Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q. Are there electives?
Q. Can I major in a particular subject?
Q. How do the students from the three campuses interact?
Q. How long does the program take?
Q. What's the minimum age requirement?
Q. What is required to apply for admission?
Q. What degree will I earn?
Q. Who teaches in the program?
Q. Will I be required to spend time on other campuses?
Admissions
Q. When will I be notified of the acceptance decision?
Q. Can I defer admission?
Q. Do I need to take either the GMAT or GRE examinations?
Q. Is an interview required?
Q. How long is the interview, with whom do I interview, and what types of questions are asked?
Q. Is it possible to apply without currently being employed?
Q. Is it possible to be admitted without a university degree?
Q. Is there additional material that I need to include since I did not graduate from an American university?
Q. Is there an application fee?
Q. May I apply online?
Q. What are the application deadlines?
Q. What are the required materials that need to accompany the application?
Q. What should be the content of the company sponsored letter?
Q. Who should write the letters of recommendation?
Information about the Program
Q. How can I prepare for the MBA course?
Q. Is there an orientation before classes begin?
Q. When do we receive our course materials and books?
Q. What is the typical profile of the MBA student?
Q. When does the program begin?
Q. Are students allowed to contact the professors and teaching assistants during and after each session?
Q. Are the professors the same as the Chicago program?
Q. Do I need a laptop computer?
Q. Do you have an alumni network?
Q. Does the GSB accept credits from other institutions?
Q. Does the GSB use case studies?
Q. How are the students divided into study groups?
Q. How are the one-week sessions structured?
Q. How do professors evaluate the students?
Q. How large is each class?
Q. How long is each subject?
Q. How many hours can I expect to spend studying each week?
Q. In addition to traveling to my home campus, is there other travel?
Q. Is it possible to visit the campus before I apply?
Q. Is this a distance learning program?
Q. What happens if I have to miss a week of classes?
Q. May I study at the campus during weeks in which class is not in session?
Q. What are the main differences between a full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA?
Q. Who can I contact to find out first hand about the GSB experience?
Q. Will I receive an e-mail account from GSB?
Financial Information
Q. How much is tuition?
Q. If I decide to withdraw from the program will the tuition be refunded?
Q. Is company financial sponsorship required?
Q. My employer and I are splitting the cost of the program. Are there special arrangements for this?
Q. What is included in the tuition and fees?
Q. Can you invoice my employer?
Q. Do you provide financial aid?
Q. When is tuition due?
Career Management Services
Q. Do you offer career management services?
Q. What services does CDO provide?
Q. Is on-Campus recruiting provided?
Languages
Q. Is the program taught in English?
Q. Do I need any other language besides English for the program?
Q. Do I need to take the TOEFL exam if my native language is not English?
Q. What are the required scores on the TOEFL exam?
General
Are there elective courses in the program?
Yes. Each student takes two elective courses, chosen from a list of 10 to 12 courses offered each year. In the past, these electives have focused topics such as Entrepreneurship, Private Equity, Options and Futures, Advanced Marketing, and Creative Leadership.
Can I major in a particular subject?
The Executive Program is designed as a general management program. All students take a set of courses that cover all aspects of business, from accounting to strategy and leadership. There are no majors or concentrations in the program.
How do students from the three campuses interact?
All students from all three campuses begin the program together in late June at the Chicago campus. In addition, during the second summer of the program, students from the three campuses work and study together as part of the international exchange sessions. A total of four weeks—25 percent of the program—will be spent working with students from the other two campuses. It’s a great way to build an international network.
How long does the program take?
The program begins in late June and runs 21 months, concluding in March.
What’s the minimum age requirement?
There is no minimum age or experience level, although the average student is in their mid- to late 30s with 13 to 15 years of experience. Depending on the quality of experience and the ability to contribute to the program, we have admitted students in their late 20s or early 30s as well.
What is required to apply for admission?
- A completed application (online or paper)
- Essays
- Resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts from any academic institution that has granted you a degree
- A personal interview
- Digital photograph (passport style)
- A $100 application fee
After admittance, a letter of support from your company acknowledging the time you will be away from your job must be submitted.
The GMAT is NOT required as part of the Executive Program application. Given the age and experience level of our applicants, we find that career history is a more important measure of potential than a standardized test.
What degree will I earn? Is it the same as the degree from the full time MBA program?
Students who complete the Executive Program earn a University of Chicago MBA— the same degree awarded in all of our other MBA programs.
Who teaches in the program?
The entire program is taught by the same University of Chicago faculty who teach in our other MBA programs.
Will I be required to spend time on the other campuses?
Yes, all students will spend at least two different weeks in Chicago, one week in Singapore and one week in London.
Admissions
When will I be notified of the acceptance decision?
Admissions decision take approximately 4-6 weeks from the time the application is completed and submitted (including the interview)
Can I defer admission?
Students may request a deferral for up to one year.
Do I need to take either the GMAT or GRE examinations?
Neither examination is required, but applicants with insufficient academic background could be asked to take the GMAT.
Is an interview required?
An interview is required as part of the application process. Admissions interviews (45 minutes - 1 hour) can be scheduled at any time in the application process; however, we ask that you have your essays and resume submitted prior to the scheduled interview date.
The interview assists the Admissions Committee to assess a candidate's interpersonal skills, motivation, and other qualities difficult to gauge from written information only.
How long is the interview, with whom do I interview, and what types of questions are asked?
The interview usually lasts about an hour. You may meet with an admissions staff member or an alumni of the program. The interview questions will center on your work experience, desire to pursue the MBA and extra-curricular activities. There is no specific preparation required for the interview. All interviews are conducted on-site.
Is it possible to apply without currently being employed?
The program is designed for those who are employed full-time.
Is it possible to be admitted without a university degree?
The formal admissions requirement does call for a university degree. However, exceptions have been made with applicants who have displayed an impressive professional and/or personal track record.
Is there additional material that I need to include since I did not graduate from a American university?
Applicants who received a degree from a university outside of the U.S. must submit a certified copy of the diploma/certificate as well as an official transcript (list of courses and the qualification received) of the diploma. These documents also to be accompanied with a certified English translation.
Is there an application fee?
All applicants are required to submit a non refundable US$100 application fee. This can be paid by bank transfer, check, or credit card.
May I apply online?
Online applications are available now.
Deadlines to apply for the summer 2008 entering class are:
Final Deadline
April 1, 2008
*Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as there are limited seats in each class. For more information, contact Admissions at the campus you are applying to.
Applications that have completed the admissions requirements by the posted deadline dates will receive a confirmation via e-mail within 1 week. Applications submitted at any other time will be contacted by the Admissions department within 2 weeks to confirm receipt of the application. At this time, the applicant will also be given a timeframe he or she can expect to wait for the final acceptance answer. Please note that in some cases, applicants can be asked to wait for an admission decision.
What are the required materials that need to accompany the application?
You will need to send in the application form, essay answers, three letters of recommendation, official transcript(s) of studies, and a digital photograph (or two passport size photos).
Should you be admitted, you are also required to send a company support letter guaranteeing that your company will allow you time off need to attend the class sessions.
What should be the content of the company sponsored letter?
Time commitment is required from the applicant's employer. The letter should state that the company would provide you weeks away from work to attend the 16 one-week sessions. The letter may also include details of financial support, though this information is optional.
Who should write the letters of recommendation?
One letter must come from your direct supervisor. The other two may come from past supervisors, colleagues, or previous professors.
Information about the Program
How can I prepare for the MBA course?
There is a Pre-MBA Review course offered to students who feel they could use preparation in accounting and mathematics. More information will be provided about this course to admitted studies a few months prior to the start of the program.
Is there an orientation before classes begin?
Yes, an orientation is held in Chicago the day before the start of the first session. It will provide students all they need to know to prepare for the rest of program.
When do we receive our course materials and books?
For the very first session, course materials will be sent to the students. All subsequent material will be picked-up by the students at their local campuses during study sessions.
What is the typical profile of the MBA student?
We usually admit approximately 90 students per class.
Our typical MBA class profile have people, who on average, hold 14-16 years of work experience and who are in their early to late thirties. Men make up approximately 75% of the class.
Approximately 35% of these students come from a general management background, with the second largest group having accounting and finance backgrounds. Sales and marketing, information technology, engineering, operations management and law make up the balance.
When does the program begin?
A new class begins every late June/early July and lasts 21 months.
Are students allowed to contact the professors and teaching assistants during and after each session?
Yes, students have access to professors and their teaching assistants. In addition, all campuses have Teaching Assistants to help students in any academically-related questions in their courses.
Are the professors the same as the Chicago program?
Yes, the GSB has the same faculty pool for all of its MBA programs (Full-time; weekend and evenings; EMBA programs in Chicago, London and Singapore)
Do I need a laptop computer?
Although not required, laptops are highly recommended. The campuses have computers available for student use.
Do you have an alumni network?
Yes, the GSB has a large and highly active alumni base. An important source to tap into this alumni group is the Community Directory, an on-line database search tool that is available to all MBA students and alumni of the GSB.
Does the GSB accept credits from other institutions?
For this particular program the GSB does not accept credits from any other institutions.
Does the GSB use case studies?
Yes, case studies are used along with other teaching techniques such as analytical methods and conceptual tools from economics, statistics, behavioral sciences and other academic disciplines.
How are the students divided into study groups?
The study groups are composed of 5-7 students each. The selection for each group is based on the most diversity possible in terms of nationalities, job function, professional industry, and academic background
How are the one-week sessions structured?
Classes are held Monday through Saturday. A daily schedule is as follows:
9:00 – 1:00 – Lecture (1st topic)
1:00 – 3:00 – Lunch Break / Study Time
3:00 – 6:30 – Lecture (2nd topic)
There are usually case studies, readings, quizzes, and/or assignments that students will have to work on in the evening after the second lecture.
How do professors evaluate the students?
Students are usually expected to participate in class, write papers for individual or group assignments, and take a mid-term and final examination. The exact weight of each of these items will be decided by the professor for each class.
How large is each class?
Each class has approximately 90 students.
How long is each subject?
Each subject takes place over 12 sessions including a mid-term exam session and a final exam session. An optional review session is also offered. Two different subjects are taught over the same quarter. At the Chicago campus, a quarter consists of 6 weekends. At the Singapore and London Campuses, a quarter consists of two 1-week sessions.
How many hours can I expect to spend studying each week?
During a session week in the Europe and Asia Programs, you will be on campus full-time for sessions, group work, guest speakers and study time. During non-session weeks, you can expect to spend 10-12 hours each week reading and preparing for assignments and the coming sessions. For the Chicago program, you can expect to spend 10-15 hours each week to prepare for the weekend sessions that take place every other week.
In addition to traveling to my home campus, is there other travel?
Yes, travel to the other campuses is required. Students will spend 2 full weeks in Chicago, 1 week in Singapore and 1 week in London with students from the other campuses. So if your home campus is in London or Asia, you will go to Chicago twice and to the other respective campus one time. If your home campus is in Chicago, then you will travel once to London and once to Asia. You will also have two full week sessions in Chicago with students from the other campuses.
Is it possible to visit the campus before I apply?
Yes, candidates are highly encouraged to visit campus to attend class, meet with current students, professors, and staff members and get acquainted with the campus and the city.
Is this a distance learning program?
No, all classes are taught “face-to-face” by the Chicago GSB faculty.
What happens if I have to miss a week of classes?
You need to inform the school as soon as you anticipate missing any part of the weekly sessions. A decision will be made on a case-by-case basis how you can make up for the segment you missed.
May I study at the campus during weeks in which class is not in session?
Yes, but check with your local campus for hours of operation and to reserve a study room.
What are the main differences between a full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA?
The first difference is that students in our Executive MBA program do not need to stop working to earn their MBA degree. The Executive MBA is offered in two different study formats, weekends in Chicago or modular 1-week sessions in Singapore and London. This allows our students to maintain their current job and place of residence while enrolled in our program.
Second, the student profile of Executive MBA program participants is usually older, with more extensive business experience than in a traditional full-time MBA Program.
Lastly, the Executive MBA curriculum is mostly set, with all students taking the same subjects at the same time. Students in the full-time will have more flexibility to choose their courses because they study full-time for 2 years.
Who can I contact to find out first hand about the GSB experience?
Our alumni are very willing to share their experience with possible Executive MBA students. You can meet them at our Information Sessions, MBA Fairs, and other recruitment events. (Please visit our website for latest list of activities.) Email us for a list of alumni to contact.
Will I receive an e-mail account from GSB?
Yes, all enrolled students will receive an “e-mail-4-life” account, which can be used not only during the program but after graduation as well.
Financial Information
How much is tuition?
Tuition for the Executive MBA Program class starting in June 2008 will be announced in early Spring.
If I decide to withdraw from the program will the tuition be refunded?
This will heavily depend on when you make your decision to withdraw. Final decision for such a request will be examined on a case-by-case basis.
Is company financial sponsorship required?
No, financial sponsorship is not a requirement.
My employer and I are splitting the cost of the program. Are there special arrangements for this?
Yes, special payment arrangements can be made for these situations, though the final responsibility of the tuition rests with the participant (and not the company.)
What is included in the tuition and fees?
Tuition and fees include sessions, course materials, tutoring, daily snacks and specific student activities. For the Chicago Program students, it also includes lodging for the week-long sessions in Chicago (2) and in London and Singapore (1 each). For the Singapore and London Program students, the tuition also includes lodging at the week-long sessions in Chicago (2) and at the campus other than their home campus (1).
Transportation to London, Chicago and Singapore and lodging/meals during home-campus modules are not included.
Can you invoice my employer?
Yes, but again, it is the responsibility of the student to insure that the full tuition is paid to the university in a timely manner.
Do you provide financial aid?
For financial aid assistance, please call or write Priscilla Parker, of Admissions and Financial Aid, in Chicago. Her phone number is +1 773 702 3076 and her e-mail address is priscilla.parker@ChicagoGSB.edu . Also see our website and download the pdf with information.
When is tuition due?
A non-refundable deposit will be required before the start of the program to hold your place. The deposit amount is $5000 for the Chicago and Singapore Programs and £2,500 for the London Program. The balance of the tuition fees is due in quarterly installments throughout the remainder of the program.
Career Management Services
Do you offer career management services?
All Executive MBA Students and Alumni have access to career management services. Career Services offices are established in all three campuses to assist students and GSB alumni.
What services does Career Services provide?
Services include career workshops for a variety of critical skills; lifetime one-on one coaching; a listing of job openings for alumni seeking new professional opportunities; and a resume book that is actively marketed to employers and recruiters.
Is on-Campus recruiting provided?
On-campus job recruitment is not provided.
Languages
Is the program taught in English?
Yes, the entire program and course material is in English.
Do I need any other language besides English for the program?
No, there is no other language requirement.
Do I need to take the TOEFL exam if my native language is not English?
A high level of English proficiency is required for the program. We will assess a candidate4s English proficiency level from his/her completed application as well as during the in-person interview. Dependent upon these results, a candidate may be requested to take the TOEFL exam.
What are the required scores on the TOEFL exam?
For those who need to take the exam, there are two options. There is the computer based-exam or the paper one. The minimum score for the online exam is a total of 250 and no subsection score below 21. The minimum score for the written exam is 600 with no subsection score below 55.
