MBA Application Timeline
Are you thinking about applying to business school? Just like with the undergraduate admissions process, the earlier you start the better! However, many prospective MBA applicants are unsure of how or when to start.
Updated: Monday, November 04, 2024
Top MBA Programs Where You Can Apply as a College Senior
After college graduation, business-minded students often consider two options: beginning their professional career versus enrolling in an MBA program. While there is no one-size-fits-all choice, there are certain programs that often prove to be best-fit options for MBA applicants applying directly from college.
MBA programs vary greatly, so it’s important for prospective applicants to do their research and pinpoint the options that best align with their needs and goals. Keep reading to learn more about some of the top programs that students can apply to during their senior year of college.
Berkeley Haas
The Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access program provides students with the opportunity to complete the MBA application process while in their final year of undergraduate studies. The program includes a two to five-year deferment period in which participants are expected to commit their time to professional development.
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Chicago Booth Scholars Program
Students may apply to the Chicago Booth Scholars Program while in their final year of undergraduate studies. Upon completing an application, participants must defer admission for two to five years while they earn experience in their respective fields.
Chicago Business Fellows Program
The Chicago Business Fellows Program is designed for young professionals with three years or less of full-time work. Once accepted into the program, students are able to continue working in their respective fields while earning their MBA as an Evening MBA or Weekend MBA student.
Columbia Business School
The Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program provides undergraduate students with the flexibility to enter Columbia’s MBA program after two to five years of relevant work experience. With its promise of guaranteed admission, students can begin the program at a time that best fits their academic and professional journey.
Harvard Business School
The 2+2 Program is a deferred admission process for current students, either in college or full-time masters programs. It is comprised of two years of professional work experience followed by two years in the HBS MBA Program. Upon graduation, admitted 2+2 students spend two years working in a professional, HBS-approved position in the public, private, or nonprofit sector.
- Admit rate: 9%
- GMAT average: 730
- Average GPA: 3.79
Northwestern Kellogg
Upon acceptance into the Kellogg Future Leader program, undergraduate seniors are guaranteed both admission and the flexibility to begin their MBA studies after two to five years in the professional world.
Stanford Graduate School of Business
You may apply to the Business School as an undergraduate and work one to three years before attending business school. To qualify, students need to have graduated from a degree program between October 2017 and September 2018. You must have been enrolled full-time prior to graduation OR Current full- time enrollment in a law or medical program.
- Admit rate: 11.5%
- GMAT average: 733
- Deferred Enrollment
University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business
Upon applying for the Future Year Scholars Program, students in the final year of their undergraduate studies are able to go on and gain two, three or four years of relevant work experience before beginning the MBA program at Darden.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School
The Moelis Advance Access Program offers both undergraduate and full-time master’s students in their final year of study guaranteed admission to the Wharton MBA after pursuing two to four years of relevant work experience.
Yale School of Management
Yale offers a unique program for college seniors to earn an MBA in three years directly after graduation. In your first year you will take classes; in your second year you will complete a full-time internship, and in your third and final year you will return to Yale for elective classes.
- Admit rate: 19%
- GMAT average: 720
- GRE Average: 165
Schools which may offer deferred admission to college seniors:
MIT Sloan School of Management
The general policy is not to defer admission, except in the case of college seniors who wish to get work experience before returning to school.
- Admit rate: 13%
- GMAT Average: 722
- GRE Average: 159 (quant), 154 (qual)
- Undergraduate GPA Average: 3.49
- MBA Early Admission
UVA Darden School of Business
College seniors who have also been accepted into Teach for America’s program may defer admission until after their two years of service. In addition, some college seniors and recent college graduates may be offered deferred admission to attend in a subsequent year.
- Admit rate: 26%
- GMAT average: 713
- Undergraduate GPA Average: 3.5
*All schools are on the U.S. News and World Report Top 15 list for business.
Much like the undergraduate admissions process, students who are interested in enrolling in an MBA program must do their research and work on applications well in advance of their deadline. If business school is on your radar and you’re looking for personalized guidance, our team of admissions counselors can help you make the most of the process.
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Advice for First-Generation College Students
Embarking on a new journey is a challenging task to undertake. Going to college is among the most difficult new journeys, given that, for many students, it marks the first time being on your own and navigating a complex system. For first-generation college students, the journey can be even more challenging, considering you cannot turn to family members for guidance. Many students may feel inclined to default to the lone wolf mentality: “I’ve gotten this far on my own, so I can keep doing things on my own.”
But college is an entirely different beast than what most students have ever experienced. To succeed as a first-generation college student, you must find your community and your voice. Luckily, you are not alone — 54% of U.S. undergraduates are first-generation students.
The summer before college is an ideal time for you to perform college research to learn what resources and services are available. The early weeks of college can be overwhelming, so use the summer to familiarize yourself as much as possible with your school. One key aspect you should research is whether or not your institution offers a transition program geared specifically for first-generation students. Not only will these programs help you adjust to college life, but they also help you meet other first-generation students.
An Expat’s Guide to U.S. College Admissions
Embarking on the U.S. college application journey as an expat can feel as puzzling as your first day at your new international school — despite your well-developed cultural adaptability, cross-cultural communication skills, and unique global perspective. Having spent my formative years attending an American school in the Netherlands, I felt equally perplexed by the U.S. college admissions process. I was excited at the prospect of living in the U.S. for the first time since I was four years old; however, I was scared to be an ocean away from my family and nervous about how to navigate the process.