Admissions
What in the minimum required TOEFL for entry to the 2-year MBA
program at Goizueta?
We prefer that candidates
have received at least a 100 on the TOEFL, but it is not a minimum because we
have, in fact, admitted applicants who score below that level. We take a
holistic approach to reading an applicant’s application file and consider not
only the total TOEFL score, but place special emphasis on the Speaking results
as it can often be more enlightening than the total score in predicting a
candidate’s ability to contribute in Goizueta’s small, intimate learning
community.
Has your admissions team gotten a handle on the new IR section of
the GMAT? What are you looking for here?
We don’t have enough data yet
to determine how the scores translate or predict how an applicant will perform
in our program. We just enrolled the
first batch of students who took the IR, only a small number of applicants, so
in the coming year we will be analyzing their academic performance relative
their IR scores. Based on our knowledge
of the IR assessment, what we’re looking for is a comfort level with reviewing
and synthesizing data which is a key skill that MBAs need. So far we’ve used a high score on the IR to
support admission for an applicant whose quantitative GMAT score or
undergraduate grades in quantitative courses are mixed or concerns us. A strong IR score helps an applicant but so
far we’ve not really penalized applicants with mid-range scores. A weak/poor IR score is not viewed
positively.
What are your expectations for the verbal section of the GMAT? Is 30
a target to be achieved?
For international applicants,
yes, at least a 30 (or 57% on the verbal GMAT) would be a good target to be
achieved—of course, in combination with a solid TOEFL speaking and overall
reasonable score on TOEFL. However, a 30 on the GMAT verbal section will not compensate
for a poor total TOEFL score.
Curriculum
The One-Year MBA program doesn't offer an internship. Does that mean
it's intended only for those wishing to graduate into the same industry? What
are some other differences between the 1-year and 2-year programs you'd like to
highlight?
First, let me share that our
One Year MBA program offers the same degree, shares the same faculty and
curriculum components (leadership, management practice, experiential learning,
etc.) with our Two Year MBA program.
The One-Year MBA program is
intended for those who are not making a dramatic career switch which would
necessitate a summer internship. But,
that does not always mean that they are staying in the same industry or
functional area. For example, a candidate who is working as a CPA and wants to
use the MBA to transition to a career in corporate finance (different function
and different industry) would be an ideal One-Year applicant. But, that same CPA who wants to use the MBA
to transition to a career in investment banking would not be a good One-Year
applicant because investment firms make their full time offers to candidates in
their summer internship programs. So,
career paths ideal for One Year MBA candidates include: consulting, corporate finance, real estate,
health care, marketing analytics, family business, entrepreneurship and
leadership development programs. Career
paths that are not typically the best match for the One Year include investment
banking and brand management.
The One-Year Program provides
an intensive summer curriculum after which the class of approximately 50
students integrates fully with Two-Year MBA Program students.
Does the Goizueta MBA mix case studies with lectures? What's the
balance between the two and why do you feel that balance works best?
Yes, Goizueta MBA faculty
employ a mixed teaching method, employing lectures, group work, project-based
experiential learning and case study method in the classroom. I believe our mixed teaching method enables
our faculty to convey the course material in the manner that they believe will
be most effective.
Student Profile
The 2-year MBA has about 150 students, and so has got to be one of
the smaller class sizes of respected U.S. programs. Any plans to grow this?
No, we have no plans to
significantly grow our Two Year MBA enrollment.
We seek to enroll between 150-170 students each fall as we believe it is
a key advantage for us, enabling Goizueta to remain nimble and also to most
effectively implement our management practice electives.
It is noted that the One-Year MBA program looks for applicants from
business, economics and engineering backgrounds. How about the 2-year program?
Applicants from all academic
backgrounds are encouraged to apply to our Two Year MBA program.
The Experience
How does Atlanta add value to the program?
Atlanta, which is #3 in the
US for Fortune 500 Headquarters, is a fantastic resource for our faculty and
students. Our location gives our faculty
easy access to a wide array of class speakers and also is a plentiful source of
real-world projects for our management practice (experiential learning)
courses.
Do students live on or off campus? What options do they have?
Attractive and affordable
housing options are plentiful near Emory’s campus. Most of our MBA students
live off-campus, in the graduate apartment complex owned by Emory or other high
quality apartment complexes close to campus.
Most apartment communities have many nice amenities including security,
tennis courts, swimming pool and beautiful landscaping. Students can also rent condominiums in
Decatur which is a community just 5 minutes from campus.
A big plus for our students
is that, relative to other major cities in the USA, Atlanta is one of the most
affordable places to live.
Any final thoughts about the Goizueta experience and/or admissions?
Goizueta offers MBA
candidates a transformative academic experience. Our program is rigorous but operates within a
supportive and collegial learning environment.
We pride ourselves on fully preparing our graduates for the career
search process and for Day One job readiness.
Our strong career results confirm our success in this area.
Thanks very much
Julie!
John Couke
