Overview:

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School offers an MBA curriculum that combines theoretical classroom work with practical application. Goizueta’s seven core values—courage, integrity, accountability, rigor, diversity, team, and community—shape the character of the program, forming business leaders holistically. With an emphasis on leadership, Goizueta’s curriculum molds student skills for top performance in the real world.


Admissions and Tuition:

While most full-time MBA programs run a standard two years, Goizueta also touts its one-year accelerated program for candidates with a previous business concentration.

1168 candidates applied to the two-year program for 2009-2010, and 34% were accepted. 170 students were in the entering class, with a mean GMAT of 676 and GPA of 3.3; the middle 80% of GMAT scores ranged from 610-750. Students averaged 5 years of previous professional experience. The 47 student one-year class was largely similar; only the GMAT range was slightly lower, with the middle 80% ranging from 560-710.
While most aspects of the application are considered equally, Goizueta places slightly less emphasis on the essay portion.

Expense varies greatly between the two-year and the one-year program. The total tuition and fees of the full two-year program are $83,052 for 2009-2010, while the recommended budget, including living expenses and ancillary costs, is $62,286 per year. The one-year program, in contrast, has tuition and fees of $64,312 and total recommended budget of $94,527. With additional consideration of foregone salaries, averaged at $59,847 annually, the one-year program becomes even more economical.

Student loans are available through Emory’s Financial Aid Office. For the two-year program, 87% of students received financial aid in 2009-2010, and the average package was $45,092. Scholarships are awarded based on merit, and all applicants applying before February 1st are considered; for 2010-2011, Goizueta expects to award 27 full-tuition scholarships to 2-year candidates. The average scholarship awarded for 2009-2010 was $18,270. Notable scholarships include the Robert W. Woodruff Fellowships and Goizueta Fellowships, both of which award full tuition, fees, and a $3000 stipend for two years. Students may also apply for assistantships, which begin in spring.


Academics and Curriculum:

The MBA program begins with a strong grounding in business essentials before moving on to specific electives. Two-year students learn a broad base of skills ranging from data analysis to financial reporting during three modules in the fall; electives become available in the spring semester, and continue during the second year. One-year students follow a similar program, beginning with an accelerated summer core and moving on to traditional second year coursework in the fall. Two-year MBAs take 13 electives, while one-year MBAS take ten. Students benefit from specialized courses in management practice, professional communication, and professional development, providing significant training in people skills. 35% of coursework is taught using the case study method, while 30% is taught through lecture, 20% through team projects, and 15% through experiential learning.

Choosing from among 23 concentrations, students can focus on subjects drawn from six academic areas. For instance, finance students can take advantage of such resources as the Emory Center for Alternative Investments, which stresses real estate, venture capital, hedge funds, and private equity development, and the Goizueta Real Estate Program, which provides advanced courses in capital markets and development. Marketing students practice hands-on consulting through work with the Goizueta Marketing Strategy Consultancy, while organization and management students can work with the Washington Campus Consortium for an immersive governmental seminar in Washington, D.C.

Based on a competency model including cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and relational skills, Goizueta’s leadership guidance is a prominent part of the MBA program. Through both theoretical classroom work and experiential practice, students develop the skills they need to lead the pack in 21st century business. The Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy (GALA) offers further leadership development in a concentrated one-week class highlighting interpersonal skills. Students also have the opportunity to become a GALA fellow, participating in various high-level leadership assessments, workshops, and nonprofit work before finishing the program with the Capstone Challenge.

Partnering with the Emory School of Medicine, the Emory Law School, the Rollins School of Public Health, and the Candler School of Theology, students can explore joint degree programs ranging from the Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Medicine to the Masters in Public Health, Masters in Divinity, and Juris Doctorate.


Quality of Life:

Located in Atlanta, capital of Georgia and a major business hub of the southern United States, Goizueta students will enjoy a wide variety of cultural and sporting events in a warm, humid climate. Working closely with the diverse, expanding local business community, students can make connections that will directly benefit their career development. Since graduate student housing is being phased out at Emory, all MBA candidates live off-campus. Students may choose to live in neighborhoods from nearby Druid Hills and suburban Decatur to Kirkwood, Cabbagetown, and the Old Fourth Ward. Atlanta housing is relatively inexpensive compared to many major urban areas; a standard 2-bedroom apartment can be found for as little as $700 per month.

Goizueta students benefit from a wide variety of clubs and organizations. Ranging from Net Impact and the Microfinance Club to the Goizueta Real Estate Club and the Core Values Council, MBAs can make both personal and professional connections with their fellow candidates. Goizueta’s notable case competitions allow teams to participate in a variety of specialized competitions while honing leadership skills. Goizueta also encourages student volunteer work through a variety of charitable opportunities, including Goizueta in the Community, Goizueta Gives Weekend, and the Teen Leadership Summit.


Employment Prospects:

For the class of 2009, 72% of graduates were employed by three months after graduation; the average base salary was $91,074 and the average signing bonus $17,710. However, it is important to note that only 59% of graduates received a signing bonus—comparatively less than graduates from more highly ranked programs. As well, 62% of offers came from school activities, while 38% came from the graduates’ own efforts—another difference from more highly ranked schools. 30% of Goizueta MBAs took jobs in finance/accounting, 28% in consulting, 19% in marketing/sales, and 9% in general management. Top recruiters were Deloitte Consulting and Atlanta based Delta Airlines. While a majority of 65% of graduates took jobs located in the South, a significant minority found employment around the country—12% in the Northeast, 7% in the Midwest, and 6% in the Southwest.

The MBA Career Management Center (CMC) gives Goizueta MBAs the guidance they need to specialize for their fields, while also providing a variety of events to help increase marketability. Through individualized consultations with both staff and peer career coaches, students realize effective self-marketing techniques and expand their interviewing skills. In Goizueta’s supportive community environment, students benefit not only from close faculty and alumni ties, but also from such programs as 6-Degrees, an online conference facilitating student networking. Through recruiting events like the National Society of Hispanic MBAs Annual Conference, the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, the Southeastern MBA Interview Forum, and the National Black MBA Association Annual Conference, students make connections throughout the Goizueta network. Finally, Goizueta organizes CMC Week, an intensive discipline-based career event, which includes site visits to companies in Atlanta and New York.


In Sum:

Students wishing to specialize in finance, real estate, consulting, and marketing may find profit in Goizueta’s MBA. Those who want the benefits of the MBA while making a smaller investment in time and money may be interested in the intensive one-year program. Goizueta’s strong ties to east coast business, particularly that in metro Atlanta, are assets for those students wishing to settle in the area. With a holistic approach to learning and a good leadership program, Goizueta provides a stable second-tier business education with job opportunities commensurate with a top 25 program.


Contact Information:

Goizueta Business School
1300 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30322 United States
Office of Admissions
Phone: 404.727.6311
Fax: 404.727.4612
Email: admissions@bus.emory.edu
http://www.goizueta.emory.edu/degree/fulltimemba/


Quick Reference:

2009 U.S. News Ranking: 22nd
Average GMAT score: 676 (2-year)
Average undergraduate GPA: 3.3
Application fee: $150
Application deadline: scholarship/one-year program: 2/1; final deadline: 3/1
Entering class size: 170 (2-year), 47 (1-year)
Yearly Tuition: $41,000 (2-year) $ 3,600 (1-year) (2009-2010)
Percent of graduates employed 3 months after graduation: 72%
Average starting salary: $91,074
Average signing bonus: $17,710