Goizueta: Are You Experienced?

Julie R. Barefoot is associate dean and director of MBA admissions at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. She has worked at Goizueta since 1988, serving in a number of admissions and student service roles. In 2003, she was elected by her peers to a serve a three-year term with the Graduate Management Admissions Council board of directors. Barefoot says that leadership and passion are the traits she's looking for in an applicant, and that Goizueta's program is effective in further developing those skills in students. She recently spoke with BusinessWeek Online reporter Jeffrey Gangemi. Here are edited excerpts of their conversation:

Q: How is the admissions process different for your various MBA programs?
A: We actually have five different MBA programs at Goizueta, and I manage recruitment for all of them. Applicants can apply with one application to multiple programs. Usually about 15% to 20% of applicants apply to both the one- and two-year programs.

For the one-year program, we look a bit harder at grades. Individuals admitted to the one-year program must have either been an undergraduate business major or have a strong quantitative background. In terms of their post-MBA plans, it's important that what they want to do is doable in the one-year program, without a summer internship.

Students start in May and review the first-year classes or their undergraduate business classes. The summer serves as an intense review of the core classes. Then, in the fall, they join the second year's classes. Certain recruiters really want to have students in a summer internship, so the one-year isn't for everyone. We're careful [about admitting] one-year students, because we want them to be placed as well as those in the two-year program.

Q: How can a candidate impress you in an interview?
A: Candidates must be prepared. They need to be able to concisely explain their work history and convey it in terms of how they've added value to their organization. We want to bring in people who are going to talk about their work experiences in class. It's good if they can convey how they have been a good leader or contributor in a team. We're also interested in their interests outside of work. Goizueta students are known for giving back to the community. I'm also interested in their long-term plans. Does what they're going to do after they get their MBA make sense?

Q: How much work experience do you require?
A: We have the same expectation for the one- and two-year students. People shouldn't apply if they don't have work experience. We have admitted candidates with two years of experience, and that's fine. Our students who have less work experience are still placing quite well. People who are going to be admitted from our pool of applicants are bright and are going to be doing well in their jobs, no matter how many years of experience they have.

Q: Do most of your applicants come from the South?
A: We recruit worldwide. One third of our students come from outside the U.S. Most of our applicants come from east of the Mississippi, but the bulk of our candidates are not from the Atlanta area. If you look at our placement, however, more than 50% stay in Atlanta. That is somewhat of a hindrance for us in terms of getting our name out. Until people come here, they don't realize how great and cost-effective this city is.

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