You can take the Harvard program by distance learning. They provide visas for the summer school and perhaps also for the January term.

Obvious alternative is the Global Entrepreneurship MSc in France, China and the USA organized by EM Lyon

[quote]Obvious alternative is the Global Entrepreneurship MSc in France, China and the USA organized by EM Lyon[/quote]

Thank you so much Duncan. You've been so helpful to hundreds of prospective masters students like me.

Apparently the rolling admission for Em Lyon closes tomorrow. I have sent them an email asking the deadline for the applications for this years intake. If I can get into the September intake, then it seems like a superior option to the Harvard Extension School.

Best Regards

That's probably true. With EM Lyon you get a really immersive experience, strong relationships with other entrepreneurs and a global perspective. It's now very late to get a visa application underway for some countries. I know that in the programme our group teaches, June 30th is the recommended date (http://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/msc/entrepreneurship-innovation/application#key-dates).

[quote]That's probably true. With EM Lyon you get a really immersive experience, strong relationships with other entrepreneurs and a global perspective. It's now very late to get a visa application underway for some countries. I know that in the programme our group teaches, June 30th is the recommended date (http://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/msc/entrepreneurship-innovation/application#key-dates).[/quote]

Since the program starts in September, there's enough time to get Visa. The main issue for me is not having a GMAT score (which can be substituted by an extra letter of recommendation). I am confident that I can get an acceptable score within a month.

If EM Lyon's admission department are willing to extend the deadline by a week or two for me, that would enable me to fulfill their requisites (other than gmat). Since I'm from a business family, I feel this is the ideal fit for me and absolutely agree with you on what you've said.

What's your opinion on Harvard Extension ? I have a friend who is studying there and he claims that it's really good and he gets to connect with many diverse people with every semester. The MIT innovation lab is nearby where I can interact with startups and entrepreneurs.

I wonder if there are any other schools that offer a similar program with February intake. If I cannot make it to EM Lyon this year then I'll proceed with Harvard. I think I'll have to start with a tourist visa and get a status change during their summer class. I can also join an entrepreneurship course at a community college near Boston for getting the right visa, and study both courses simultaneously.

I am sorry for depleting the last valuable posts you've got left. It would be awesome if you could stay longer and help more people.

You don't need to be in Boston to start with HES. You might find it easier to get a B1 business visa, and with that there's no problem studying at HES.

Ok, so I've managed to get into the GEP program at EMLyon.

I cannot convince myself 100% if I should go for this or instead try applying for the MBA at the same B School.

People are telling me that 4 months/Country is too less & I am interested in working for a few years after the program.

The benefit of GEP seems to be that I'll get to explore opportunities and experience what it's like in the US as well as China and not just France. The co-ordinator is confident that there are more job opportunities in Europe than in US, and for potential employers the difference in degree's is not that huge. He suggested it's easier for GEP candidates to find work because the position is usually lower paying and a lower cost to the company than an MBA graduate.

Should I go for the GEP or try for the more recognizable and traditional IMBA ?

Congratulations. I don't understand the point about four months being too little. Too little for what? One semester is the traditional length of time for a student semester abroad, and from my experience in New England it felt like the perfect period of time to be in another business school.

If you want to get a job, rather than be an entrepreneur after the masters, then an MBA is better. Different degrees have different outcomes, as the FT rankings show, and the idea that it's easier to find work with a lower wage is not strategic thinking.

If you want to be employed then go to an MBA (if you have enough work experience), MiM or MiF at a school with better placement, ideally in a country where you speak the language. Read: Best schools for international students' placement http://www.find-mba.com/board/41143

Hi Duncan,

Given that I dont have a gmat score and my main objective is to be an entrepreneur, have nothing too important to do at the moment, seems a win win situation for me.

The program may not be as robust and challenging as an entreprenerial life is but I can make it work for me.