We love mythbusting here at the Discover Darden blog, and today we’re back to bust up some of the most common Darden Executive MBA myths.
Myth No. 1: I’m not an Executive so I can’t apply to an Executive MBA Program.
Perhaps the greatest myth of them all.
At Darden, “Executive” does not mean title, organization level or job description. It is not intended to describe the people in our classroom (although, we have had executives in our program). Rather, it simply refers to a format or schedule.
Our executive formats – Executive MBA (EMBA) and Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) – are our options for working professionals, and you do NOT have to be an “Executive” to be in our Executive MBA Program. In fact, our work experience minimum for these formats is five (5) years, and our students typically range in work experience from five to 25+ years,
Curious if our Executive MBA Program may be right for you? Join us in the Washington, DC area for a class visit. A class visit is a great opportunity to observe the case method in action and connect with current students, who were in your shoes not so long ago. As an added bonus, we offer an Executive MBA application fee waiver (a $250 value) for anyone who comes for an Executive MBA class visit.
Myth No. 2: It’s too late to apply.
The timing of the admissions process varies from school to school, and candidates will often wonder if they have missed their opportunity to apply to join our incoming Executive MBA class.
At Darden, we have monthly deadlines, all focused on one start date – August 2020. We offer multiple deadlines to give you maximum flexibility. We have five remaining deadlines – 10 March, 10 April, 10 May, 10 June and 25 June – as we noted on a recent podcast episode, it’s a great time to apply!
Interested in learning more about our application process? Join Director of Admissions, Brett Twitty for an Executive MBA Application Tips webinar this Thursday, 5 March. Learn tips and insights for Executive MBA applicants, including how Darden’s scholarship process works — which brings us to our next myth.
Myth No. 3: There’s no scholarship money remaining.
This myth is one we hear about often. In fact, we still have scholarship money to award, and in recent years, we have been able to make awards throughout our entire admissions cycle.
With that said, we do have more money to award earlier in the cycle, so we encourage you to apply as soon as you feel like you can put together a strong application. While our admissions process is holistic in nature, our scholarship process tends to focus on indicators of academic merit, including, but not limited to: GPA (undergraduate, graduate, etc.), advanced degrees, professional certifications, and standardized test score(s).
Myth No. 4: I have to take the GMAT to apply.
Also a myth! We accept a number of standardized tests in our Executive MBA application process, including the Executive Assessment (EA), GMAT, GRE, MCAT and LSAT. We even waive our standardized test requirement in select circumstances (more on that below…).
Chances are, of the tests listed above, the Executive Assessment is the one that is the least familiar. At Darden, we do not have a standardized test preference, and we encourage candidates to choose the test that best aligns with their strengths and application plans. However, we encourage you to spend some time learning about the EA.
Unlike the GMAT or GRE, the Executive Assessment was designed in consultation with top Executive MBA Programs, specifically with Executive MBA applicants in mind. Most of our applicants who take the EA report spending around 20 hours preparing for the test (compared to the 65+ hours the GMAT/GRE typically require). The EA has been the most popular test among our executive format applicants for two straight years, and EA test takers comprised roughly 40% of our Executive MBA Class of 2021.
- Interested in learning more about this test? Check out our recent Executive Assessment webinar featuring the Graduate Management Admissions Council’s Eric Chambers.
- Curious about our test waiver process? Review our previous blog post about test waiver requests. Waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis, and the most common instances in which we waive our test requirement include having an advanced degree in a quantitative or analytical discipline or a professional certification in an analytical or technical field.
- Wondering if you qualify for a test waiver? There’s no harm in submitting a waiver request! In fact, many applicants will start with a waiver request in order to determine if they will need to take a standardized test in order to apply to Darden.
Myth No. 5: I want to change jobs so an Executive MBA is probably not right for me.
We have dedicated career resources for executive format students, and our Executive MBA and Global Executive MBA students have a wide range of career goals, including switching jobs, climbing within their organization, starting their own business or even exploring a few of these potential paths. In fact, many prospective students are surprised to learn that roughly 60% of our students identify as career switchers, and this number typically grows as students progress through the program.
There are many reasons for this, but one of the most compelling goes something like this: How you see yourself and what you feel you are capable of changes significantly during the program. Many of our students decided to pursue their MBA for the technical skills, but they will tell you they also got something much deeper and more personal out of the experience.
Interested in learning more about our career resources? We have a number of upcoming career-focused webinars, and we recently sat down with Career Coach Jim Collins on the ExecMBA Podcast to break down the recent Executive MBA Class of 2019 Employment Report. During this episode, we dig into the data, but we also talk a lot about the Darden Career Development Center’s coaching approach and the impact of the program on students’ career interests.
Career Webinar: Your Personal Brand
Tuesday, 17 March | 12:30 pm EDT
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Career Webinar: World Class Resumes
Wednesday, 29 April | 12:30 pm EDT
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Career Webinar: Three Key Tips for Career Switchers
Wednesday, 13 May | 12:30 pm EDT
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Career Webinar: Three Key Tips for Climbers
Wednesday, 2 June | 12:30 pm
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Pro Tip: Executive MBA Programs do vary in terms of career resources, so you should definitely ask any working professionals program you are considering how they support their students and their career goals.
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