by Zenab Matloob, Recruitment and Admissions Manager, Executive MBA
A good thing to do before you fill in your application is to get a grasp of the different elements that make up an Executive MBA (EMBA) application and what the committee members are looking for whilst reading through the different parts.
CV
The first thing that we see when initially reviewing your application, is your CV/resume. By reading through your CV we are able to take a quick glance into your background, your academics, and your work experience along with any hobbies that you may have. Therefore, this is the starting point of us assessing your eligibility for the programme.
Essay Questions
All applications that are submitted for a London Business School programme contain three essay questions and these are specific to the programme for which you are applying. The essay questions give us a chance to get to know all our applicants on a personal level therefore we look for your personal outlook on the programme, your level of self-awareness, and your collaborative skills.
References
All applications contain two references and we always advise applicants to ensure that one of the two references is completed by your current line manager. This is because your line manager is someone you work with on a daily basis, so no one would know your way of working as well as they do. Furthermore it ensures the committee that your company is informed of your application to the programme.
Transcripts
Transcripts allow us to take note of any academic or professional qualifications that you hold, allowing us to assess your academic abilities in the past, up until any professional qualifications that may have received more recently. Furthermore seeing copies of your transcripts also confirms your achievement of the academics you have listed in your application.
GMAT/EA/GRE
The GMAT, EA and GRE allow us to assess your academic ability at the time of your submission. The tests are split into two key parts of Quants and Verbal. These skillsets are what you will need the most whilst completing the EMBA, therefore the score itself and the balance between all sections of the tests is what is key for us. There is a different score for the GMAT, GRE and EA that students are expected to achieve, you can discuss this further by getting in touch with someone from our recruitment team.
Application Form
All of the above key components are attached to the actual application form itself. In the application form we are able to assess extensive details about you, that would not necessarily be visible in the documents you provide us with. Therefore, it is full of a wide range of questions from your current roles and responsibilities, to your hobbies, a reflection of your academic abilities and so on.
It is important to remember when submitting your application that the Admissions Committee takes a ‘holistic approach’ when processing all applications. Therefore we assess every individual’s assets as a whole, before inviting them in for an interview. Similarly, we review both the application and the interview feedback before making a final decision.