Can I do this? 

Can I understand this? 

Do I like this?

Those were the questions Maria Abunto, MD, MPH (EMBA-H ’24) asked herself while sitting in on an Executive MBA finance class. She wanted to observe a class to “see what life as a student was like.” 

Spending time in that class inspired both Abunto and the Executive Degree Programs team: Abunto enrolled in the Executive MBA in Healthcare program, and the Executive Degree Program Office created Class Visit Weekends. “We started the Class Visit Weekends in March 2023 to provide a hands-on engagement opportunity for candidates to be immersed in the program experience,” says Kim Abel, clinical assistant professor and executive director of the Executive Degree Programs and Center for Executive Education.

Prospective students are invited to spend a morning or afternoon in the Executive MBA or the Executive MBA in Healthcare program. They attend two classes, speak with faculty, and can ask current students questions over lunch.

Current students are enthusiastic about hosting prospective students. Abunto, Anthony Rothrauff (EMBA ’25) Stephanie Hannan (EMBA ’25, A&S ’02), and others have been hosts for those considering enrolling in the program.

“The best part of the Class Visit Weekend is the interaction,” says Hannan.  “At this level, coursework is coursework. The real value is talking with peers to understand the experience piece. They can ask the raw questions about time, content, and how you find the structure.”

Classmates Overcome Distinct Challenges

Returning to school for a degree when you are mid-career often presents unique challenges. Some wonder how they will find time for class if they travel for their jobs. Others have family responsibilities. Then there are those with irregular work hours. 

The Executive MBA and Executive MBA in Healthcare programs are designed to accommodate high-level professionals with busy lives. The 19-month program blends online coursework with in-person sessions held one weekend per month. 

The beauty of the Class Visit Weekends is if the student host doesn’t have answers to the prospective student’s questions, they will find someone else who does. Rothrauff says he was honored to be a host and believes it’s important for anyone curious about the program to experience in-class discussions. 

“One of the most exciting things about this program is the diversity. We have people from different industries: the medical field, plastics, aerospace, and the government,” he explains. “The coursework itself is rewarding, but the business discussions and the different perspectives add a lot of value to the class.”

Honest, Caring Environment

The major difference between the Class Visit Weekend program and the online information sessions is the chance for current and prospective students to have one-to-one discussions. Hannan feels that  the Class Visit Weekends create a safe space for prospective students to discuss their hesitations with current students. 

Attending the online information sessions can give prospective students answers to their fundamental questions, but they miss experiencing the camaraderie among the current students. “We all help each other,” says Abunto. 

The helpful attitude isn’t just among the students. Rothrauff explains, “The administrators do a really good job of making you feel welcomed into the program. I didn’t feel like I was enrolling in a college course — they make you feel like you are coming into a family environment.”