Early Career MBA: FAQ's

• Is previous coursework in business required to apply to the Willamette University Early Career MBA?
• Is work experience required for admission?
• Is an admission interview required?
• What is the general application timeline?
• Should I take the GMAT or the GRE?
• What is the Willamette University code for the GMAT, GRE and TOEFL?
• Which program option is for me: the two-year MBA program or the accelerated option?
• What are the benefits of the Willamette MBA for students interested in business?
• What are the benefits of the Willamette MBA for students interested in government, public administration or not-for-profit management?
• How do others view the Willamette MBA program?
• How can I get more information about the Willamette MBA program?

Want to know what our students think? Click here to save a PDF copy of the Vault 2007 Buzz Book Survey on the Willamette MBA.

Still have questions? Email us at mba-admission@willamette.edu

Is previous coursework in business required to apply to the Willamette University Early Career MBA?

Previous course work in business is not required for the Early Career MBA or combined MBA/JD or Bachelor of Arts/MBA program options. Our core curriculum develops a comprehensive and hands-on understanding of the fundamental "core principles" of management - the basics needed to succeed in any management position. The elective curriculum provides the in-depth functional knowledge in a variety of areas of interest. Our Early Career MBA curriculum and emphasis on "learning by doing" provide the knowledge and experience needed for successful careers.

Students with a strong academic background in economics or business may qualify to waive selected core courses.

[ Back to Top ] 

Is work experience required for admission?

Previous work experience is not required for the Early Career MBA or combined program options. The Early Career MBA provides multiple opportunities to build your real-world work experience while you earn your MBA through internships, class projects, PaCE, etc. The distinct experiential advantage of Willamette University's Early Career MBA makes it an excellent choice for applicants seeking career entry, change or advancement early in their career.

Although the Early Career MBA program options do not require work experience, the waiver-based Accelerated MBA and the Professional MBA programs do require previous work experience.

[ Back to Top ] 

Is an admission interview required?

An interview is part of the applicant selection process. Applicants eligible to complete the interview process will be invited to interview by the admission office after all the applicant's documents have been received. Applicants invited to interview will be given instructions for arranging a telephone or on-campus interview.

All applicants are encouraged to visit us on campus. To make an appointment for an individual visit, call the Willamette MBA Admission Office at 503-370-6l67 (toll free within the U.S. at 1-866-MBA-AGSM) or email mba-admission@willamette.edu .

[ Back to Top ]

What is the general application timeline?

Applications for Fall Semester 2008: We are currently reviewing applications for admission and merit-based scholarship assistance for Fall Semester 2008. Interested applicants should submit the online application as soon as possible.

Apply Online for Fall Semester 2008

Application Timeline: A complete application file and an interview are required to be considered for admission by the admission committee. Applications are evaluated for interviews and admission on a rolling basis.

Applicants who submit an application form or credentials that do not indicate potential for a positive admission decision may be denied admission at any time after submission of the application form. Applicants in this situation will be notified by email from the admission office.

Applicants who complete the application process and the interview will be notified of the admission decision within three weeks of completion of the interview.

All admitted students are expected to pay a tuition deposit to reserve their place in the incoming class and any scholarship or assistantship funds awarded by Willamette University.

[ Back to Top ] 

Should I take the GMAT or the GRE?

Because the Willamette Ealry Career MBA program is dually accredited for business and public management, we require either the GMAT or the General GRE. The GMAT exam is the typical test for students interested in MBA programs. The General GRE is the typical exam for students interested in public and not-for-profit management programs. You can take either exam, but you must take either the GMAT or the General GRE.

Information about the GMAT and is available at http://www.mba.com.

Information about the General GRE is available at http://www.gre.org.

[ Back to Top ] 

What is the Willamette University code for the GMAT, GRE and TOEFL?

GMAT codes for Willamette University MBA programs are:

The GRE and TOEFL code for Willamette MBA programs is 4954.

[ Back to Top ] 

Which program option is for me: the 21 month Early Career MBA program or the Accelerated option?

The Early Career MBA program and the "accelerated" option are designed for students with different academic and professional backgrounds. Both options are described below:

The Early Career MBA program (21 months) is designed for students preparing for career entry, career change or career advancement. It is the choice for full-time students who have a bachelor degree in the liberal arts (humanities, social sciences, science, math, etc.), business, engineering, or other areas of study. Students with a previous course work in business may be able to waive up to six credits of core course work.

The "accelerated" option is designed for students preparing for career change or advancement who have a strong background in the academic study of business as well as professional work experience. Through this program, students may be eligible to waive up to 30 credits of the 60 credit curriculum and have the flexibility to focus their studies in second year courses. Accelerated students generally complete the MBA in approximately nine to fifteen months of full-time study. Admission to the accelerated option is selective and determined by a complete review of all application materials. Accelerated applicants must meet all regular admission requirements of the Willamette MBA plus all of the following:

• Completed a bachelor's degree in business from a program accredited by AACSB International within 7 years of entering the Willamette Accelerated MBA program
  -- or --
  Completed the first year of a full-time MBA program accredited by AACSB International
  --or--
  Completed the first year of a full-time MPA or MPP program accredited by NASPAA
  
• Earned a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or better in their qualifying degree; and
• Completed at least two years of professional level work experience.

[ Back to Top ] 

What are the benefits of the Willamette Early Career MBA for students interested in business?

There are several major benefits. Here are a few for you to consider.

You will earn an MBA accredited by the two most prestigious professional organizations evaluating management education -- AACSB International (business administration) and NASPPA (public management); and you will participate in a program profiled by Business Week , U.S. News & World Report , Princeton Review , and Vault.com

You will thrive in an educational environment characterized by experiential learning, excellent teaching, and a high degree of interaction with faculty and student colleagues.

You will develop cross-functional problem-solving and decision-making skills, as well as communication, leadership and teamwork abilities.

You will build the professional experience you need to make the next step in your career through class consulting projects, internships and the unique PaCE project where you will be part of a team that creates and operates a real business.

You will have the opportunity to pursue your individual career goals in one or more of the following areas of interest: accounting, finance, general management, human resources, information systems, international management, marketing, organizational analysis, and quantitative analysis/management science.

You will develop a multi-sector understanding of management that provides an essential perspective for decision-making in business and consulting careers.

You will graduate with a degree that provides professional recognition in all sectors and you will have the flexibility to pursue your interests in business, consulting, public service and not-for-profit organizations.

You will study in Salem, Oregon - one of the nation's most livable cities located in a state renowned for its quality of life, friendly people and commercial icons like Nike, Intel, Tektronix and Hewlett Packard.

[ Back to Top ] 

What are the benefits of the Willamette Early Career MBA for students interested in government, public administration or not-for-profit management?

There are several major benefits. Here are a few for you to consider.

You will earn an MBA dually accredited for public administration (NASPAA) and business (AACSB), and designed to address the issue that successful public service careers require an understanding of both government and business.

You will build a strong foundation in the political, regulatory and fiscal issues of the public sector through the core curriculum and elective courses in public management.

You will develop a strong background in the areas of finance, accounting, marketing, quantitative, computer, teamwork, and negotiation skills --- areas often missing in MPA programs but clearly needed in today's public and not-for-profit organizations.

You will build the professional experience you need to make the next step in your career through projects, internships, consulting courses, and the activities of the Willamette University Public Policy Research Center.

You will thrive in an educational environment characterized by experiential learning, excellent teaching, and a high degree of interaction with faculty and student colleagues

You will have the opportunity to pursue your individual career goals in one or more of the following functional areas of interest: accounting, finance, human resources, information systems, international management, marketing, organizational analysis, and quantitative analysis/management science.

You will graduate with a degree that provides professional recognition in all sectors, and you will have the flexibility to pursue a career in public service, not-for-profit organizations or business administration.

You will study in Salem -- the capital city of Oregon -- a location that provides an array of opportunities for experience in state, county and city government, as well as the lifestyle advantages of the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

[ Back to Top ] 

How do others view the Willamette Early Career MBA program?

The Willamette MBA is recognized for business management by businesses, and for public management by government. The Early Career MBA is accredited for business administration by AACSB International, the leading accreditation agency for MBA programs. Our program is also accredited by NASPAA, the leading accreditation agency for MPA programs - making it one of only two MBA programs in the world to achieve this prestigious dual accreditation. In addition to recognition by the accreditation agencies that evaluate management education, the Willamette MBA has been profiled by Business Week and U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review and Vault. Com as one of the "best" business schools.

Employers generally praise the maturity, academic and workplace skills, and general values and ethics of Atkinson graduates. In fact, surveys show employers of Atkinson alumni view the quality of the work of our graduates to be superior.

[ Back to Top ] 

How can I get more information about the Willamette University Early Career MBA program?

We invite you to contact us with your questions and information needs. We are here to help you explore Willamette University's MBA programs. Email mba-admission@willamette.edu , call 503-370-6167 (toll free in the U.S. 866-MBA-AGSM), participate in our online chats, visit us on campus or meet our representatives at MBA events around the world.

  [ Back to Top