Which Executive MBA program is best ETA?

August 20, 2024

by a searcher from United States Military Academy in Raleigh, NC, USA

Hi Team,

I'm seeking recommendations on Executive MBA programs in the T20 range that focus on Entrepreneurship through Acquisition(electives/focus areas). I plan on applying this fall and starting in###-###-#### I am currently looking at Booth and Wharton, but I am open to others if there is a strong emphasis. I looked at Reddit threads and other blogs, but I figured this would be the best place to ask! Thanks!

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Reply by a searcher
from University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, USA

I have real thoughts about choosing an MBA based on ETA alignment.

1. I see you went to USMA. If you have 100% GI Bill, my opinion is getting an MBA is a no-brainer. If the GI Bill will cover your EMBA, even better as you can search while a student. Point being- as a veteran you may have a very different financial calculus than how most people are responding here understand.

2. There seems extremely little value in choosing an MBA program with a heavy weight in your decision given to "strength of ETA." Reality is ETA classes at any school will be total <10% of the classes you take and will not make any substantial impact on you as a searcher. Another searcher told me "I learned more about ETA in 2 months on twitter than I did in 2 years at business school." My honest opinion is most MBA ETA classes are meant to show you this path is possible vs. make you an extraordinary searcher. You aren't going to get better deal terms or have that much easier of a time raising capital if you go to an M7 vs. T15. If you are a veteran from a T20 MBA, you are very much in the strike zone of who investors want to connect with.

Also beware that schools know this is "in" right now and want to market all the things they are doing for ETA.

Choose the school for cultural fit, location, financing, professors, alumni network, etc....not for ETA

Reply by a searcher
from University of Pennsylvania in Seattle, WA, USA

I did the Wharton Exec program and found it really valuable. I would not say that there is much of an ETA ecosystem and did not find the ETA specific course I did very valuable relative to the other courses - ETA is pretty simple in concept. I would focus on courses that either help in the deal making stage or in the operations stage.. The finance, accounting, strategy, operations courses, etc were phenomenal and helped plug some holes for me before jumping into my own venture. 80% of the equity I raised was from Wharton colleagues and they placed their bet on me after getting to know me over the course of the 2 year program.

I will say for me that I was really on the fence on spending $200k+ for the program and it has absolutely been worth it for me. Definitely look at the time commitment piece as you consider the program, I don't think it is realistic to think you can do much of a search in parallel with an MBA.

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