Looking for Business School Advice EMBA, Distance MBA

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3 6

Posted Mar 12, 2021 20:11

Hi All, I wanted to get peoples opinion regarding the value of doing an EMBA or Distance MBA pertaining to my experience. Some quick stats:

- Live/Work in Canada
- Work experience 13 years, managerial 10 years
- Work in Chemicals Industry, looking to shift careers into Management Consulting or in an advisory capacity - based in Western Canada - looking to move east towards Ontario
- Prefer to stay in Canada post MBA, but would not turn down opportunities globally.
- Income $180K
- Job Level - Director
- Bachelors education completed in the UK
- Need to continue working, full time out of question.

Shortlisted MBA programs:
- Rotman Bocconi EMBA - $148,000 (incl. Travel/Accom)
- Manchester Distance MBA - $84,000 (Incl. Travel/Accom)
- Warwick Distance MBA - $78,000 (incl. Travel/Accom)

Is there any point in me doing the more expensive MBA over the cheaper ones?

Thanks

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Duncan

13.474 15.108

Posted Mar 13, 2021 09:44

I don't think those British universities have a lot of brand equity in Canada. Rotman or another Canadian schools should be your focus. Did you consider Queen's-Cornell or York-Northwestern?

Cost is a signal of value, but network power in Ontario is a key asset for you.

I don't think those British universities have a lot of brand equity in Canada. Rotman or another Canadian schools should be your focus. Did you consider Queen's-Cornell or York-Northwestern?  Cost is a signal of value, but network power in Ontario is a key asset for you.

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n2410155

3 6

Posted Mar 13, 2021 20:58

I don't think those British universities have a lot of brand equity in Canada. Rotman or another Canadian schools should be your focus. Did you consider Queen's-Cornell or York-Northwestern?

Cost is a signal of value, but network power in Ontario is a key asset for you.

Thanks for the prompt reply Duncan! I am also thinking the same way. Out of the Canadian B-School partnerships, which do you believe carries more clout?

Rotman/Bocconi
Queens/Cornell
Kellogg/Schulich

And would you happen to know if these are pretty much all the same with regards to course content? Or are there some slight differences which make one program stand out from the other?

[Edited by n2410155 on Mar 13, 2021]

[quote]I don't think those British universities have a lot of brand equity in Canada. Rotman or another Canadian schools should be your focus. Did you consider Queen's-Cornell or York-Northwestern?  Cost is a signal of value, but network power in Ontario is a key asset for you.  [/quote] Thanks for the prompt reply Duncan! I am also thinking the same way. Out of the Canadian B-School partnerships, which do you believe carries more clout? Rotman/Bocconi Queens/Cornell Kellogg/Schulich And would you happen to know if these are pretty much all the same with regards  to course content? Or are there some slight differences which make one program stand out from the other?

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Duncan

13.474 15.108

Posted Mar 13, 2021 22:39

There are big differences but it would take a conversation to review them all and relate the differences to your needs. Unless you are working in luxury, Bocconi doesn't make much sense. Personally, I think most people are better off with the Kellogg programme or Cornell.

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laurie

1.085 549

Posted Mar 16, 2021 15:41

The Ivey EMBA isn't on your radar?

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n2410155

3 6

Posted Mar 25, 2021 03:18

The Ivey EMBA isn't on your radar?

Hi Laurie, at this point - no it is not.

[quote]The Ivey EMBA isn't on your radar? [/quote] Hi Laurie, at this point - no it is not.

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n2410155

3 6

Posted Mar 25, 2021 03:24

There are big differences but it would take a conversation to review them all and relate the differences to your needs. Unless you are working in luxury, Bocconi doesn't make much sense. Personally, I think most people are better off with the Kellogg programme or Cornell.

Thanks for the reply Duncan. I have narrowed it down to the two programmes:

1) Rotman-Bocconi GEMBA
2) Schulich/Kellogg EMBA

I am really torn between the two. I'm wanting to do the GEMA because its primarily modular - making it much easier for me to manage time off and minimize flight costs.

If you were to narrow down on a Canadian school basis - which Business School ranks #1? Schulich or Rotman - my intention is to stay in Canada.

I did check the 1 year Rotman EMBA, but again - the scheduling is condensed in one year and too intense - with regards to ongoing work commitments.

So far my interaction with the Rotman admissions team has been A+, whereas I haven't had the first interview with Schulich as the booking is further out in mid April.

[quote]There are big differences but it would take a conversation to review them all and relate the differences to your needs. Unless you are working in luxury, Bocconi doesn't make much sense. Personally, I think most people are better off with the Kellogg programme or Cornell. [/quote]  Thanks for the reply Duncan. I have narrowed it down to the two programmes: 1) Rotman-Bocconi GEMBA 2) Schulich/Kellogg EMBA I am really torn between the two. I'm wanting to do the GEMA because its primarily modular - making it much easier for me to manage time off and minimize flight costs. If you were to narrow down on a Canadian school basis - which Business School ranks #1? Schulich or Rotman - my intention is to stay in Canada. I did check the 1 year Rotman EMBA, but again - the scheduling is condensed in one year and too intense - with regards to ongoing work commitments. So far my interaction with the Rotman admissions team has been A+, whereas I haven't had the first interview with Schulich as the booking is further out in mid April.

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Duncan

13.474 15.108

Posted Mar 25, 2021 07:45

I appreciate that this is tricky. The GEMBA is also attractive if you have a global customer base, since there is a lot of working possible around those block weeks.

Schulich Kellogg is a much better EMBA and its arguably always been the number one in Canada. Rotman is arguably a stronger school for come industries. However, Kellogg adds much more to this value proposition than SDA Bocconi. I do appreciate that 19 trips to Toronto and Chicago over 18 months is twice as many flights. As pedagogy, it's superior. It really serves your goal of moving to Ontario and gives you a better network from your class and other EMBA cohorts.

I don't think you should kill yourself with travel, but the fact that the Kellogg degree is even cheaper than the GEMBA seems to be a fair compensation for the extra travel time.

I appreciate that this is tricky. The GEMBA is also attractive if you have a global customer base, since there is a lot of working possible around those block weeks.  Schulich Kellogg is a much better EMBA and its arguably always been the number one in Canada. Rotman is arguably a stronger school for come industries. However, Kellogg adds much more to this value proposition than SDA Bocconi. I do appreciate that 19 trips to Toronto and Chicago over 18 months is twice as many flights. As pedagogy, it's superior. It really serves your goal of moving to Ontario and gives you a better network from your class and other EMBA cohorts.  I don't think you should kill yourself with travel, but the fact that the Kellogg degree is even cheaper than the GEMBA seems to be a fair compensation for the extra travel time.

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n2410155

3 6

Posted Mar 25, 2021 17:11

Appreciate the prompt feedback Duncan. I have passed the preliminary assesement at Kellog/Schulich and have an appointment with their admissions Director in April. There is one other tidbit which could be problematic - they require a GMAT score - their website has no mention of an executive test or a condensed test - this could be a deal breaker. I really dont want to get into having to prepare and write the GMAT - mainly due to time and preparation - but I suppose that is just me throwing obstacles in front of progression....

[Edited by n2410155 on Mar 25, 2021]

Appreciate the prompt feedback Duncan. I have passed the preliminary assesement at Kellog/Schulich and have an appointment with their admissions Director in April. There is one other tidbit which could be problematic - they require a GMAT score - their website has no mention of an executive test or a condensed test  - this could be a deal breaker. I really dont want to get into having to prepare and write the GMAT - mainly due to time and preparation - but I suppose that is just me throwing obstacles in front of progression....

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Duncan

13.474 15.108

Posted Mar 25, 2021 19:14

See page 5 at https://schulich.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EMBA-Application-Guide-2022-FINAL-Mar-4-2021.pdf

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n2410155

3 6

Posted Apr 07, 2021 19:06

See page 5 at https://schulich.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EMBA-Application-Guide-2022-FINAL-Mar-4-2021.pdf

Hi Duncan, I have been invited to apply with a GMAT waiver. So now its essentially between the two Business Schools I mentioned earlier.

[quote]See page 5 at https://schulich.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EMBA-Application-Guide-2022-FINAL-Mar-4-2021.pdf  [/quote] Hi Duncan, I have been invited to apply with a GMAT waiver. So now its essentially between the two Business Schools I mentioned earlier.

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Duncan

13.474 15.108

Posted Apr 07, 2021 19:53

Kellogg-Schulich all the way. Way better for your specific goals.

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Duncan

13.474 15.108

Posted Apr 07, 2021 19:58

Plus, with Kellogg you get both the business school network and the whole Northwestern network, and they all speak English, but with Bocconi you just get the Bocconiani, and a lot of them don't.

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