Time to think and time to act

Preparing for EMBA

An EMBA Program requires a commitment of time and resources, and preparing for your EMBA experience involves making decisions about whether that commitment is right for you and which EMBA Program best meets your needs.

As a staring point, learn more about the key questions to ask. Then start thinking about evaluating programs, narrowing the field, financing your EMBA education, planning to take necessary tests, and gathering what you need for admissions consideration.

Executive MBA Programs set their own admissions processes and requirements, but most evaluate applicants on the following criteria:

  • Professional experience and scope of responsibilities
  • Academic records
  • Professional recommendations
  • Demonstrated ability to accomplish graduate-level business course work
  • Career goals

EMBA Programs host onsite or virtual information sessions for prospective students to discover more about their programs. They also require completion of the application form, and, in most cases, an interview.

ALUMNI VOICE

MARLENE LOPEZ IBARRA
Portfolio Manager
3M, Latin America
Alumni Voice - Marlene Lopez Ibarra

When she decided to return to school, Marlene Lopez Ibarra considered a variety of options.

“I needed a program that would fit into my work life,” says Ibarra, Latin American portfolio manager for Occupational Health and Environmental Safety at 3M. “I looked at online programs – they had the flexibility – but I wanted to work face-to-face with students and professors.”

She began talking about her desire to return to school and found that many recent MBA graduates in her company were Executive MBA alumni. Those conversations helped her in making the decision to attend an EMBA Program.


Admissions requirements snapshot

95.4%
Interview
12.2%
GMAT 
(required or required with exceptions)
6.8
Work
experience
(minimum years)
3.5
Management
experience
(minimum years)

Data from 2022 EMBAC Membership Program Survey

DID YOU KNOW...

Because EMBA Programs place a high value on leadership experience, not all EMBA Programs require a bachelor’s degree. According to EMBA Council research, 65.3 percent of programs require an undergraduate degree for admissions consideration.