Following up on our recent post highlighting upcoming Executive MBA (EMBA) deadlines, we’d like to offer a comparison of two prominent New York City-based EMBA programs: NYU Stern and Columbia Business School. With deadlines for these programs quickly approaching, we’re here to explain a few of the differences and highlight the relevant similarities between the two programs.
Of the two programs, NYU Stern’s EMBA, with an average student age of 38 and a range of 28-69 years, is catered more toward older applicants with a great deal of work experience. In some cases, the Stern adcom will even consider allowing applicants with substantial professional experience to waive the GMAT. Although Stern students have backgrounds in a wide variety of industries, approximately 25% of students had a career in accounting and finance before pursuing their degrees. Additionally, international students comprise an impressive 48% of the student body, meaning students are bound to acquire new global perspectives before graduation. Approximately 24% of the Stern student body is comprised of women. The Stern EMBA program takes a total of 22 months to complete, with classes meeting Fridays and Saturdays every other week. Students can enter the program in either August or January.
At Columbia, the average age of an EMBA student is 32, which is significantly younger than the Stern class. Of the 122 member class, 33% are international, while women make up 25% of the group. Similar to Stern, Columbia’s students represent a wide variety of industries – over 16 in the 2009 entering class – with the most popular industry being finance/accounting. The program is a bit shorter than Stern’s, running for a total of 20 months, and, like Stern, classes are held every other Friday and Saturday. As a bonus, Executive MBA students at Columbia receive catered lunches on the days classes are held. Students may enter the program in September or January of each year.
Both programs require that students take a number of core courses, yet allow for students to take a similar number of elective courses in their desired area of specialization. Each school emphasizes delegation and communication skills, and also stresses global experience – Stern requires all students to complete two week-long residencies in international countries, while Columbia offers an “International Seminar” as an elective, an element of which is a week-long study abroad trip.
For more information about the Stern or Columbia EMBA programs, making sure to visit each program’s admissions website. As always, if you are thinking about applying to either program, feel free to contact Clear Admit to learn more about our admissions consulting services.
