Sally Bao, WG'05
“Even one year into the program, I felt the impact on a personal as well as a career level. Then VP of Operations of an apparel manufacturer with 99% of our products imported, I was better prepared to discuss business strategies and have new insights in managing the day-to-day operations. After earning my degree, I was promoted to Executive Vice President. This MBA program is probably the best thing that I've ever done for myself.”
» Read more of this EMBA student perspective.
Students come from a wide range of corporations, public institutions, and nonprofit organizations, as well as from professional fields such as law and medicine. There are two broad categories of candidate qualification profiles: Traditional and Fellows.
Traditional Candidate Profile
While there are no fixed requirements regarding age and work experience, class profile averages typically reflect:
- 8 or more years of work experience
- 5 or more years in a managerial position
- 30 years of age or older
- A college degree or the equivalent
- Senior management experience or potential
All applicants must have the written endorsement of their organization, confirming that the organization supports the application and understands the time commitments required to fulfill all class attendance and study. Traditionally, approximately 70% of students receive full or partial financial support from their organization. Individuals may finance their own tuition.
Fellows Candidate Profile
Organizations may nominate outstanding candidates who are younger or less experienced than the traditional student (typically under 30 years of age and with less than 8 years of experience). These "Fellows Nominations" provide organizations with the opportunity to recognize the contributions and potential of highly promising managers while advancing their knowledge and expertise.
Fellows Nominations guidelines:
- The candidate must demonstrate outstanding promise for advancement in a managerial career.
- The sponsoring organization must submit a letter of nomination that
- Explains the exceptional managerial potential of this candidate and
- Confirms a commitment of full financial and program-related support and an understanding of the time requirements of the program for class attendance and study. (Applicants may contact the admissions staff in Philadelphia or San Francisco to review special circumstances that would influence these support requirements.)
- Fellows candidates are required to come for an interview as part of the application process.
While the application process for Fellows differs slightly from that of traditional candidates, there is no distinction made after acceptance to the program. Senior managers and executive development officers who are interested in nominating Fellows candidates are welcome to contact us. We would be happy to discuss the criteria for identifying appropriate candidates.