EMBA Frequently Asked Questions
Olin’s Executive MBA team would be happy to answer your questions personally. Call 314-935-EMBA.
Q. Is Olin’s Executive MBA program accredited?
A. Yes, the program is accredited by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) International, the world’s leading accrediting association.
Q. What degree will I earn?
A. You’ll graduate with a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Q. When do the next Executive MBA classes begin?
A. EMBA Class 59 (PDF) starts in August 2023.
Q. Is the GMAT or GRE required for admission?
A. Most applicants aren’t required to submit their GMAT or GRE score. Your official university transcripts are required, however, and are used to determine your academic aptitude for the Executive MBA program.
Q. How much time will I devote to the program?
A. Typically, you spend 30 hours per month in class and 10 to 15 hours per week studying and completing course work. Consequently, time management and family support are essential to program success.
Q. How is performance graded?
A. Executive MBA faculty members use a four-level grading system, with high pass, pass, low pass, and no pass. Class grades are typically based on a combination of individual and team effort on tests, presentations, and projects, but the exact breakdown is up to each professor.
Q. Who teaches Olin’s Executive MBA program?
A. With few exceptions, the program is taught by tenured Olin faculty members. These professors are some of the brightest minds in business, internationally known for their exceptional teaching, research productivity, and management expertise. With input from Olin’s corporate partners, they advance a curriculum rooted in leadership development, strategic problem solving, and skills application.
Q. What is GO! Week?
A. Your Executive MBA experience begins with GO! Week, a required residency named for the momentum it creates. The orientation introduces you to your classmates, your professors, and the Olin community. Provides opportunities to engage with your first-year study group. Prepares you for program course work, including the entrepreneurship project you complete during your second year in the program. And kicks off the curriculum with courses on strategic management, team development and assessment, and critical thinking.
The GO! Week Residency is held at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center on Washington University’s main campus.
Q. Is it OK to miss school occasionally?
A. To earn a degree in 20 months, you cover a large amount of material in a relatively short time. So if you miss class, you may find it difficult to catch up. The Executive MBA team realizes illness or family emergencies can’t always be avoided. If you miss more than 25 percent of any course, however, you must make up the missed class sessions.
Q. How much does the program cost?
A. The program cost for the September 2023 program is $144,150. For more information, see the tuition page of this site.
Q. Is financial support from my organization required for admission?
A. No. In fact, more than two-thirds of Olin’s Executive MBA students are self-funded.
Q. What is a letter of commitment?
A. A letter of commitment is a required written statement from your employer indicating the organization understands the amount of time you’ll spend away from work in Executive MBA program courses and residencies.
Q. Who typically writes a letter of commitment?
A. The answer depends on the organization. It may be written by your direct supervisor, human resources director, chief executive officer, or any other senior-level employee with the authority to approve your program enrollment and your time away from work.
Q. May I write my own letter of commitment?
A. Yes, if you’re self-employed. Along with your statement of self-employment, you must submit two recommendation forms from individuals who can assess your professional accomplishments and your aptitude for academic success.
Q. Am I required to submit my completed application all at once?
A. No, you can submit your material in stages, as it is completed: the online application and essays first, and the supporting documentation – transcripts, recommendation forms, and commitment letter – second.
Q. Is a personal interview required for admission?
A. Yes, an in-person interview with two members of the Executive MBA Admissions Committee is required as part of your admissions process. Interviews usually last an hour and are scheduled by appointment after you submit your application and supporting documents. Interviews are in St. Louis.
Q. May I take additional courses outside the EMBA curriculum?
A. With approval from your EMBA academic director, you may take additional graduate business electives without an increase in your tuition (books and materials aren’t covered). Contact your advisor for more information.
Q. Is a laptop computer required?
A. Yes, a laptop is required for program course work because most of the content is delivered electronically. To increase class participation and engagement, though, professors often discourage laptop use during lectures and case discussions.
