Battle of Prestige: FT MBA vs EMBA vs Part-Time MBA

Before you jump to conclusions that the notion of this post is meant to be followed by ultra snarky comments, inducing this type of dialog is not my intent.

Rather, my intent is to understand, all things equal, how each type of MBA program's reputation is viewed against one another and if a distinction should be made when talking about how one obtained their MBA degree.

Here is the scenario:

Let's say you're at a networking event. You meet "A", "B", and "C". Each are at the same firm, attended the same top business school, and completed their FT MBA, EMBA, and Part-Time MBA, respectively. They are each 30 years old and did their MBA's at different stages in their career.

- Given the scenario, what would be your first impression on each person's overall business ability?

- After a few years does it really matter if you got a FT MBA vs EMBA vs Part-Time MBA at a top business school?

I'm considering getting an EMBA or Part-Time MBA because I don't want to switch industries and I might have my education paid for my my employer.

However, I'm wondering, will I say, "I got my MBA from Top School XYZ" and question whether I should really say "I got my EMBA from Top School XYZ". I know it's petty, but should there be a distinction?

The bottom line is if I go the EMBA route, will I be missing out?

 

swagger is something you either have (or developed over a period) or don't. you don't obtain swagger by doing a FT MBA. The people that think they've "obtained swagger" from getting an M7 MBA have really only obtained douchiness.

 

My stereotypical expectations: (assuming no other factors involved)

  • FT MBA: relatively early in career, still retains much passionate for different types or work, willing to consider switching to a very different (and unique) career, single, party-goers, extroverts
  • EMBA: already established and accomplished in career, have lots of wisdom about career and life, powerful, convincing, well-connected
  • PT MBA: married, have family / kids, conservative, lifestyle valued over compensation
 

I just think you're looking at it the wrong way. The reason to get any type of MBA is to further advance your career.

Obviously a FT MBA opens more doors to opportunities, but if the EMBA serves the purpose for your goals, go for it. Don't only choose a program for its name, even if it means you can say you got your MBA there.

 
Best Response

If the school is constant, the only difference between programs is selectivity right? Because generally speaking the selectivity goes: FT>PT>EMBA. However, that doesn't say much except possibly the age when that person got their MBA. Business ability is a matter of knowledge and experience. Getting into a top program FT doesn't necessarily mean that someone has more "business knowledge", it just means that they had a work history and profile that the adcom liked and a good looking GMAT. The PT guy could have had the same, but maybe his company paid for it which is why he (she) went PT. An executive probably just wanted a promotion or wanted some more depth industry insight. I don't think you can compare prestige because it's apples to oranges for the most part.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

FT P.H.D or FT M.B.A. Programs are 10x better than PT programs. You get out in about 2 years, and you make a lot more moolah in the end. If you MUST work, the PT is better than nothing. but if you have a choice, my friend, go with FT.

 

If you check the admission stats on the Business Week rankings website, you will see that PT MBA program in the SAME SCHOOL generally has average GMAT which is 70 points lower than FT MBA program in the same school. If you happen to be working in a town like Chicago or New York City and you cannot get into the FT programs like Booth, Kellog, Columbia, Stern, then the PT programs at these schools offers a very attractive option to get the SAME MBA DEGREE (PT is not mentioned on the degree). FT is definitely better from career standpoint (probably because the FT students are smarter). Many employers pay full tuition for PT MBA, so you could save $180 K MBA debt + two years salary.

 

only go PT if the firm you work for is paying for it fully, otherwise the reason you are going (to get a diff job) is nullified in the end by a lack of career services

FT people at NYU get access to career services and OCR, part timers get nothing... 'on campus recruiting isnt the only way to get a job you can network too' to quote them

 

Depends on the school. I'm doing Ross PT...will be done next Dec (3 yrs). I couldn't afford to quit work to go to school. With Ross though, we get all the benefits of the FT student when it comes to OCR...I thought this would be the case with most schools but I've come to find out that its not. The only think that PT students are barred from is "bidding" for internship interviews. But most PT students are working full time anyways so most are not looking to get internships to begin with.

 

You also want to see if you can transfer into the full time program from the part time at certain stages, some schools allow this. That gives you the flexibility of finishing of the MBA quicker, and maybe even doing an summer internship if you decide to leave your employer.

 
dec-jun-jun:
You also want to see if you can transfer into the full time program from the part time at certain stages, some schools allow this. That gives you the flexibility of finishing of the MBA quicker, and maybe even doing an summer internship if you decide to leave your employer.

Good point. At Ross, as long as you have taken the core classes, and you can prove that you are not working FT anymore, you can transfer to the FT program.

 

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