- Brand and Brand ethos
The most common mindset when doing school research is that you should simply get into the best school, the one with the best brand. It's not necessarily bad advice (who would advise you to get into the worst school?) but it's a bit short and simplistic. Instead of doing the not useful thing of spending hours browsing through forums where people argue endlessly over which school is the best as if they were 16 year olds, I'd encourage to think about your own personal brand (what it is, what you want it to be) and the school own brand would align with you. There are great brands, good brands, and brands with little impact in the business school world, that's for sure. However, if you're doing an exec MBA, it's very probable you're not a 20 something and you're past the time when all paths are open and it seems impossible to choose one particular option. So do you need a brand that will define you or a brand that will fit who you (already) are? Are you planning to switch careers, are focusing on a particular field, do you want a school that focuses on entrepreneurship or on finance, do you want to be part of a school with the biggest network possible or a smaller school with a smaller but more approachable network?
- Standalone Business School or University Business School?
Some of the top Business Schools in the world (INSEAD, LBS, HEC, IMD etc) are stand alone schools meaning they're not attached to a university (or only very loosely) as opposed to Harvard, Stanford or Cambridge and Oxford. This can change the atmosphere of the school and the configuration of the network
Some of the top Business Schools in the world (INSEAD, LBS, HEC, IMD etc) are stand alone schools meaning they're not attached to a university (or only very loosely) as opposed to Harvard, Stanford or Cambridge and Oxford. This can change the atmosphere of the school and the configuration of the network
- International campuses, international links
So the school you're planning to attend claims to have several campuses and/or international alliances. That's great but dig deeper: It's great to have several campuses or an alliance with another school but what will it mean for you? Will be you be able to take advantage of it? What will be the additional costs associated with studying on that other campus? Is it in a location that is of strong interest to you or will it be just a very expensive type of vacation?
So the school you're planning to attend claims to have several campuses and/or international alliances. That's great but dig deeper: It's great to have several campuses or an alliance with another school but what will it mean for you? Will be you be able to take advantage of it? What will be the additional costs associated with studying on that other campus? Is it in a location that is of strong interest to you or will it be just a very expensive type of vacation?
- Network (type, size and composition)
That's an extremely important criteria for most candidates and the schools are very much aware of that. So they'll all promise an access to an unparalleled network.
Some top EMBA programs such as Kellogg / Hong Kong UST Business School and the Trium: HEC Paris / LSE / New York University: Stern EMBAs are basically just that. They accept only very senior top managers or business owners. They'll make them do study trip and discuss management problems. But considering their current career trajectories and levels of salary, people don't get onto these programs for the salary bump. It's basically a top executive pricey club and there's obviously nothing wrong with that.
However, for a more specific assessment, get more information about the size of the network: In your current industry or your target industry, in the areas you plan to work.
Try to get an idea of the level of accessibility of the people in the network: That's obviously extremely difficult to measure but try to get an idea by talking to alumni. Think also about your own communication style and if you'd be more comfortable with a smaller network of people very accessible or if you want simply the largest network possible.
That's an extremely important criteria for most candidates and the schools are very much aware of that. So they'll all promise an access to an unparalleled network.
Some top EMBA programs such as Kellogg / Hong Kong UST Business School and the Trium: HEC Paris / LSE / New York University: Stern EMBAs are basically just that. They accept only very senior top managers or business owners. They'll make them do study trip and discuss management problems. But considering their current career trajectories and levels of salary, people don't get onto these programs for the salary bump. It's basically a top executive pricey club and there's obviously nothing wrong with that.
However, for a more specific assessment, get more information about the size of the network: In your current industry or your target industry, in the areas you plan to work.
Try to get an idea of the level of accessibility of the people in the network: That's obviously extremely difficult to measure but try to get an idea by talking to alumni. Think also about your own communication style and if you'd be more comfortable with a smaller network of people very accessible or if you want simply the largest network possible.
- Recruitment diversity (Diversity of nationalities, backgrounds, languages etc.)
Programs tend to claim they have people of very diverse backgrounds. Most of the top programs do. For smaller, less expensive schools, it's worth checking their stats and visiting open days. EMBAs have it a little bit less easy than full time MBAs when it comes to ensuring true diversity especially when it comes to nationalities as they recruit locally and there's therefore more limitations to the population they can recruit.
Programs tend to claim they have people of very diverse backgrounds. Most of the top programs do. For smaller, less expensive schools, it's worth checking their stats and visiting open days. EMBAs have it a little bit less easy than full time MBAs when it comes to ensuring true diversity especially when it comes to nationalities as they recruit locally and there's therefore more limitations to the population they can recruit.
- Specialization(s)
- Project of interest (international trips, consulting projects etc)
Many EMBA programs will include numerous consulting projects, international trips and other similar experiences. Make sure you're clear about what will be of interest to you, the options you'll have if any, any additional cost linked to these projects (Many schools will leave you the option of doing several trips for example but obviously this requires the payment of an additional fee).
Many EMBA programs will include numerous consulting projects, international trips and other similar experiences. Make sure you're clear about what will be of interest to you, the options you'll have if any, any additional cost linked to these projects (Many schools will leave you the option of doing several trips for example but obviously this requires the payment of an additional fee).
- Cost
It's not a surprise but there's some significant variations between the programs and that will obviously have an impact on the attendance of these programmes, the ROI etc. Just looking at the fees of a handful of well known schools:
Trium = 150,000 USD
INSEAD = 95,000 Euros
LBS= 59, 000 GBP
Kellogg = 170,000 USD
Cambridge = 52,000 GBP
IESE = 95000 Euros
You can see the variations can be massive and that's something to factor in in your school selection. Obviously the programs above sometimes target different types of individuals, more or less senior but be careful to what you commit to. All schools will make big promises about ROI. Promises are only a commitment for those that believe them. You should take them with a pinch of salt.
It's not a surprise but there's some significant variations between the programs and that will obviously have an impact on the attendance of these programmes, the ROI etc. Just looking at the fees of a handful of well known schools:
Trium = 150,000 USD
INSEAD = 95,000 Euros
LBS= 59, 000 GBP
Kellogg = 170,000 USD
Cambridge = 52,000 GBP
IESE = 95000 Euros
You can see the variations can be massive and that's something to factor in in your school selection. Obviously the programs above sometimes target different types of individuals, more or less senior but be careful to what you commit to. All schools will make big promises about ROI. Promises are only a commitment for those that believe them. You should take them with a pinch of salt.
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