Despite the current economic climate, the time is “ripe” to pursue an executive MBA degree, according to an article in CFO.com about a recent survey by the Executive MBA Council. The survey showed that 2007 applications to EMBA programs were up by 25% from 2005. Michael Desiderio, executive director of the Executive MBA Council, explained in the article: “When economic times are tough, people want to get the best skills they can get.”
This is certainly the case at Wharton where the EMBA program has seen a record number of applicants. One reason Wharton remains a top program for applicants is that it is equal to Wharton’s full-time MBA program in terms of academic qualification and selectivity, faculty and classroom experience, core curriculum, program length (two years), cost, access to Wharton’s alumni network, and potential long-term career value. Even for the students who attend the program in San Francisco at Wharton West, they still have the same faculty as the East Coast students. Wharton faculty actually fly to San Francisco every other week to teach their courses!
This year, the entering classes on both coasts are very impressive. The 115 East Coast students have an average of 10 years of work experience and almost half already hold an advanced degree. Nearly 25% are women; 35% are international students; 66% are sponsored by an employer. Most commute from the Northeast Corridor — Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, DC and Virginia, but some travel from other states such as Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Others come in from outside the U.S. – Bermuda, Canada and even as far away as India! Many members of the class work in the finance, high tech and consulting industries, but students also work in fields as varied as aerospace, energy, real estate, and telecommunications.
On the West Coast, the average age is the same as their East Coast counterparts: 34. The class of 93 students, 25% of whom are women, has an average of 10 years work experience with 44% holding advanced degrees and 43% sponsored by employers. Most West students come from the software development, health care and technology industries, but many also work in areas such as financial services, marketing, consulting and retail. The majority of the students commute to San Francisco from the Silicon Valley and Bay Area, but some travel from Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego) and other states such as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Washington and Texas.
For more information about the East and West Coast Wharton Executives MBA Classes, go to: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mbaexecutive/community/class_profile/class_profile.cfm where you’ll find detailed profile statistics.