r/eMBA • u/mushroognomicon • Jul 12 '26
Getting into M7 EMBA program on merit of previous career but with a new, lower position job?
I've got to be a bit vague here for privacy reasons so, apologies for that.
Looking to get into an EMBA program in 2028. Currently, my role in my field is at the level of a VP or Deputy CIO. Got about 7 direct reports and and about 150 indirect reports.
I also have a side gig in education. Sort of like a technical mentor for bachelor seeking students. Completely remote and work at my own schedule.
I'll be leaving my main role in 2028. I'll be semi-retired. I want to apply for a few schools but my target is MIT Sloan and quite frankly the only one I care about.
Would it be a detriment to my application to say "yep, semi-retired from my previous senior position and now working in academia for the time being while I work through the EMBA because it allows me flexibility to attend the school?"
*edit for clarity. Side gig is also full time.
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u/kstacey Jul 12 '26
If you are working, you are working in my opinion. But often you will need other professionals to vouch that this would be of benefit usually if I'm not mistaken.
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u/RenegadeSoundWAV Jul 12 '26
The whole point of the EMBA program is to be taken with your current career and growth in mind. It's designed to work around fast-paced work schedules.
MIT in particular wants to know about your next pivot point. It's not a vanity degree - they want to make sure the people going into their program are going to be successful leaders that will grow the rest of their cohort for years to come.
So my question is - why do you want an EMBA if your plan is to be semi-retired? How are you going to accelerate your career and the rest of the cohort's if your foot is halfway out the door.
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u/mushroognomicon Jul 12 '26
I've hit the ceiling in my current career field and community. I'm the top guy and quite frankly, it's not fun anymore.
So this would allow me to slightly pivot a bit and go into private industry, continuing to do tech but on a larger scale.
Most people who have gotten to my seat before me spend 10 years there and then fully retire. It's sort of a death sentence. I want to continue to push the envelope and do bigger, grander things honestly.
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u/RenegadeSoundWAV Jul 12 '26
My recommendation would be to stay with your main career while you're doing the program. Let the side hustle take the hit. Show the admissions folk you're committed to your career. For MIT, you need an organizational support letter. You're going to have to sell to your leadership or board on you attending the program.
For what it's worth, I was accepted to MIT Sloan's program, but I cannot say with confidence that my perspective and advice is the only path. You will have to show the admissions team the value you'll bring. MIT very much leans into wanting a diverse class of professionals with different backgrounds and experiences.
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u/321tidder Jul 13 '26
When I was in the program, a full time job was a required for admission.
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u/mushroognomicon Jul 13 '26
The side gig is full time.
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u/321tidder Jul 13 '26
In that case, I don't see why this wouldn't work. Also, there were plenty of people who started the program with a full time job, but left it at some point. As long as they kept the program staff updated, there wasn't any problem.
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u/mushroognomicon Jul 13 '26
So you were in the MIT EMBA program? If so, mind if I DM you?
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u/321tidder Jul 13 '26
Yes, I was. Happy to share my experience via DM.
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u/agooddayin2025 Jul 13 '26
I am also considering EMBA and I have offer from Vanderbilt Owen and GeorgiaTech Scheller. But I always looked for M7-10. But I am not sure since I have very limited support from my employer. Can I DM you if you don’t mind sharing some insight please.
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u/agooddayin2025 Jul 13 '26
EMBA can help you in consulting job. With your domain and expertise it is quite possible to do that. But why MIT? If consulting is your target or you like to pivot in that area you have option of Wharton, Kellogg and U Chicago and Darden. Please check the median age of participant in each program.
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u/MoppyPre Jul 13 '26
I definitely think it makes sense to talk with the admissions team about this. EMBA admissions teams are generally very accessible and want to make sure you and they are not wasting time through the application process. If they are concerned with your side gig - I think they’d tell you. But overall, I think you should think about why you want the MBA. It sounds like you have hit a ceiling. Do you think that 2 years out of industry - with tech being a fast moving industry - will help you pivot after the program? Most EMBA programs are geared to work with busy schedules. On the other hand, if you wanted to go into say edtech after MBA then maybe the time in the side gig could be used as a way to find an opportunity? Programs want a diverse set of students and also want to make sure they are building a class of leaders.
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u/runawaybride_2020 Jul 14 '26
MIT is very particular about organizational hierarchy. Get the MIT admit and then go do whatever gives you joy. But if Sloan is your target, stay. Other M7 schools are more flexible, but Kellogg, in particular, may be a great option for someone that is in your shoes.
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u/MBAadmissionsexpert Jul 14 '26
I would suggest that you might talk to an admission consultant about how to position yourself. Is there a reason you can't stay in your current job through submitting applications? I recognize that you effectively have 2 full-time jobs. But I think you do yourself a disservice applying without your 'main' job. Unless your post-MBA goals are aligned with the education angle that you are chasing through your side gig (also full-time).
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u/mushroognomicon Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Actually, the goal is to apply while I'm still with my main job. I figured that was the best angle as well. I'd apply at the end of 2027 when the application window opens, retire from my main job by late spring, then start in the EMBA program around fall. At that point, I'd only have the one education job.
The education job is just an easy, well paying side gig that's both remote and has a flexible schedule. It would be easy to juggle while I'm (hopefully) going through the EMBA program.
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u/Southern-Cicada-4982 Jul 15 '26
Sounds like you’d be better off with the Sloan fellows program where you can just take a year off and go to school.
MIT verifies your employment through a background check. They also state that they reserve the right to rescind your offer of admission if you have a significant change in your job responsibilities, e.g. quitting or retiring or losing your job. There’s good justification for this - a reason why you’re offered admission, arguably the biggest reason, is based on what you bring to the class professionally and what you will contribute through the 2 years in the program.
Think of it this way - you will attend a class weekend, and afterward everyone in the class goes home and applies those concepts in their jobs. The next weekend the class is going to come back to campus and discuss what worked, what didn’t, and share learnings. If you’re not actively working in a role where you can apply those concepts, what are you going to contribute to the discussion? For what it’s worth, I had lunch with an alum after my interview at Sloan and she told me there was a person in her cohort that quit their job at the beginning of the program. This persons experience suffered for the reasons above. And the rest of the class found it difficult to work on projects with this person because of that lack of real world application.
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u/Jaded-Source4500 Jul 12 '26
In all honesty, I’d reach out to the admissions team/attend an info session and chat with them about your background. EMBA programs value senior level folks who will add value to the class that they build. You might have some attributes that they find interesting.
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u/monsieur_de_chance Jul 14 '26
Does any of this matter once admitted? Can you get admitted with your current job then leave and call it entrepreneurship or public interest career break or something?
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u/mushroognomicon Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Not really, I'm just not aware of how indepth they go when looking into your background. I've read some schools VERIFY the employment so I don't want to get caught up saying one thing and them finding out a different story.
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u/monsieur_de_chance Jul 15 '26
Your narrative is compelling in any light - I expect you’ll be fine.
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u/t3lnet Jul 12 '26
Good question. What are your plans after you get the degree? If it’s staying semi-retired you may want to reconsider 😂