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Frequently Asked Questions
General Program Questions
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How is the Executive MBA different from the evening or weekend program?
- Are there scholarships
available?
- Is this an
accredited degree I’ll receive?
- Are the
Executive MBA professors Smith School faculty?
- What kind of
access will I have to professors?
- How much of the
program is done online?
- Are there electives?
- Do I need to have a laptop?
- What is the cost of the
EMBA Program?
- How can I learn more
about the program?
Schedule/Logistics
- When do classes meet?
- Where are classes held?
- How many hours a
week will I be in class?
- What about homework?
- What’s the
timeframe for each session/semester?
- Are there any vacation breaks?
- Do you have
Residence Sessions? Where are they?
-
What if I travel a long distance to attend classes? Where can I stay?
-
Do I have to stay at the Greenbelt Marriott? What if I live near by?
Application and Admission Questions
- What are the required
qualifications?
- Do I have to take the GMAT?
-
Are there any pre-skill courses I can take to be ready for the program?
- Who in
my company should I talk to about sponsoring me?
- How do I
explain the program benefits to my company?
- Is financial aid available?
Assessment Center (AC) Questions
- What will I be doing at the
AC?
- Which of my skills will
be assessed?
General Program Questions
How is the Executive MBA different from the evening or weekend program?
The main differences are in the class characteristics, program structure and
program duration.
Class Characteristics: Each cohort is made up of seasoned
professionals with broad management experience.
A profile of a current Executive MBA class:
- Average of 15 years of professional experience
- Average age is 39
- Executive and general management, IT, sales/marketing, human capital,
law, finance, government, non-profit, and accounting are some of the sectors
represented.
Program Structure: Executive MBA courses are
carefully crafted to cover business problems and concepts from the perspective
of high-level company decision makers. The program is made up of three unique
but interrelated and interdependent components:
- The Foundation – Smith School’s strong MBA core courses establish
a broad functional knowledge framework for participants to build on.
- The Project – The Action Learning Projects allow participants to
tie their learning directly to specific company needs by tackling a real
time problem currently facing the participant's company. Projects focus on
Business Process Reengineering, Change Management/Leadership, and
Entrepreneurship.
- Mastery – This component covers a range of topic areas related to
leadership and management excellence. A formalized leadership development
program complete with individualized executive coaching is integrated into
the curriculum.
Program Duration: The Executive MBA is completed in
19 months (versus 28 to 36 for the evening or weekend MBA programs).
Participants will receive comprehensive administrative support from executive
education staff.
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Are there
scholarships available?
Yes. The school offers partial merit-based scholarships designed to help
executives attain their career and leadership goals. Executives in all
industries are encouraged to apply. Scholarship applications will be accepted
until June 15, 2009 for the class beginning in January 2010. Applicants will be
judged on merit and an essay.
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Is this
an accredited degree I’ll receive?
Yes. The Smith School of Business is accredited by the AACSB (American
Association of Collegiate Schools of Business) and your diploma will read
Masters of Business Administration.
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Are the
Executive MBA professors Smith School faculty?
Yes. The same faculty that teach the full- and part-time MBA students will be
teaching the Executive MBA course. In addition, influential visiting speakers
will participate in special presentations and group discussions.
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What
kind of access will I have to professors?
All professors will be available online and through scheduled appointments.
You will work one-on-one with a Smith faculty member for your Action Learning
Project, and each participant will have an executive coach they will work with
throughout the entire 19-month program.
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How much of
the program is done online?
None of the course work is done online. All teaching happens in the
classroom. Groups, however, may choose to work virtually between classes.
Virtual team interaction and group collaboration are facilitated through
Blackboard.
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Are there electives?
At two points during the program, EMBA students will have the opportunity to
delve into electives. Faculty prepare a list of possible electives and then
cohort members vote on the classes to take.
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Do I need to have a
laptop?
Yes. The laptop should have a wireless network card (802.11 G preferred) and
Microsoft Office installed.
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What is the
cost of the EMBA Program?
Executive MBA tuition is $94,000, including a $2,000 nonrefundable deposit.
Tuition is all-inclusive and covers all books and required materials, student
and administrative fees, parking, accommodations, and all meals. There is no
differentiation between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
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How can I
learn more about the program?
We are hosting information sessions throughout the Washington, D.C., metro
area. You may also contact us with questions at 301-405-9559 or
embainfo@rhsmith.umd.edu.
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Schedule/Logistics
When do classes meet?
Classes generally run Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Classes are
held every other weekend. There will be dinner and evening sessions most Friday
nights.
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Where are classes held?
Classes are held at Van Munching Hall on the College Park campus. Breakfast,
dinner and evening sessions will be at the Greenbelt Marriott
where participants reside during the weekend sessions.
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How many
hours a week will I be in class?
You will be actively engaged in academic work for up to 21.5 hours each
session (every other week). In addition to class, you will be spending time in
team meetings and other group work.
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What about homework?
You will average approximately one hour of class out of class work for each
hour spent in class plus approximately five hours per week for the Action
Learning Project.
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What’s the timeframe for each session/semester?
The program is divided info five terms, each lasting between 12 and 14 weeks.
The Action Learning take place in terms 2, 3 and 4.
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Are there any
vacation breaks?
No, this is an accelerated program. There is, however, a short break between
each term with no deliverables.
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Do
you have Residence Sessions? Where are they?
During each weekend block of classes, participants will reside at a
conference center on or near campus. The program begins and ends with one week
residencies.
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What if I travel a long distance to attend classes? Where can I stay?
All participants will be housed at the Greenbelt Marriott. These
accommodations, along with meals, are included as part of the tuition and
required as part of the program. Arrangements can be made for early arrivals.
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Do I have to stay at the
Greenbelt Marriott? What if I live near by?
Staying with your classmates is a required part of the program and most teams
will appreciate the chance to work together onsite. It is also the perfect
opportunity to build personal and professional ties that will last a lifetime.
Accommodations, along with meals are included as part of the tuition.
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Application and Admission Questions
What are the
required qualifications?
Most of our applicants are individuals with at least a 4 year undergraduate
degree with a 3.0 GPA, between eight and twenty years of professional experience
and significant management experience. Each candidate will be reviewed as a
unique individual and the sum of his or her experiences evaluated during the
admissions process.
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Do I have to take the
GMAT?
The GMAT is not a mandatory requirement. Because we limit the size of each
class to no more than 40 participants, we are able to evaluate each applicant on
an individual and very personal basis. However, applicants must demonstrate an
ability to successfully complete quantitative course work. Candidates without
demonstrated success in undergraduate or graduate quantitative course work may
be asked to demonstrate abilities in other ways (e.g., GMAT).
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Are there any pre-skill courses I can take to be ready for the program?
Ivy software offers online diagnostics and CD-based prep courses in finance,
accounting, statistics and mathematics. Please contact us if you are interested
in using their services.
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Who in my
company should I talk to about sponsoring me?
Choosing to take part in an Executive MBA program is about your own personal
growth, as well as how your participation can help the company grow. Seek out
support at the highest levels – not just your immediate supervisor – and be
ready to point out the extra benefits of the Smith Executive Program,
specifically the Action Learning Project.
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How do I explain
the program benefits to my company?
While most executive education programs talk about students being able to
immediately apply newfound knowledge to workplace situations, Smith makes such a
connection even more immediate and relevant. From the start, the Action Learning
Project allows participants to tackle a real time issue facing their company as
part of their coursework. The company will have a team of Executive MBA students
and Smith faculty applying knowledge and manpower to company issues. This is
more than just an immediate return on investment from the sponsored employee –
the company is essentially receiving full-blown consulting services at a minimal
price. In addition, the Mastery coursework will have an immediate impact on your
managerial and leadership skills.
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Is financial aid
available?
The Robert H. Smith School of Business does not offer financial aid for the
Executive MBA. First, work with your company to see if they are willing to cover
part or all of your tuition. If you will be covering all or part of your tuition
you may want to investigate financial aid options available to MBA students.
Assistance is available through the
Office of Financial
Aid - our contact is Yvette Twiggs and she can be reached at 301-405-7022.
The Smith School of Business awards scholarships based on scholastic merit,
evidence of leadership, and work experience. All applicants to the EMBA whose
applications are complete by July 15, 2009 receive automatic consideration.
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Assessment Center (AC) Questions
What will I be
doing at the AC?
Throughout the day you will be participating in a series of exercises that
will require you to assume a variety of leadership roles. Common types of
simulations include:
- In-Basket Exercises (in which participants are asked to deal with the
administrative tasks - memos, reports, etc. - associated with senior level
managerial jobs);
- Interview Simulations (in which participants are asked to meet with
direct reports, customers, etc.);
- Leaderless Group Discussions (in which participants meet with coworkers
to resolve a particular problem); and
- Presentation Exercises (in which participants analyze a particular
problem and offer recommendations). You will also be asked to complete a
couple of standardized tests.
During the AC orientation you will be provided more specific information
about the day's activities.
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Which of my
skills will be assessed?
The AC simulations are designed to tap a variety of competencies critical for
leadership success, including: Oral Communication, Interpersonal Sensitivity,
Customer Service Orientation, Analysis/Problem-Solving, Strategic Thinking,
Judgment/Decision Making, Decisiveness, Process Leadership, Persuasion and
Influence, Dealing with Conflict, Teamwork, Initiative, Delegation, Coaching and
Developing, Planning and Organizing, Self Confidence, and Stress Tolerance.
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