Word, Excel and powerpoint are the only preferred software. If there is any additional software needed for your course, you will be notified way in advance.
Bubba -> Santiago	Santiago, you had great schools in boston and NY area for EMBA programs. Is there any specific reason related to student experience you considered before joining Booth?
Santiago -> Bubba	Bubba; in Boston unfortunately we do not have that many EMBA options, MIT just started one and we'll see how it goes. But Harvard does not have one. In any case Booth is unique because of their international campus, no other school has that, and that is why it was worth for me to travel to chicago.
Steve -> Texas	Obviously you are all pleased with the program. However we're there anythings that you would have like to see changed, or that you heard other schools did that you would've liked at Booth?
Texas -> Steve	Steve, I have to admit that I did only a little bit of research in other programs, but not a lot, so I'm not an expert in others. I know that there were some students who wanted to specialize in a particular field (MBA in Finance or Marketing, for example), and that is now possible with the XP program, but not when I went through it. Perhaps other alumns on this panel can comment as well....
Drew -> Holly	How did the weeks spent in London & Singapore differ from the experience in Chicago? What was the biggest value you got out of going there?
Holly -> Drew	Drew - London and Singapore classes were very similar in format, rigor, and usefulness but the study groups and out-of-class experiences differed. International study groups really provided for an opportunity to learn from other countries, learn different learning and negotiating styles, and become close with international classmates. In both London and Singapore, our foreign colleagues were amazing hosts and we had great opportunities to see a lot in a short period of time and avoid the "tourist" traps.
Santiago -> Everyone	About accesibility of faculty, I have to say that it really depends on you. The faculty is open. I'm still in touch with about 80% of my professors and with a few that actually where not my professors but I just contacted them. I'm glad that I was able to build strong relationships with them.
GordonC -> Patricia	For the course work involving financial related calculations, or statistics, was there a preferred software package. Ex. Microsoft Excel used a lot or another program? Thanks
Patricia -> GordonC	Gordon: Most financial classes use Microsoft Excel.
Steven -> Toby	My employer is has a tuition assistance program, but I will likely need to take out loans, does Booth have a financial aid department to assist me in this process?
Toby -> Steven	Steven - yes you can contact them at 773.702.3964 or by email at financial.aid@chicagobooth.edu. Keep in mind that they will be most helpful and be able to talk specifics after you have been admitted to the program.
Jaspal -> Texas	In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?
Texas -> Jaspal	Jaspal, the purpose for me was to expand my knowledge beyond my particular field of expertise (investments and finance) as I wanted to progress in the firm that I was (and still am) in, so I guess to answer your question it would be changing roles. My class did not have many people who planned to change industries; we had a few, but they seemed to be in the minority.
Jaspal -> Holly	In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?
Holly -> Jaspal	One of the great things about Booth was the variety of reasons people attended. I think there were folks who wanted to enhance knowledge or even learn completely new concepts. Others focused on networking either for the sake of client development or to open doors to new careers. I knew a few folks who really wanted to advance within their organization and the MBA would create those opportunities. I wanted to do all three!
Jaspal -> Santiago	In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?
Santiago -> Jaspal	Jaspal; it really depends. Some people wanted to change careers, some people where very technical and wanted business knowledge to advance in their career, some people wanted the degree, some to network with smart people from all over the world. there are ass many motives as stundents....
Jaspal -> Brad	In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?
Brad -> Jaspal	It varies from student to student and many students discover that they would like to change industry and career direction during the 21 month EMBA program.
ChrisNYC -> Toby	Can you speak to the use of the iPad for course material and whether or not text books will be included?
Toby -> ChrisNYC	Hi ChrisNYC - tablets and course materials are a hot topic. At this point most but not all course materials are available electronically. There are still some bugs to be worked out between schools and publishers as a whole. At this time we are still shipping hard copies of all course materials to students and making you aware of what is available electronically.
John -> Santiago	With the busy schedule of EMBA students, are the hours of operation for the University facilities adequate if you want to do after hours research on break through ideas?
Santiago -> John	John; yes, the school is open for very long hours, it was never the case where we wanted to stay but the school was closing....
Bubba -> Texas	Santiago/Texas > Did you network with students from other booth campuses outside your classroom opportunities? Is there an alumni group set for your class after you graduated?
Texas -> Bubba	Bubba, I actually did, because I happened to share interests with a couple of the members of my global study group (which includes London and Singapore). There is both an XP alumni group, but also a broader University of Chicago alumni group in my city (Minneapolis).
Bubba -> Santiago	Santiago/Texas > Did you network with students from other booth campuses outside your classroom opportunities? Is there an alumni group set for your class after you graduated?
Santiago -> Bubba	Bubba; yes, I did. I made great friends from many countries, actually tonight I'm sending out a BDay invite that is going to people from 26 countries (I counted them)
Steve_C -> Holly	Holly, I'm an attorney, as well, and I was wondering whether any of the coursework was more challenging for you, given your background. If so, how did you deal with those challenges.
Holly -> Steve_C	I do not think the coursework was not necessarily more challenging per se but I sought out, and received, support from my finance friends for those classes. I think that everyone appreciated my writing and communication skills and I tried to make sure to offer analytical help where those opportunities arose. I can see the value the new knowledge has had on my practice.
S_Thallikar -> Toby	Does any class require remote interaction / conferencing with students in UK or Singapore?
Toby -> S_Thallikar	Thallikar - No. You are taking classes with the students from London and Singapore during the 4 residential weeks of the program while you are all in the same location.
Steve -> Santiago	For any of you, was there a big gap in years between when you last attended school and starting th EMBA program? If so, what were the things you did to successfully adapt to the lifestyle change?
Santiago -> Steve	steve; yes about 9 years between my Master in Finance and the EMBA. What I did was just sit down and study before classes started, to get used to it.
Steve -> Holly	For any of you, was there a big gap in years between when you last attended school and starting th EMBA program? If so, what were the things you did to successfully adapt to the lifestyle change?
Holly -> Steve	I was out of school for 8 years before going back to get the EMBA. Studying is different as an "adult" and I actually thought that adapting to learning again was a relatively easy transition. The late nights of studying, however, did require time management and conversations with my family to maintain a full time job and maintain good relationships with my family and friends.
Steve -> Texas	For any of you, was there a big gap in years between when you last attended school and starting th EMBA program? If so, what were the things you did to successfully adapt to the lifestyle change?
Texas -> Steve	Steve, for me going back to the classroom was actually refreshing -- it was an opportunity to get to study subjects that I had no experience in. The homework and exams thing was of course the biggest lifestyle change -- but the advice I got from a person who had just gone through the program was to do what I had mentioned earlier, which is to set aside in advance some time to work on homework and study for exams. That really helped me a lot.
Drew -> Santiago	What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?
Santiago -> Drew	Drw; I'm active in the boston area alumni club, and have contacted many alumni. Actually a graduate from Booth from aany years ago joined me as my coo.
Andy -> Holly	Holly – Did attending the EMBA program change your coworker’s and supervisor’s perception of you, as far as you know?
Holly -> Andy	Andy - I am not sure if the "new knowledge" changed their perception as much as the fact that I was able to work full time, have a family, and get an MBA from a top business school impacted how others saw me. It shows a special type of commitment that did not go unnoticed.
ChrisNYC -> Santiago	Santiago, what was it like traveling back and forth and did you opt for alternate accommodations than Club Quarters?
Santiago -> ChrisNYC	ChrisNYC; I traveled on thrusdays to avoind any possible issue with weather and to avoid falling asleep in class. Other than that it was good. I did not stay at Club quarters but I put together a group that negotiated a group rate at another Hotel.
Drew -> Texas	What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?
Texas -> Drew	Drew, I've remained personal friends with many alumns from my class. Not being in Chicago, there are fewer opportunities than perhaps people in Chicago have, but that hasn't hindered my interaction with them. There are also other alumns whom I got to know who have particular expertise in an area who have been totally open for questions about what they do; for me, in particular, I've talked extensively with a guy running a real estate hedge fund (which has been helpful for me in my research on hedge funds).
DeWayne -> Santiago	Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?
Santiago -> DeWayne	DeWayne; yes. If your experince is comparable to that of a full time student, but cannot or will not leave work for it, then you do an evening program. EMBA is for people with more experiecne.
Drew -> Brad	What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?
Brad -> Drew	We work the Evening Weekend office to plan networking events in addition events with our first & second year students.
Drew -> Holly	What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?
Holly -> Drew	I have been to Vegas with a group of friends from school, attended numerous social events, and others are on the horizon. I have also networked with several people, including flying out to visit one classmate to see if our firm may be able to represent them. I have also fielded questions from folks on legal issues and spent time discussing how we can help each other take the next step in our careers.
DeWayne -> Toby	Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?
Toby -> DeWayne	Its a very individual decision and there can be trade offs for both. The Evening/Weekend program has a much more flexible curriculum. The Executive Program traditionally has more experienced students. The Evening Weekend program is larger. The Executive MBA Program has required international travel. I guess at the end of the day there are a lot of things that are slightly different. While making your decision it is important to note that the degree is the same, the faculty are the same you do not get a "lesser" degree in any of our programs.
John -> Santiago	How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?
Santiago -> John	Just make sure yu go at least a couple of days early to adjust the Jetlag. If you plan on visiting around, do it before class and not after.... no big deal.
Jaspal -> Brad	At which location EMBA classes take place in Chicago? Is it Gleacher center?
Brad -> Jaspal	Classes are at the Gleacher Center in Chicago.
DeWayne -> Texas	Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?
Texas -> DeWayne	DeWayne, I had this same dilemma, but for me it was about the experience and age of classmates -- in the EMBA program (at least at Booth) the average experience is quite a bit higher than every other evening program I researched. One of my mentors early in my career pushed me not to do a part-time program because she said (and she was right) that you learn as much from classmates as you do from professors. With the XP (EMBA) program at Booth, I felt like I got the best of both -- the deep interaction with experienced students/classmates (since we all take the same classes all in the same order, we really got to know each other), but I didn't have to put my life on hold for a full-time program.
DeWayne -> Holly	Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?
Holly -> DeWayne	I have had friends that chose the evening MBA route because missing work on Fridays was not doable. I have also known people who need to be able to have flexibility if they want to take a semester off and for those folks, it seems that the evening MBA is a better fit. I find the EMBA really gels your relationship with your classmates. Its fast and intense and you go through it with 95 people who experience the same challenges. The experiences are very different.
John -> Holly	How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?
Holly -> John	The host students were amazing. The host campuses and the administration office really make it easy from lodging, to food, to resources. The most difficult part was the time change as it impacted my work back home but it just meant some early morning and late night emails.
John -> Brad	How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?
Brad -> John	We do provide an additional day of accommodations in Both London & Singapore to help you adjust.
John -> Texas	How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?
Texas -> John	John, There were two aspects of adjustment, the cultural aspect and, honestly, the jet lag. I've traveled extensively for my job, and so the jet lag issue just involved discipline of going to bed when I should and staying awake when I should. It was easier because we were busy -- there wasn't a lot of "down time". The cultural aspect was eased quite a bit by being in London (so no language barrier) and Singapore being a former British colony (so no language barrier!).
Drew -> Toby	I work for a software company and am wondering how well you found the technology industry represented, both in terms of the student population and applicability of the curriculum.
Toby -> Drew	Hi Drew - no more than 15% of the classroom is ever going to be represented by any particular industry or function. The idea being it is important to gain an understanding of how different people with different experiences approach the same business issue and then being able to relate that approach to your own world. So in short the classroom is diverse. As for applicability the program is designed to be highly practical. With a group of more seasoned professionals in the classroom the faculty can't get away with teaching theory that can't be applied.
GordonC -> Santiago	To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.
Santiago -> GordonC	GordonC; it depends on the professors, most provided some past exams, but not all and it's not plicy. As far as student body complinig them it would be, in most cases, against the honor code, so I wouldn't know about it....
GordonC -> Holly	To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.
Holly -> GordonC	Some professors provide prior exams. I found that the TAs exam prep sessions were very helpful as well and your fellow classmates were always willing to share class notes and work through sample questions. Exams are a part of the process but they were generally fair and preparing for them was possible based on the class lectures and materials.
GordonC -> Texas	To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.
Texas -> GordonC	GordonC, In my classes, there was very little (if any, I can't remember any) use of a library of past exams. Most of the time, professors provided past exams. They were helpful in just getting comfortable with the format of each professor's exams.
DeWayne -> Patricia	Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?
Patricia -> DeWayne	DeWayne - the deicison to pursue the evening MBA vs. the executive MBA is definately a personal decision. Each student populations from these programs are in very different points in their careers. Importantly, students from each of these programs receive the same degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Moderator -> Everyone	We have 20 minutes remaining in our chat, so please keep sending your questions and we will respond to as many as we can. Thank you.
S_Thallikar -> Toby	Who are the TAs for the courses? Are they Ph.D students? Thanks.
Toby -> S_Thallikar	S_Thallikar - Each faculty is required to have at least one TA. Most of the TAs are PhD students, some are recent alums. Santiago was actually a TA this past year.
DeWayne -> Brad	Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?
Brad -> DeWayne	There are pros and cons to all programs. The evening program does offer you the maximum amount of flexibly.
Bubba -> Holly	Holly> How did u consider booth EMBA from a individual practitioner and student experience point of view? were there some individual practitioners like doctors, attoney in the class you attended?
Holly -> Bubba	Bubba - We had quite a few doctors in class and there were 2 attorneys. I think that individual practitioners offer a real "expertise" that is appreciated by other students when specific issues come up. I also think that being a student is a humbling experience that reminds you of all the other careers that are out there.
Christopher -> Holly	Holly: You mention TA exam prep sessions. When were these held and could they be attended remotely?
Holly -> Christopher	They were purposely scheduled on Friday nights or at other times when all students were in town. TAs did not schedule prep sessions in between class weekends. Everyone is sensitive to traveling students and making sure everyone has an opportunity to participate.
Drew -> Toby	How do I go about arranging a class visit?
Toby -> Drew	Drew - you cah visit the link below to see a list of available class visit dates and follow the instructions there to set one up. http://www.chicagobooth.edu/execmba/campuslocations/chicago/visit.aspx
GordonC -> Brad	To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.
Brad -> GordonC	This is very common, but will vary based on the faculty teaching the class. Some exams are not returned per the faculty request.
S_Thallikar -> Texas	Are TAs also approachable during weekdays? Thanks.
Texas -> S_Thallikar	In my classes, TAs were available by e-mail weekdays, and I took advantage of one time when I set up a call with a TA to get a question answered. The e-mail responses I got back from TAs through the week were always very prompt. (I also don't live in Chicago, so my only options during the week were by e-mail or phone.)
Bubba -> Toby	What was the class size of EMBA programs you attended? Whether all students attended same classes always?
Toby -> Bubba	Bubba - We have about 90 students start each year. All 90 students take all classes together except for your electives and concentration classes.
ChrisNYC -> Toby	Coming from NY, if I have my application in by the end of the week, what is the turn around time to find out about an interview such that I could also attend a class? or wiould my interview occur here in NYC with a Chicago alum?
Toby -> ChrisNYC	Turn around is about 1 week and all interviews happen in Chicago.
Christopher -> Holly	Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?
Holly -> Christopher	I did not find outside research "necessary" but in some instances, it enhanced the experience and added to the learning. The best outside recommendations came from classmates.
Christopher -> Santiago	Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?
Santiago -> Christopher	It depends on the class. For some classes you do because you are building your own case. But even when you do, they give you tools on where and how to do the research.
Christopher -> Texas	Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?
Texas -> Christopher	Christopher, No, not really. Textbooks and notes covered just about everything. I say "just about" because there were two larger projects I had with my study groups over the whole program where the whole point was to bring in outside information.
ChrisNYC -> Toby	How are the groups determined (industry focused) and how many different groups will you have during the program (incl the international weeks)?
Toby -> ChrisNYC	Hi Chris - Your local groups are 6-7 students and are determined by industry and functional experience. It is nice for example to have a CPA in your group during the accounting class and to have a marketing professional for the marketing classes etc. Your international groups consist of 2 students from each campus, London, Chicago and Singapore and will be the same during your trips to London and Singapore.
Christopher -> Santiago	Looking back at your experience, could you recommend any reading materials to prepare for the program? Possibly a specific book? Thanks.
Santiago -> Christopher	Not realy, maybe brush up on basic math / algebra? Basics on accounting.
Moderator -> Everyone	Our chat will be ending soon, so please send any final questions you may have. The chat transcript will be posted online in 48 hours at: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/execmba/chat/archive.aspx. Thank you.
Christopher -> Toby	Looking back at your experience, could you recommend any reading materials to prepare for the program? Possibly a specific book? Thanks.
Toby -> Christopher	Hi Christopher - There is no required reading to start the program but a nice primer is "PreMBA Analytical Primer: Essential Quantitative Concepts for Business Math" by Regina Trevino, PhD
S_Thallikar -> Toby	Sorry, This is off topic for the admissions officers. Are we still looking at April 15th for a decision date on the admission? Thanks..Sanjeev Thallikar
Toby -> S_Thallikar	Yes - we're working through applications as quickly as we can.
Steve_C -> Holly	Picking up on the last question, did any of you attend and pre-mba classes in prepration for the program?
Holly -> Steve_C	I attended the pre-MBA classes offered by the school. I found them very basic but a good refresher.
Steve_C -> Santiago	Picking up on the last question, did any of you attend and pre-mba classes in prepration for the program?
Santiago -> Steve_C	Steve_C; I did not, I did not think it was worth it for me. (I already had a master in finance). but I did fly to Chicago to start meeting people and network....
Jeff_Detweiler -> Holly	For the groups, do the students self organize them, or are they more "assigned"?
Holly -> Jeff_Detweiler	The first group was assigned but after that you had the option to choose 1 or 2 people to be in your group
Drew -> Santiago	Could you describe a "breakthrough" you experienced during, or as a result of, the program?
Santiago -> Drew	Drew; I'm advancing on a new entrepreneurial project in Financial Servcies that would have not happened without the program.
Steve_C -> Texas	Picking up on the last question, did any of you attend and pre-mba classes in prepration for the program?
Texas -> Steve_C	Steve_C, I did not, but I had some very good friends in my class who did, particularly those who wanted a refresher on math and statistics. Overall the whole program does not require a very deep level of math, but the quick refresher for those for whom that is not their strength, was apparently quite helpful.
Jeff_Detweiler -> Toby	Do you generally send out admits on a rolling basis, or all at once?
Toby -> Jeff_Detweiler	We are rolling. We read applications in the order they are received.
Drew -> Holly	Could you describe a "breakthrough" you experienced during, or as a result of, the program?
Holly -> Drew	As someone who knew I was going to law school since high school, I found that being exposed to all of the other careers out there was absolutely enlightening. I found corporate finance, operations, and marketing to be complex in ways that I did not understand before and I thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to attend school as an adult.
Christopher -> Patricia	When are the pre-MBA classes?
Patricia -> Christopher	Christopher: The PreMBA courses are held Thursday - Sunday, June 14-17 at the Gleacher Center. These are full day classes from 9am-4:30pm
Drew -> Holly	I work for a software company and am wondering how well you found the technology industry represented, both in terms of the student population and applicability of the curriculum.
Holly -> Drew	There was a tech person in each of my groups and I think they were all looking for an opportunity to build up their general business skills to either advance their career or switch their careers. It was always a plus to have the opportunity to work with someone that was tech savvy.
Drew -> Texas	Could you describe a "breakthrough" you experienced during, or as a result of, the program?
Texas -> Drew	Drew, one of the many "breakthroughs" for me was in Operations class, when I realized that a lot of what were studying about running widgets through a factory was applicable to processes at my firm, which is an investment consulting firm (so we don't produce any "tangible" product). It helped me think about inefficiencies and bottlenecks with a great framework. This kind of thing happened multiple times through the program, which maybe speaks to how much I learned!
Toby -> Everyone	Thank you all for your great questions today and thank you especially to Holly, Santiago and Texas for your insights and for sharing your experiences.
Patricia -> Everyone	Thank you for joining us. If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out via email at XP@ChicagoBooth.edu
Christopher -> Brad	Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?
Brad -> Christopher	You do have access to several University resources that will help with outside research.
Santiago -> Everyone	Thank you for the interest. The program is really unique. Best of luck with the application.
Texas -> Everyone	Thanks, everyone, for your questions! Hope you found this online chat useful.
Holly -> Everyone	Good luck to everyone! Thanks.
Brad -> Everyone	Thank you.
Moderator -> Everyone	The chat has ended. Thank you for your interest in the Executive MBA program. Please feel free to contact us with further questions at xp@chicagobooth.edu. The chat transcript will be available in 48 hours at http://www.chicagobooth.edu/execmba/chat/archive.aspx. Thank you for your interest and participation.

From -> To Message

Moderator -> Everyone The chat will begin in 10 minutes. Please prepare your questions about the student experience and our panelists will be happy to respond when the chat begins.

Moderator -> Everyone The chat is now beginning.

Patricia -> Everyone Welcome! I'm Patricia Coffey, Associate Director of Admissions for the Executive MBA Program. I look forward to answering your questions today.

Santiago -> Everyone Hi, I'm Santiago, and will be very happy to answer any questions regarding Booth.

Holly -> Everyone Hello, my name is Holly Spurlock. I am an attorney at a large firm in Chicago. I graduated from the Executive Program in March 2011. I had a great experience and highly recommend Booth. Looking forward to talking to you today.

Toby -> Everyone Hello everyone and welcome. We have some terrific alumni with us today to help answer any questions you have about their experience. Take advantage of this rare opportunity!

Texas -> Everyone Hi, I'm Texas (yes, that's my name), and I'm with Slocum & Associates, a Minneapolis-based investment consulting firm. I'm responsible for the firm’s Endowment & Foundation practice. I'm a XP-79 (2010) graduate of Booth. Looking forward to answering your questions!

Brad -> Everyone Welcome! I am Brad Krillenberger the Senior Associate Director of Student Services.

DeWayne -> Holly Please describe the small study group structure. How big? Average meeting duration and frequency? How is travel for a member handled by the rest of the team?

Holly -> DeWayne Study groups range in size from 5-8 and the meeting duration and frequency is driven by the group. In my experience, the study groups relaxed a bit as the program progessed and we all developed our own particular study habits. In each of my groups, I had a teleconference about once a week and met in person over the class weekend. If we had a project due or an exam, we met more often. Our traveling students always felt like equal participants in the group.

Steve -> Texas Outside of the classroom time, what is the general time commitment needed to be successful in the EMBA program?

Texas -> Steve Hi, Steve. I budgeted 2 hours a day, for 6 days a week, for all of the studying. It definitely is a sacrifice of time, but maintaining that discipline makes it a whole lot easier to work in the studying into our already busy lives. I know some other classmates spent more (and some less) time, but the 10-12 hours a week seemed to work well for me.

S_Thallikar -> Holly Do you provide web conferencing and conference call resources for the study groups ?

Holly -> S_Thallikar We have access to both web conference and conference call resources. Also, individual study group members may have access to these resources and gladly offer them up.

Avery -> Santiago Will top consulting firms hire an EMBA graduate? How do they perceive EMBA versus FT MBA?

Santiago -> Avery Hi Avery: Yes, they will. Somebody with the experience required to be accepted at the Booth EMBA is a big plus for a consulting firm and the formal degree makes a candidate very interesting.
The difference between FT and EMBA is the experience of the candidates, the degree is the same, so there is no reason, unless you want to, for an employer to know what program you attended to.

Toby -> Everyone Hi Everyone - just a reminder - we see some application questions coming in and the focus today is on the Student Experience. Please try to direct your questions toward the experience while in the program. Thanks!

Avery -> Patricia Is there a tracking of average starting salary and employement after the completion of EMBA program?

Patricia -> Avery Hi Avery - thank you for your question. Our offices does not track average salary and employment after completion of the program. You are welcome to contact the career services department for that information at Boothworks@ChicagoBooth.edu

DeWayne -> Holly Obviously, Booth is rated very high. However, there are many strong schools. What were the main drivers for you to chose Booth?

Holly -> DeWayne I selected Booth based on both objective and subjective criteria. I personally felt that I wanted to use business school as an opportunity to beef up areas that were my weaknesses. I had a limited math/finance background before I started and I was very interested in the course focus on those areas. I also appreciated the global opportunity. The clincher for me, however, was the class visit. I knew within a few minutes of attending a class, that Booth was a good fit.

Jaspal -> Patricia Do Executive MBA students have access to career services available to regular MBA students?

Patricia -> Jaspal Hi Jaspal - Yes, the Executive MBA students have full access to career services. The only service not avialable to executive students is the on-campus recruiting.

Steve -> Texas Texas, did the 2/day include time with the study groups?

Texas -> Steve Steve, yes. Some weeks required more time on the phone with the study groups than other weeks, and I'd say about an hour a week (1-2 hours for every two week period between classes) was what I spent with my group.

Gordon -> Patricia When are books mailed to the students? Thanks

Patricia -> Gordon Hello Gordon! Welcome to the chat. You will receive your textbooks for the summer quarter the first week of June. Textbooks are usually sent via UPS or you can pick them up from our office.

Bubba -> Santiago any comment on networking opportunity for EMBA students who are travelling outside of chicago region?

Santiago -> Bubba Bubba; I traveled from Boston and I have to say that few program offer more networking opportunities. Not only you meet people from all over the US, but from 58 countries.

ChrisNYC -> Holly Hi Holly, were you local to Chicago while going through the program? Can you tell me what, if any, difference you perceived between local Chicago students with those that travelled into Chicago every other weekend? How was the networking/social component of the experience different?

Holly -> ChrisNYC Chris,
I am local and I definitely appreciate the fact that I did not have to travel. I think that once we were all at class or traveling together, it was seamless. I know that traveling was exhausting for some folks but the social and networking experience did not appear to be different. Santiago traveled and perhaps has something to add.

Steve -> Texas At another schools program the noted that the group stays together the entire time. I take it that with Booth's approach that does not occur...?

Texas -> Steve Steve, the study groups change every two quarters in the XP program. This rotation is a great opportunity to get to know more classmates over the whole program. Booth does a phenomenal job of making sure that each class is well "balanced" in terms of people with a variety of experiences, and I found the rotation helpful for me.

axle -> Holly Did you have many team projects? If so, what software applications did you use for virtual team meetings and how would you rate those meetings compared to face to face meetings?

Holly -> axle Yes, we had team projects in some classes. We used virtual meetings, conference calls and in-person opportunities. My groups were very comfortable with remote communications and I did not find it to be a hindrance.

Santiago -> Everyone Chris; i flew from Boston. The experience was very different, and as with everything we had some pros and some cons. On the con side, it's easier for the locals to meet in between weeks, and to keep seeing eachother after graduation. On the pro, it was easier for us to make a clear break between work and school, with no pressure from family r work. when I was gone I was gone, but locals had to deal with a boss asking for a short meeting, or wife expecting them to run back home right after class. I'm glad I was not local....

Susan1 -> Holly Did any of you use Career Services? If so how did they help you?

Holly -> Susan1 Susan - I used career services, and continue to do so. I think they do a great job helping you figure out what you want to do and keep you focused on planning and implementing strategies for career development. I have had the same counselor for over a year and a half now and she has been a tremendous resource. That said, Booth is a graduate school and use of career services requires you to put in the time and effort to get something out of it.

S_Thallikar -> Toby How accessible are the professors other than the class days. Do they have a set timing / office hours / consulting hours during which we can call them / meet with them? Or is it appointment based?

Toby -> S_Thallikar Hi S_Thallikar - The faculty are highly accessible. It is one of the aspects of the program we pride ourselves on. The relationships developed between students and faculty span far outside the classroom. The faculty recognize that the students here are leaders in their organizations and industries and potentially just as important members of their network as they are of yours.

Steve -> Texas I am 50 years old. Did any of you have someone "of age" in your groups? Did you find them to be able to keep up with the younger crowd?

Texas -> Steve Steve, the average age of the XP program at Booth is higher than at other schools' executive programs, and honestly that's one of the reasons that I was attracted the program. Not only did I want the experience of the professors, but also of my classmates. But to answer your question: yes, my class did have individuals "of age" (nice term!). And yes, they "kept up." In just about every subject, there is someone in the class who basically does that subject for a living, and those experiences played much more of a role in terms of who found particular subjects easier/harder, than age.

John -> Santiago In the Executive MBA program, do you currently have events that allow an opportunity to network with students in the other MBA programs?

Santiago -> John John; very little, because you are so busy with the program, but you can certainly take the initiative and create them. I organized an event to network with the EMBA class of Kellogg...

Steven -> Holly @Holly: I do not have a strong Math/Finance background either, what challenges did you face when the program begins with Microeconomics and Financial Accounting?

Holly -> Steven Steven - I had to embrace the concepts and not get too caught up with the mathematical/finance details. Once I was able to do that, I could study hard and my classmates supported me in preparing for exams. I feel really good about understanding the materials and I am so happy that I took on the extra challenge.

Jaspal -> Santiago Are there activities conducted by the school to network with the fellow EMBA students outside the classroom?

Santiago -> Jaspal Jaspal; yes, there are some organized by the school, and some organized by the Student Activities Council.

Andy -> Toby Roughly what is the percentage of class members having a job title of Director or higher?

Toby -> Andy Hi Andy - I don't know the answer and a specific title may not be reflective of responsibilities. Most if not all students are either already in general management positions or on the cusp of management positions in their organizations.

GordonC -> Patricia For the course work involving financial related calculations, or statistics, was there a preferred software package. Ex. Microsoft Excel used a lot or another program? Thanks

Patricia -> GordonC Gordon - The basic software package of Word, Excel and powerpoint are the only preferred software. If there is any additional software needed for your course, you will be notified way in advance.

Bubba -> Santiago Santiago, you had great schools in boston and NY area for EMBA programs. Is there any specific reason related to student experience you considered before joining Booth?

Santiago -> Bubba Bubba; in Boston unfortunately we do not have that many EMBA options, MIT just started one and we'll see how it goes. But Harvard does not have one. In any case Booth is unique because of their international campus, no other school has that, and that is why it was worth for me to travel to chicago.

Steve -> Texas Obviously you are all pleased with the program. However we're there anythings that you would have like to see changed, or that you heard other schools did that you would've liked at Booth?

Texas -> Steve Steve, I have to admit that I did only a little bit of research in other programs, but not a lot, so I'm not an expert in others. I know that there were some students who wanted to specialize in a particular field (MBA in Finance or Marketing, for example), and that is now possible with the XP program, but not when I went through it. Perhaps other alumns on this panel can comment as well....

Drew -> Holly How did the weeks spent in London & Singapore differ from the experience in Chicago? What was the biggest value you got out of going there?

Holly -> Drew Drew - London and Singapore classes were very similar in format, rigor, and usefulness but the study groups and out-of-class experiences differed. International study groups really provided for an opportunity to learn from other countries, learn different learning and negotiating styles, and become close with international classmates. In both London and Singapore, our foreign colleagues were amazing hosts and we had great opportunities to see a lot in a short period of time and avoid the "tourist" traps.

Santiago -> Everyone About accesibility of faculty, I have to say that it really depends on you. The faculty is open. I'm still in touch with about 80% of my professors and with a few that actually where not my professors but I just contacted them. I'm glad that I was able to build strong relationships with them.

GordonC -> Patricia For the course work involving financial related calculations, or statistics, was there a preferred software package. Ex. Microsoft Excel used a lot or another program? Thanks

Patricia -> GordonC Gordon: Most financial classes use Microsoft Excel.

Steven -> Toby My employer is has a tuition assistance program, but I will likely need to take out loans, does Booth have a financial aid department to assist me in this process?

Toby -> Steven Steven - yes you can contact them at 773.702.3964 or by email at financial.aid@chicagobooth.edu. Keep in mind that they will be most helpful and be able to talk specifics after you have been admitted to the program.

Jaspal -> Texas In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?

Texas -> Jaspal Jaspal, the purpose for me was to expand my knowledge beyond my particular field of expertise (investments and finance) as I wanted to progress in the firm that I was (and still am) in, so I guess to answer your question it would be changing roles. My class did not have many people who planned to change industries; we had a few, but they seemed to be in the minority.

Jaspal -> Holly In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?

Holly -> Jaspal One of the great things about Booth was the variety of reasons people attended. I think there were folks who wanted to enhance knowledge or even learn completely new concepts. Others focused on networking either for the sake of client development or to open doors to new careers. I knew a few folks who really wanted to advance within their organization and the MBA would create those opportunities. I wanted to do all three!

Jaspal -> Santiago In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?

Santiago -> Jaspal Jaspal; it really depends. Some people wanted to change careers, some people where very technical and wanted business knowledge to advance in their career, some people wanted the degree, some to network with smart people from all over the world. there are ass many motives as stundents....

Jaspal -> Brad In your experience, what is the main purpose of students pursuing EMBA. Do they plan to change the industry or their role?

Brad -> Jaspal It varies from student to student and many students discover that they would like to change industry and career direction during the 21 month EMBA program.

ChrisNYC -> Toby Can you speak to the use of the iPad for course material and whether or not text books will be included?

Toby -> ChrisNYC Hi ChrisNYC - tablets and course materials are a hot topic. At this point most but not all course materials are available electronically. There are still some bugs to be worked out between schools and publishers as a whole. At this time we are still shipping hard copies of all course materials to students and making you aware of what is available electronically.

John -> Santiago With the busy schedule of EMBA students, are the hours of operation for the University facilities adequate if you want to do after hours research on break through ideas?

Santiago -> John John; yes, the school is open for very long hours, it was never the case where we wanted to stay but the school was closing....

Bubba -> Texas Santiago/Texas > Did you network with students from other booth campuses outside your classroom opportunities? Is there an alumni group set for your class after you graduated?

Texas -> Bubba Bubba, I actually did, because I happened to share interests with a couple of the members of my global study group (which includes London and Singapore). There is both an XP alumni group, but also a broader University of Chicago alumni group in my city (Minneapolis).

Bubba -> Santiago Santiago/Texas > Did you network with students from other booth campuses outside your classroom opportunities? Is there an alumni group set for your class after you graduated?

Santiago -> Bubba Bubba; yes, I did. I made great friends from many countries, actually tonight I'm sending out a BDay invite that is going to people from 26 countries (I counted them)

Steve_C -> Holly Holly, I'm an attorney, as well, and I was wondering whether any of the coursework was more challenging for you, given your background. If so, how did you deal with those challenges.

Holly -> Steve_C I do not think the coursework was not necessarily more challenging per se but I sought out, and received, support from my finance friends for those classes. I think that everyone appreciated my writing and communication skills and I tried to make sure to offer analytical help where those opportunities arose. I can see the value the new knowledge has had on my practice.

S_Thallikar -> Toby Does any class require remote interaction / conferencing with students in UK or Singapore?

Toby -> S_Thallikar Thallikar - No. You are taking classes with the students from London and Singapore during the 4 residential weeks of the program while you are all in the same location.

Steve -> Santiago For any of you, was there a big gap in years between when you last attended school and starting th EMBA program? If so, what were the things you did to successfully adapt to the lifestyle change?

Santiago -> Steve steve; yes about 9 years between my Master in Finance and the EMBA. What I did was just sit down and study before classes started, to get used to it.

Steve -> Holly For any of you, was there a big gap in years between when you last attended school and starting th EMBA program? If so, what were the things you did to successfully adapt to the lifestyle change?

Holly -> Steve I was out of school for 8 years before going back to get the EMBA. Studying is different as an "adult" and I actually thought that adapting to learning again was a relatively easy transition. The late nights of studying, however, did require time management and conversations with my family to maintain a full time job and maintain good relationships with my family and friends.

Steve -> Texas For any of you, was there a big gap in years between when you last attended school and starting th EMBA program? If so, what were the things you did to successfully adapt to the lifestyle change?

Texas -> Steve Steve, for me going back to the classroom was actually refreshing -- it was an opportunity to get to study subjects that I had no experience in. The homework and exams thing was of course the biggest lifestyle change -- but the advice I got from a person who had just gone through the program was to do what I had mentioned earlier, which is to set aside in advance some time to work on homework and study for exams. That really helped me a lot.

Drew -> Santiago What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?

Santiago -> Drew Drw; I'm active in the boston area alumni club, and have contacted many alumni. Actually a graduate from Booth from aany years ago joined me as my coo.

Andy -> Holly Holly – Did attending the EMBA program change your coworker’s and supervisor’s perception of you, as far as you know?

Holly -> Andy Andy - I am not sure if the "new knowledge" changed their perception as much as the fact that I was able to work full time, have a family, and get an MBA from a top business school impacted how others saw me. It shows a special type of commitment that did not go unnoticed.

ChrisNYC -> Santiago Santiago, what was it like traveling back and forth and did you opt for alternate accommodations than Club Quarters?

Santiago -> ChrisNYC ChrisNYC; I traveled on thrusdays to avoind any possible issue with weather and to avoid falling asleep in class. Other than that it was good. I did not stay at Club quarters but I put together a group that negotiated a group rate at another Hotel.

Drew -> Texas What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?

Texas -> Drew Drew, I've remained personal friends with many alumns from my class. Not being in Chicago, there are fewer opportunities than perhaps people in Chicago have, but that hasn't hindered my interaction with them. There are also other alumns whom I got to know who have particular expertise in an area who have been totally open for questions about what they do; for me, in particular, I've talked extensively with a guy running a real estate hedge fund (which has been helpful for me in my research on hedge funds).

DeWayne -> Santiago Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?

Santiago -> DeWayne DeWayne; yes. If your experince is comparable to that of a full time student, but cannot or will not leave work for it, then you do an evening program. EMBA is for people with more experiecne.

Drew -> Brad What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?

Brad -> Drew We work the Evening Weekend office to plan networking events in addition events with our first & second year students.

Drew -> Holly What kind of interaction had you had with other Booth School alumni since completing the program?

Holly -> Drew I have been to Vegas with a group of friends from school, attended numerous social events, and others are on the horizon. I have also networked with several people, including flying out to visit one classmate to see if our firm may be able to represent them. I have also fielded questions from folks on legal issues and spent time discussing how we can help each other take the next step in our careers.

DeWayne -> Toby Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?

Toby -> DeWayne Its a very individual decision and there can be trade offs for both. The Evening/Weekend program has a much more flexible curriculum. The Executive Program traditionally has more experienced students. The Evening Weekend program is larger. The Executive MBA Program has required international travel. I guess at the end of the day there are a lot of things that are slightly different. While making your decision it is important to note that the degree is the same, the faculty are the same you do not get a "lesser" degree in any of our programs.

John -> Santiago How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?

Santiago -> John Just make sure yu go at least a couple of days early to adjust the Jetlag. If you plan on visiting around, do it before class and not after.... no big deal.

Jaspal -> Brad At which location EMBA classes take place in Chicago? Is it Gleacher center?

Brad -> Jaspal Classes are at the Gleacher Center in Chicago.

DeWayne -> Texas Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?

Texas -> DeWayne DeWayne, I had this same dilemma, but for me it was about the experience and age of classmates -- in the EMBA program (at least at Booth) the average experience is quite a bit higher than every other evening program I researched. One of my mentors early in my career pushed me not to do a part-time program because she said (and she was right) that you learn as much from classmates as you do from professors. With the XP (EMBA) program at Booth, I felt like I got the best of both -- the deep interaction with experienced students/classmates (since we all take the same classes all in the same order, we really got to know each other), but I didn't have to put my life on hold for a full-time program.

DeWayne -> Holly Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?

Holly -> DeWayne I have had friends that chose the evening MBA route because missing work on Fridays was not doable. I have also known people who need to be able to have flexibility if they want to take a semester off and for those folks, it seems that the evening MBA is a better fit. I find the EMBA really gels your relationship with your classmates. Its fast and intense and you go through it with 95 people who experience the same challenges. The experiences are very different.

John -> Holly How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?

Holly -> John The host students were amazing. The host campuses and the administration office really make it easy from lodging, to food, to resources. The most difficult part was the time change as it impacted my work back home but it just meant some early morning and late night emails.

John -> Brad How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?

Brad -> John We do provide an additional day of accommodations in Both London & Singapore to help you adjust.

John -> Texas How did you handle the adjustment to being overseas for the international part of the EMBA program?

Texas -> John John, There were two aspects of adjustment, the cultural aspect and, honestly, the jet lag. I've traveled extensively for my job, and so the jet lag issue just involved discipline of going to bed when I should and staying awake when I should. It was easier because we were busy -- there wasn't a lot of "down time". The cultural aspect was eased quite a bit by being in London (so no language barrier) and Singapore being a former British colony (so no language barrier!).

Drew -> Toby I work for a software company and am wondering how well you found the technology industry represented, both in terms of the student population and applicability of the curriculum.

Toby -> Drew Hi Drew - no more than 15% of the classroom is ever going to be represented by any particular industry or function. The idea being it is important to gain an understanding of how different people with different experiences approach the same business issue and then being able to relate that approach to your own world. So in short the classroom is diverse. As for applicability the program is designed to be highly practical. With a group of more seasoned professionals in the classroom the faculty can't get away with teaching theory that can't be applied.

GordonC -> Santiago To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.

Santiago -> GordonC GordonC; it depends on the professors, most provided some past exams, but not all and it's not plicy. As far as student body complinig them it would be, in most cases, against the honor code, so I wouldn't know about it....

GordonC -> Holly To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.

Holly -> GordonC Some professors provide prior exams. I found that the TAs exam prep sessions were very helpful as well and your fellow classmates were always willing to share class notes and work through sample questions. Exams are a part of the process but they were generally fair and preparing for them was possible based on the class lectures and materials.

GordonC -> Texas To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.

Texas -> GordonC GordonC, In my classes, there was very little (if any, I can't remember any) use of a library of past exams. Most of the time, professors provided past exams. They were helpful in just getting comfortable with the format of each professor's exams.

DeWayne -> Patricia Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?

Patricia -> DeWayne DeWayne - the deicison to pursue the evening MBA vs. the executive MBA is definately a personal decision. Each student populations from these programs are in very different points in their careers. Importantly, students from each of these programs receive the same degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Moderator -> Everyone We have 20 minutes remaining in our chat, so please keep sending your questions and we will respond to as many as we can. Thank you.

S_Thallikar -> Toby Who are the TAs for the courses? Are they Ph.D students? Thanks.

Toby -> S_Thallikar S_Thallikar - Each faculty is required to have at least one TA. Most of the TAs are PhD students, some are recent alums. Santiago was actually a TA this past year.

DeWayne -> Brad Is there any reasons why a person should consider pursuing a part time (evening) MBA instead of the EMBA?

Brad -> DeWayne There are pros and cons to all programs. The evening program does offer you the maximum amount of flexibly.

Bubba -> Holly Holly> How did u consider booth EMBA from a individual practitioner and student experience point of view? were there some individual practitioners like doctors, attoney in the class you attended?

Holly -> Bubba Bubba - We had quite a few doctors in class and there were 2 attorneys. I think that individual practitioners offer a real "expertise" that is appreciated by other students when specific issues come up. I also think that being a student is a humbling experience that reminds you of all the other careers that are out there.

Christopher -> Holly Holly: You mention TA exam prep sessions. When were these held and could they be attended remotely?

Holly -> Christopher They were purposely scheduled on Friday nights or at other times when all students were in town. TAs did not schedule prep sessions in between class weekends. Everyone is sensitive to traveling students and making sure everyone has an opportunity to participate.

Drew -> Toby How do I go about arranging a class visit?

Toby -> Drew Drew - you cah visit the link below to see a list of available class visit dates and follow the instructions there to set one up. http://www.chicagobooth.edu/execmba/campuslocations/chicago/visit.aspx

GordonC -> Brad To help prepare students for exams, I have seen where prior exams are provided by the professor as study materials, or the student body has assembled a library of past exams. Would either be typical at Booth? Thanks.

Brad -> GordonC This is very common, but will vary based on the faculty teaching the class. Some exams are not returned per the faculty request.

S_Thallikar -> Texas Are TAs also approachable during weekdays? Thanks.

Texas -> S_Thallikar In my classes, TAs were available by e-mail weekdays, and I took advantage of one time when I set up a call with a TA to get a question answered. The e-mail responses I got back from TAs through the week were always very prompt. (I also don't live in Chicago, so my only options during the week were by e-mail or phone.)

Bubba -> Toby What was the class size of EMBA programs you attended? Whether all students attended same classes always?

Toby -> Bubba Bubba - We have about 90 students start each year. All 90 students take all classes together except for your electives and concentration classes.

ChrisNYC -> Toby Coming from NY, if I have my application in by the end of the week, what is the turn around time to find out about an interview such that I could also attend a class? or wiould my interview occur here in NYC with a Chicago alum?

Toby -> ChrisNYC Turn around is about 1 week and all interviews happen in Chicago.

Christopher -> Holly Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?

Holly -> Christopher I did not find outside research "necessary" but in some instances, it enhanced the experience and added to the learning. The best outside recommendations came from classmates.

Christopher -> Santiago Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?

Santiago -> Christopher It depends on the class. For some classes you do because you are building your own case. But even when you do, they give you tools on where and how to do the research.

Christopher -> Texas Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?

Texas -> Christopher Christopher, No, not really. Textbooks and notes covered just about everything. I say "just about" because there were two larger projects I had with my study groups over the whole program where the whole point was to bring in outside information.

ChrisNYC -> Toby How are the groups determined (industry focused) and how many different groups will you have during the program (incl the international weeks)?

Toby -> ChrisNYC Hi Chris - Your local groups are 6-7 students and are determined by industry and functional experience. It is nice for example to have a CPA in your group during the accounting class and to have a marketing professional for the marketing classes etc. Your international groups consist of 2 students from each campus, London, Chicago and Singapore and will be the same during your trips to London and Singapore.

Christopher -> Santiago Looking back at your experience, could you recommend any reading materials to prepare for the program? Possibly a specific book? Thanks.

Santiago -> Christopher Not realy, maybe brush up on basic math / algebra? Basics on accounting.

Moderator -> Everyone Our chat will be ending soon, so please send any final questions you may have. The chat transcript will be posted online in 48 hours at: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/execmba/chat/archive.aspx. Thank you.

Christopher -> Toby Looking back at your experience, could you recommend any reading materials to prepare for the program? Possibly a specific book? Thanks.

Toby -> Christopher Hi Christopher - There is no required reading to start the program but a nice primer is "PreMBA Analytical Primer: Essential Quantitative Concepts for Business Math" by Regina Trevino, PhD

S_Thallikar -> Toby Sorry, This is off topic for the admissions officers. Are we still looking at April 15th for a decision date on the admission? Thanks..Sanjeev Thallikar

Toby -> S_Thallikar Yes - we're working through applications as quickly as we can.

Steve_C -> Holly Picking up on the last question, did any of you attend and pre-mba classes in prepration for the program?

Holly -> Steve_C I attended the pre-MBA classes offered by the school. I found them very basic but a good refresher.

Steve_C -> Santiago Picking up on the last question, did any of you attend and pre-mba classes in prepration for the program?

Santiago -> Steve_C Steve_C; I did not, I did not think it was worth it for me. (I already had a master in finance). but I did fly to Chicago to start meeting people and network....

Jeff_Detweiler -> Holly For the groups, do the students self organize them, or are they more "assigned"?

Holly -> Jeff_Detweiler The first group was assigned but after that you had the option to choose 1 or 2 people to be in your group

Drew -> Santiago Could you describe a "breakthrough" you experienced during, or as a result of, the program?

Santiago -> Drew Drew; I'm advancing on a new entrepreneurial project in Financial Servcies that would have not happened without the program.

Steve_C -> Texas Picking up on the last question, did any of you attend and pre-mba classes in prepration for the program?

Texas -> Steve_C Steve_C, I did not, but I had some very good friends in my class who did, particularly those who wanted a refresher on math and statistics. Overall the whole program does not require a very deep level of math, but the quick refresher for those for whom that is not their strength, was apparently quite helpful.

Jeff_Detweiler -> Toby Do you generally send out admits on a rolling basis, or all at once?

Toby -> Jeff_Detweiler We are rolling. We read applications in the order they are received.

Drew -> Holly Could you describe a "breakthrough" you experienced during, or as a result of, the program?

Holly -> Drew As someone who knew I was going to law school since high school, I found that being exposed to all of the other careers out there was absolutely enlightening. I found corporate finance, operations, and marketing to be complex in ways that I did not understand before and I thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to attend school as an adult.

Christopher -> Patricia When are the pre-MBA classes?

Patricia -> Christopher Christopher: The PreMBA courses are held Thursday - Sunday, June 14-17 at the Gleacher Center. These are full day classes from 9am-4:30pm

Drew -> Holly I work for a software company and am wondering how well you found the technology industry represented, both in terms of the student population and applicability of the curriculum.

Holly -> Drew There was a tech person in each of my groups and I think they were all looking for an opportunity to build up their general business skills to either advance their career or switch their careers. It was always a plus to have the opportunity to work with someone that was tech savvy.

Drew -> Texas Could you describe a "breakthrough" you experienced during, or as a result of, the program?

Texas -> Drew Drew, one of the many "breakthroughs" for me was in Operations class, when I realized that a lot of what were studying about running widgets through a factory was applicable to processes at my firm, which is an investment consulting firm (so we don't produce any "tangible" product). It helped me think about inefficiencies and bottlenecks with a great framework. This kind of thing happened multiple times through the program, which maybe speaks to how much I learned!

Toby -> Everyone Thank you all for your great questions today and thank you especially to Holly, Santiago and Texas for your insights and for sharing your experiences.

Patricia -> Everyone Thank you for joining us. If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out via email at XP@ChicagoBooth.edu

Christopher -> Brad Did you find you a lot of research was required outside of the provided materials (textbooks, notes)?

Brad -> Christopher You do have access to several University resources that will help with outside research.

Santiago -> Everyone Thank you for the interest. The program is really unique. Best of luck with the application.

Texas -> Everyone Thanks, everyone, for your questions! Hope you found this online chat useful.

Holly -> Everyone Good luck to everyone! Thanks.

Brad -> Everyone Thank you.

Moderator -> Everyone The chat has ended. Thank you for your interest in the Executive MBA program. Please feel free to contact us with further questions at xp@chicagobooth.edu. The chat transcript will be available in 48 hours at http://www.chicagobooth.edu/execmba/chat/archive.aspx. Thank you for your interest and participation.

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