In this 3 part series focused towards mid-level/ senior managers who are searching for the best fit MBA, we bring three such Fellowship programs to you. In the first article, we have already covered the MIT Sloan Fellows program, located on the American East coast.
This one is on the opposite side- a West coast program, offered by one of the top three business schools in the world. Drum rolls!! We introduce the Stanford MSx Fellows Program
The Stanford MSx is a one-year immersive program geared towards experienced managers. The program admits applicants who have 8 or more years of work experience and have spent
atleast
5 years in managerial positions. Like Stanford’s two year MBA, MSx seeks applicants who will have an everlasting impact on their organizations, uplift society and change the world. They should be proven leaders who are intellectually curious and willing to empower others.
Given the program’s short duration, they should have a clarity of purpose on what they wish to achieve through the MSx program. Hence the goals essay is very important!
Look out for our last article in the series: LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy
Class profile: The Stanford MSx Fellows are accomplished and from diverse business backgrounds. The class of 2017 comprises of 104 students, with an average of 12 years of work experience. About 64% are international students, making it one of the most international MBA classes on American soil. Women make up only 25% of the class. The most represented industries are financial services; technology; and Government and the nonprofit sector.
Curriculum: The program focus is on developing leadership through a right mix of academics, extra-curricular activities, coaching and actionable feedback. The Stanford MSx Fellows are taught by the same faculty that teaches the two year MBAs and the PhD students. Over 50% of the MsX curriculum is made of electives. The program starts in July and ends next June.
Program Fee: The program has a hefty price tag- tuition fee is $128,000 for 11 months. Your total program cost could vary from $185K to $250K depending upon where and with who (family) you stay while studying.
Application material:
The essays: the MSx essays are quite similar to the Stanford 2 year MBA application essays. MSx applicants can apply to both the programs using one application. A minimum professional experience of 8 years is still a criterion.
The essay questions are:
1. What matters most to you, and why?
2. Why this program now? What are your personal and professional objectives, and how will the Stanford MSx Program help you achieve them?
Answers to both the essays questions combined should not exceed 1,200 words.
Optional Essay: Address extenuating circumstances, your choice of recommender (if not a direct supervisor) and academic or professional experience that did not fit into other parts of the application.
Resume: Not more than a 2-page resume that demonstrates your leadership capabilities, achievements and impact.
Letters of recommendations: Two references are required from professionals who know you well and will provide an honest and enthusiastic evaluation of your profile. They should have worked with you directly within the recent years. The b-school has also shown a preference for C-suite executives as evaluators, who make the “most significant decisions regarding a company’s direction”.
The recommendation questions are:
1. Describe your relationship to the applicant, and how long you have known him or her.
2. Describe the skills, abilities, and characteristics of the candidate that contribute to his/her success as a leader. Provide a specific example of a time that the candidate demonstrated exceptional leadership in your organization.
3. How is the candidate’s impact on your organization different from that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?
4. (Optional) Is there anything else we should know? Be concise.
Sponsored candidates must submit one reference from their company’s CEO and another from a person with whom they have a direct reporting relationship.
GMAT or GRE: both are accepted. While there is no minimum score required, the average GMAT score for the program is 700.
Bachelor’s degree: a four-year bachelor’s degree or their equivalent are valid for admissions. The MSx program has a holistic approach towards the GPA (or your rank in class) and low GPAs do not mean outright rejection. If you have suitable academic achievements as well as a competitive professional profile, still go ahead and apply.
The application fee is $275.
Interviews are by invitation only and they seek to have a positive exchange of ideas and information about you.
Deadlines:
Round 1: September 18, 2018
Round 2: January 10, 2019
Round 3: March 13, 2019