| From -> To |
Message |
| Moderator -> Everyone |
Hello everyone! Thank you for joining us today. Our chat will begin promptly at 12:00 p.m. CDT. Feel free to begin submitting your questions now so we can start providing answers at noon. |
| Moderator -> Everyone |
Hello everyone. Welcome to our live chat! Thank you for joining us today. We are eager to answer all your questions, so please submit them now. |
| Melissa -> Everyone |
Welcome everyone! I am looking forward to chatting with you today and answering your questions. |
| Patricia -> Everyone |
Hello - thank you for joining us. We look forward to answering your many questions today! |
| Brad -> Everyone |
Hello and welcome we are happy you are taking time to chat with us today. |
| Toby -> Everyone |
Hi Everyone - looking forward to the chat today. |
| Adi -> Patricia |
Hello. I have been working in the IT industry for 7 years in software development and quality roles in the healthcare sector but have no management experience till now. Do you see people like myself in the ExMBA program. |
| Patricia -> Adi |
Hi Adi: Thank you for joining us. Yes, we do see individuals with your background. In fact, your background is similar for most of our applicant pool. Many of those applicants are looking to increase their management skills/experience with an MBA at Chicago Booth. |
| Joe -> Toby |
Chicago has an excellent global reputation, particularly in the Financial sector. Can you tell me a bit more about your options and focus on students who are more interested in General Management? Some examples of alumni in this regard would be great! |
| Toby -> Joe |
Hi Joe - The Executive MBA Program is specifically designed for general managers. The curriculum is broad and builds upon itself (meaning what you learn in class 1 you use in class 2 etc.) We combine a broad understanding of functional areas with superior leadership training resulting in new frameworks for decision-making combined with terrific tools to motivate workers. The education is timeless and can be used in any industry - anywhere in the world. |
| EthanD -> Brad |
Where do students stay if coming in from out of town? |
| Brad -> EthanD |
The Program does not provide housing during regular class weekends, but we do work with several hotels in the area that offer reduced pricing during class weekends. The residential weeks in Chicago, London & Hong Kong are covered by the tuition & fees. |
| Nisha -> Melissa |
The queries are as follows: 1. I have completed my B. Tech, Engineering in Computer Science, and have 1 year plus of Job exp in a managerial profile (Technical Assistant to CIO, IT Dept). Am i eligible for admission in Executive MBA programme(1 year)or will have to take full time course? 2. The minimum fees which will be required in both the cases including the hostel as i am a resident of India. 3.Any special scholarships given to students ? Your guidance and support will actually help me in taking a good decision and thus shaping my carrier well. Regards |
| Melissa -> Nisha |
NIsha, these are good questions. First, let me address your experience question. The average Executive MBA student is in their mid-to-late 30s with 13 to 15 years of experience. Depending on the quality of experience and the ability to contribute to the program, we have admitted students in their late 20s or early 30s as well. We’ve also had students in their 40s and 50s. Second, the North American based Executive MBA program costs $168,00 for the 21 month curriculum. This includes lodging for the five residential sessions. Finally, while the Executive MBA program does not offer scholarships, you are able to pursue financial aid options. |
| Alby -> Brad |
concerning the EMBA schedule - Am I correct to assume that the 3 days in Chicago are during exam periods? |
| Brad -> Alby |
Alby, thanks for your question. The first day of the second quarter are used in Chicago for a final exam & LEED programming. The other three day sessions have a whole day provided for LEED programming. |
| SG -> Patricia |
COuld you talk about the student experience during the Exec MBA? Also, are many of your studetns from similar backgrounds? |
| Patricia -> SG |
Hi SG: The students are very involved in the program from networking opportunities and extra curriculur activities in addition to their experience on the academic side of the program. Any given weekend consist of meeting with their individual study groups, joining a networking event with other areas of Booth (Career Services, Alumni Relations), meeting with classmates for dinner, etc. Regarding the background of students, they come from various backgrounds. That's the beauty of the program, the diverse student body. No more than 15% of a specific job function is represented in the program. |
| KD -> Toby |
hello, thank you very much for all for your time. i have applied for BOOTH EMBA, I am an Entrepreneur, i am looking for any financial sponsorship or fellowship, with that said, me being an entrepreneur i may be able to work for with the sponsporing foundation or company after during my graduation, I know this might be a stupid question but just throwing it out to see whether you guys can guide somewhat ? |
| Toby -> KD |
Hi KD - unfortunately we're not much help here. We don't provide and scholarships or fellowships for the program and the landscape for these things changes so often it can be difficult to keep up. I would be interested in learning about what you find though, please keep us informed of your efforts! |
| Abhi -> Melissa |
Can you please more info on "residential hotel program" mentioned in XP84 orientation handout? |
| Melissa -> Abhi |
Abhi, during the 21 month program, you will have five residential weeks. For the cohort starting in June 2014, the first summer will include a week long session in Chicago in June, a week long session in London in July and week long session in Hong Kong in August. In addition, the second summer will include a two week elective session in Chicago. As part of the tuition for the program, lodging is covered for all five of these weeks. |
| Umar -> Patricia |
I have question related regarding empolyer support letter: Since I am the Owner/ Managing Partner of the compnay, Can I sign the letter of support for myself? |
| Patricia -> Umar |
Good question Umar: As the owner of your company you can provide the letter of support. Please contact us offlline for examples. |
| EthanD -> Brad |
Thanks Brad. Do you have many students from outside Chicago? Any advice for someone traveling in? |
| Brad -> EthanD |
Thanks Ethan, we have had several students that travel in from outside of the US and our program can help international students obtain an I-20 that will allow them to travel to the US for class weekends. I do want to stress that this is not a student visa and students in the Executive Program do not qualify for any student visa. Every case is different and we would be happy to talk to about your questions or concerns. Please feel free to contact us directly after the chat so we can help. |
| Alby -> Toby |
With respect to the incoming class, can you disclose the number of open spots? (For Chicago) Also, do you view it to be a disadvantage to be applying so late in the process for the upcoming year? (starting June 2014) |
| Toby -> Alby |
Hi Alby - we don't share that specific information. There can be disadvantages to applying at the last deadline - specifically if your industry or job function is already saturating the applicant pool or make up of the class. We work hard to be sure the incoming class is diverse in many ways.
My best advice is to apply by the February deadline and then you don't have to worry about it! |
| Joe -> Toby |
Hi - one issue I noticed on visits to other top EMBA programs was the student profile. I'd like to engage with a diverse group of people - but it's also important to have a cadre of relatively senior leaders who can socialize and contribute experiences from a different perspective. How does Booth ensure that their "mix" reflects this diversity? |
| Toby -> Joe |
Hi Joe - what you're talking about is a top priority for us. In the evaluation process we are constantly asking "how is this person going to add value to their classmates". Whether it's industry expertise, functional experience or cultural background we work very hard to put together a diverse and complimentary cohort of students. |
| Laks -> Patricia |
Is getting study loan easier if you are a permanent resident of the united states than being a foreigner ? |
| Patricia -> Laks |
Laks: Student loans are avaiilable for US Citizens and US Permanent Residents. Chicago Booth does not have a loan program for non-US citizens/non-US permanent residents. If you are a non-US citizen or non-US permanent resident we encourage you to explore other loan opportunities. For additional information, please visit the website |
| Abhi -> Toby |
Do you know whether self-funded or employer-sponsored students can show tuition fees as a tax write off? |
| Toby -> Abhi |
Hi Abhi - I think I know but I don't want to give you bad information. I recommend you contact your own tax specialist on this or reach out to our Financial Aid office.773.702.3964 or financial.aid@ChicagoBooth.edu. |
| Adi -> Brad |
do you have any courses/classes that focus on the healthcare industry. |
| Brad -> Adi |
Adi, there are no courses within the Executive MBA curriculum that focus on the health care industry, but some students have done a joint certificate program in health care while completing the Executive MBA. This requires some additional classes outside of the standard Executive MBA curriculum to complete and qualify for this certification. We can share more information with you after the chat if you would like to reach out to us. |
| SG -> Melissa |
Booth has been in the news regarding the Nobel prize recent win by one of the faculty. What can be expect from faculty in the program? |
| Melissa -> SG |
SG, it is true. The University of Chicago is very fortunate to have many Noble prize winners on faculty. The students in the Executive MBA program are taught by University of Chicago faculty. The faculty is highly engaged and accessible. Students are able to seek out faculty with questions and follow up with them for further discussion. A great story about the dedication and passion of our faculty for teaching is that Eugene Fama learned of winning the Noble prize and then left his home to teach a class. |
| Umar -> Patricia |
Thanks Patricia… one more questions related to the processing time: How long does it take to get a decision on the application? I am planning to complete my application by mid-December. However, I will be out of country for few weeks. Can I reschedule my face-to-face interview? |
| Patricia -> Umar |
Umar: No problem! We typically schedule interview days on Saturday, but if that won't work for you, we can certainly work around your schedule. If your entire application is complete, including the interview, it takes 4-6 weeks to get a decision back. Hope this helps! |
| Abhi -> Melissa |
if offered admission, how much time does one have to accept? Also, is there any way to get an extension to accept in-case when one is waiting to hear from other universities? |
| Melissa -> Abhi |
Abhi, once an applicant is accepted to the program they generally have three weeks to make a decision. As every situation is unique, there is no standard policy on extensions. We will handle them on a case by case basis so please let use know if an extension is necessary. |
| Moderator -> Everyone |
We are almost half way through the chat and have had great questions so far. Please continue to submit your questions! We will try to answer all of them today. |
| Alby -> Brad |
I may have missed this, could you expand on the LEED programming? |
| Brad -> Alby |
I'm sorry Alby you might not have been full briefed on our LEAD programing and how it compliments the in class experience. LEAD (Leadership Effectiveness and Development) focuses on developing your “softer†skills as you move through the program. Through a series of Workshops, Assessment tools, Business simulations etc. we provide tools to help you implement the leanings from the rest of the curriculum in the real world. |
| Abhi -> Patricia |
Under special circumstances, Can the admission be deferred to the following year? |
| Patricia -> Abhi |
Hi Abhi: yes, you do have an option of deferring you admission for one year. |
| Sharon -> Melissa |
Hello! I have a question about the GMAT requirement. I have already done my MBA in Finance from Roosevelt University and I would like to apply to the Executive program. RU did not require a GMAT from me because my undergrad GPA was 4.0. I have management experience in Retail Banking for the last 6 years. Would Booth still require a GMAT score from me? |
| Melissa -> Sharon |
We do offer the opportunity for applicants to submit a GMAT waiver. Very senior level managers, usually with twelve or more years of management experience may be granted an exemption from the GMAT/GRE requirement. Examples might include CEOs, Managing Directors, CFOs, and Division Heads etc. A waiver may also be considered for a candidate whose work experience and training indicate a high level of quantitative and analytical skill and an ability to apply those skills to a rigorous and analytical MBA Program. Examples might include: Treasurer or Chief Accounting Officer, or a CFA, or a candidate possessing another advanced degree or diploma in a quantitative field. The criteria above are not meant to be exhaustive and candidates who believe they are able to provide evidence of similar quality not listed are encouraged to speak to an admissions representative or complete the steps for a GMAT waiver through the application system. |
| SG -> Patricia |
What percent of students already have an advanced degree? |
| Patricia -> SG |
SG: That would vary from year to year. This year's entering class is 40%. |
| Jane -> Melissa |
International residencies, are the classes taught by the local professor? Or are the students located in Hong Kong and London taught by Chicago professors from the USA?? |
| Melissa -> Jane |
Jane, all of the Executive MBA classes are taught by University of Chicago professors. In other words, professors from Chicago will travel to London and Hong Kong to teach during the residencies weeks. In addition, students located in Hong Kong and London are taught by professors from the University as well. |
| Joe -> Toby |
Final question! Chicago stands in the top tier among EMBA programs. Each of your "competition" tends to differentiate in a specific way whether it be by focusing on a entrepreneurs, a market segment (tech), a global program, or outstanding/faculty research. This is important so that you get a well rounded - but not catch-all program. In your opinion - what is that differentiation for Chicago? |
| Toby -> Joe |
Joe - great questions! What sets us apart? How long do you have? The people - this includes students, faculty, staff and alums - really make this a special place. More importantly it's what the people share and that is a desire to be better, they're driven. We say over and over that Chicago Booth is a place where ideas compete and people collaborate. It's very true. The culture here is one of excellence, be ready to defend your ideas and be ready to challenge your classmates and professors on theirs. Not to prove them wrong but to help them hone their own focus.
Anyway - this can be hard to articulate in so many characters on a chat. Come visit a class and watch it all live to best understand how dynamic the experience really is. |
| SG -> Melissa |
What is the typical student profile? |
| Melissa -> SG |
Our typical Executive MBA class profile has students, who on average, have 12 to 15 years of work experience and who are in their mid to late 30s. Approximately 35 percent of these students come from a general management background, with the second largest group having accounting and finance backgrounds. Sales and marketing, information technology, engineering, health care, operations management, and law make up the majority of the balance. |
| Abhi -> Toby |
Can you share something exciting about the new hongkong campus - since 2014 batch would be the first one to attend and experience HK campus? pics? |
| Toby -> Abhi |
No new pics yet - we're currently remodeling space in the Cyberport in Hong Kong for use of the 2014 batch of students and we have recently agreed to terms with Bing Thom architects to build our new building on Mt. Davis. You can see some of their other work here http://www.bingthomarchitects.com/ |
| Laks -> Patricia |
Can we visit/attend a live class during this December month at the booth ? |
| Patricia -> Laks |
Laks: There are no classes held in December for the Executive program. For a list of dates, please visit our website. |
| Jane -> Toby |
Your website mentioned Tracks.. could you explain what those are and how they relate to the overall curriculum? |
| Toby -> Jane |
"Tracks" are an opportunity for you to dive a little more deeply into a specific area of interested. You can take up to 4 classes in one of 6 areas; Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategy, Capital Markets or Management. These classes are taken during the 2 weeks of electives during your 2nd summer here. |
| Moderator -> Everyone |
Our chat will be ending in 15 minutes. Please submit your final questions so we can answer all of them! |
| Jane -> Brad |
Can you talk a bit about the global experience.. do students from the different campus interact? |
| Brad -> Jane |
The students from London, Hong Kong & North America are together for a fourth of the total experience. The global weeks in the first quarter and the two weeks of Electives in the second summer are where most of the global interactions take place. |
| SG -> Melissa |
Do you have to maintain employment throughout your time in the Executive MBA program? |
| Melissa -> SG |
The program is designed for working professionals. However, situations may change during the the 21 month program time frame. We have a dedicated Student Services staff that is available to work with students as career and personal life situations shift. |
| Jane -> Toby |
What are the most important things you look for when reviewing candidates for the MBA program? Are there any particular certifications or types of experience that are considered more valuable? |
| Toby -> Jane |
Thanks Jane - the most important question we ask when evaluating applications is "how is this person going to add value to their classmates". So you have to ask yourself what you think sets you apart - is it some certifications? is it some specific work experience? and then tell us how great you are. I tell people all the time not to be humble in the application - if you don't tell us how great you are we aren't going to know. |
| Jane -> Patricia |
I'd like to talk with alumnus and current students in my area. Can you please send me their contact information? |
| Patricia -> Jane |
Hello Jane: we can connect you with a student or alumnus in your area. Send us a request to XP@ChicagoBooth.edu |
| Jane -> Melissa |
What's the general age group for executive MBA? How much industry experience do they have in general? |
| Melissa -> Jane |
Our typical MBA class profile has students, who on average, have 12 to 15 years of work experience and who are in their mid to late 30s. |
| Toby -> Everyone |
no new questions at this time? Let's wait a couple more minutes and then let you get back to your days! |
| Patricia -> Everyone |
Thank you for joining us. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime for questions about the Executive MBA Program! Have a great day. Patricia |
| Moderator -> Everyone |
Please visit our blog at blogs.chicagobooth.edu/embaevolution to read about what is happening in our Executive MBA program |
| Toby -> Everyone |
Thanks for joining today everyone. Please continue the conversation with us in person - come visit a class or attend an info session when you get a chance! Have a great day. |
| Brad -> Everyone |
Thanks for attending! |
| Melissa -> Everyone |
Thank you all for joining us today. Feel free to reach out to us at XP@Chicagobooth.edu should you have any further questions! |