does phd count as work experience mba

What Constitutes Work Experience for an MBA or Ph.D. Program in Business Administration? Internships?

Krystle Dodge

Managing Editor

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To get into graduate school for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) – one of the highest-paying master’s degrees – you typically need work experience. In fact, applicants admitted to top-ranking full-time MBA programs in 2020 had an average of four years of work experience, and applicants to executive MBA (EMBA) programs had 13.5 years of work experience, according to U.S. News & World Report . As a prospective MBA student or Ph.D. in business student, you may wonder what counts as work experience.

Full-Time Professional Work Experience

Most MBA programs are looking for professional work experience. Traditionally, this has meant full-time experience working in some area of business. Work experience for MBA programs doesn’t count internships or work in a role that isn’t related to your field. It’s generally assumed that the work you count as experience for an MBA program is paid and not done primarily for job training, as an internship is.

If you worked in a role that isn’t closely related to the professional world of business, that work might not constitute the experience expected from MBA applicants. Of course, there are gray areas here. If you worked as a cashier but you’re applying for an MBA in information technology, it may be a stretch to claim that your retail job provided work experience relevant to your course of study. On the other hand, if you started as a cashier but advanced to an assistant manager and then general manager role, you have at least some leadership and management experience that may be applicable to your MBA program.

Keep in mind that MBA admissions teams don’t require experience solely to keep students out or make their lives more difficult. Having experience in the professional world means that you have done more learning outside the classroom than an applicant who is fresh out of college. You have had the opportunity to make and learn from your mistakes as well as work toward success and career advancement.

While part-time work may count toward your MBA work experience requirements , it isn’t the ideal type of work experience most business schools are looking for. If your work experience is part-time, you may need more years of experience to get into graduate school.

Internships

The internships you completed as an undergraduate do provide valuable experience, but they’re not always equivalent to formal professional work experience. For an early-career MBA program, internship experience may be sufficient, but that may not be the case for traditional MBA programs.

Think twice about relying on a short-term, part-time or unpaid internship as a major part of your work experience when applying for an MBA program. However, if you had the opportunity to gain practical experience through a paid co-op that lasted longer – for example, six months or so – and provided you with more chances to develop new skills, your internship experience may be more impressive.

Don’t leave internships off of your resum é if they are recent and relevant, but make sure you have enough experience that isn’t based solely on internships if you’re attempting to get into a traditional MBA program.

Research Experience

IMAGE SOURCE: Pixabay , public domain

If you’re interested in a Ph.D. in business , having research experience might help your application. Doctoral degrees in business tend to be more research-oriented than master’s degrees, and the Ph.D. has more of a research emphasis than a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree. Research in business might include the study of accounting systems, financial economics or big-picture issues in strategic management. The focus of your research interests and how it fits with the university’s research programs are two of the most important factors that count for admission into Ph.D. programs in business .

Ph.D. programs in business typically prepare students to become academic researchers and business professors rather than professional practitioners in business. If you’re not interested in a career in academia, don’t worry if you don’t have research experience.

Volunteer Experience

In some instances, unpaid experience can still be valuable for an MBA program. If you undertake a two-year volunteer service with the Peace Corps , for example, you will likely gain plenty of management and leadership experience by volunteering, just as you would from a traditional job in the professional world. You might also wish to highlight volunteer experience on your MBA application if you worked in a leadership position or if your service was part of a longstanding commitment to an organization. Having an average amount of volunteer experience won’t get you into business school if you don’t have other forms of work experience, but your volunteer experience still does count in your favor.

MBA admissions teams often appreciate students’ engagement with extracurricular activities at their college or in their community, and this experience can also strengthen your application, although it doesn’t fully replace the work experience requirement.

Additional Resources

Schools Used to Want MBA Applicants to Work Before Applying, But I Hear That Has Changed. Is That True?

Should I Get My MBA Letters of Recommendation From Professors or Business Associates?

How Important Are Extracurricular Activities in My Application for an MBA?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Our goal is to make the MBA admissions process straightforward. To help you along the way, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we hear from applicants. If you don’t see the answer to your specific question below, feel free to send us an email !

Admissions and Financial Aid FAQ

What is the size of the program? How many students are in the program? We have approximately 350 MBA students and 50 LGO students per year. All first-year students are divided into cohorts of approximately 60 students and take their core semester courses as a group. 

Where can I learn more about the demographics of the MBA class? We have a really diverse class. Check out the MBA Class Profile to learn more about the academic and professional backgrounds of our current students.

How many international students are in the class? This past year about 40% of the entering class came from outside the United States. No matter where you plan to live post-MBA, you will have plenty of opportunities to connect with our international alumni network.

How can I connect with current students?  That’s easy! Register for one of our many events (both in person and virtual) that give you the chance to get to know current students. You can also connect with students via our student profile page and meet club leaders here.

Do you accept transfer credits into the program? MIT Sloan does not accept transfer credits from other programs or MIT. Any MIT classes taken pre-matriculation cannot be counted toward your degree at MIT Sloan.

How can I get a copy of the MIT Sloan MBA program brochure? Download a brochure here .

Admissions Process

What are your admissions criteria and what do you look for in a candidate? Our goal is to create a vibrant learning environment rich in diverse ideas and life experiences. We evaluate academic potential and personal achievements through various application components. We welcome applicants from all over the world and all areas of study who demonstrate the ability to maximize the incredible opportunities here, academically and beyond. We are on a quest to find individuals whose presence will enhance the experience of their fellow students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities, drive, and determination to put their stamp on the world. We value independence, authenticity, and fearless creativity—the true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems and anticipate unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity, respect, and passion. We seek applicants who have demonstrated academic excellence, personal achievement, and strong self-motivation to make an impact and to inspire, regardless of their position within an organization.

How does your Admissions process work? After each application deadline, our professionally trained Admissions Committee reviews all applications. Based on our initial assessment, a subset of applicants are invited to interview with us.

Who makes up the Admissions Committee? Our Admissions Committee is comprised of professional staff members within the MIT community. The Admissions Committee will review your application and a member of the committee will conduct your interview. Current students are not involved in the evaluation process.

Are some parts of the application weighted more than others? Our Admissions Committee will carefully consider all application materials you submit. No single component is more or less important than another.

Does MIT let applicants apply as a couple? Each person must submit a separate application and is considered individually.

Does MIT Sloan have rolling admissions? MIT Sloan does not have rolling admissions. We review applications in three rounds, each with its own deadline . We begin our review process immediately following each deadline.

Are there advantages to applying in Round 1? The advantage of applying in Round 1 and Round 2 is that there are more available seats in the class. However, we do admit candidates in Round 3 and you should apply only when you have fully completed your application to the best of your ability.

Can I apply in multiple application rounds? You may only apply once per year. LGO applicants must apply in the LGO round and are automatically considered for both LGO and MBA; if not accepted, LGO applicants may not apply to another MBA round in the same year.

Do you offer waivers for the application fee?

We offer fee waivers to the following applicants:

You may be eligible for a fee waiver if any of the following apply:

• Current Peace Corps Members
• Current Teach for America Members or Alumni
• Forte MBA Launch Participants
• Veteran or Active Duty U.S. Military Personnel
• Paying the application fee will result in insurmountable financial hardship

Participants from the following list of programs, conferences, and fellowships are also eligible for an application fee waiver:

MIT Sponsored Programs

• MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP General)
• MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP Biology/BCS/CBMM)
• On-Campus MIT ACCESS Program
• MIT Media Lab Open House Travel Grant Recipients
• MIT OME Laureates and Leaders
• MIT OME The Standard
• MIT Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems (EBICS)
• Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) Summer Institute

Fellowship Programs

• APSA Diversity Fellowship Program (APSA DFP)
• Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems Research Experience for Undergraduates (EBICS REU)
• Gates Millenium Scholars Program
• Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP)
• Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
• Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC)
• McNair Scholars Program
• Mellon Mays Minority Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF)
• Morehouse College Dr. John H. Hopps Jr. Defense Research Scholars Program Hopps (HOPPS)
• National Association of African American Honors Programs (NAAAHP)
• Questbridge
• Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI)
• Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Program (RISE)
• The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (GEM)
• University of Baltimore Maryland County Meyerhoff Scholars Program
• Woods Hole Partnership Education Program

Events and Conferences

• ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)
• California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education
• Emerging Researches National Conference in STEM (ERN)
• FIU McNair Scholars Research Conference
• Georgia Tech Virtual Graduate Showcase
• Grace Hopper Celebration Conference
• Howard University Research Month
• Institute on Teaching and Mentoring (SREB)
• Ivy Plus Puerto Rico
• MC-STEMP Graduating Engineering Minorities (GEM) GRADLab
• National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
• National Organization of Minority Architects
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
• National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)
• Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
• Spelman College Research Day
• The National GEM Consortium

In addition to the list above, attendees of some recruitment events and conferences where MIT Sloan is present may qualify for an application fee waiver. If you are in attendance at one of these events, you will be notified at the conclusion of the event and the payment section of your application will reflect the waiver automatically.

Please note that we cannot grant retroactive fee waivers if the application fee has already been paid online. If you are submitting a request, please wait to hear back from us.

Do you compare international applicants to one another?  No. We consider all applications individually in accordance with our evaluation standards.

How does the waitlist work at MIT Sloan? If you are waitlisted in a round and accept a place on the waitlist, you will automatically be considered for the next round and will receive an updated decision in that round.

Do you offer deferrals? Deferral requests are approved on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply during the year in which they hope to matriculate. If you are a college senior, check out our deferred program – MBA Early Admission .

What is the format of the interview? If you are invited to interview, you will meet one-on-one with a member of the Admissions Committee. We conduct behavioral interviews in which we’ll ask you to provide specific examples of your personal and professional behavior, such as how you persuade others, work as part of a team, and solve problems. Your interview will last about 30 minutes. All interviews will be conducted virtually.

What are you looking for when interviewing candidates? Our goal with the interview is to get to know you better! We look forward to hearing specific examples of how you have built relationships and demonstrated leadership. This will help understand the strengths you’ll bring to the MIT Sloan community. Additionally, we look for professional presentation and communication, as well as English language proficiency.

When are the interviews for each round? Round 1 interviews take place in late October through early December; Round 2 interviews typically occur in February and March; and Round 3 interviews take place in May.

Transcripts/GPA

Do I need to mail in copies of my transcripts? As part of the application, you are required to scan and upload a legible copy of your transcript(s) from all colleges and universities you attended or are currently attending. If your transcript(s) are not in English, you will need to upload the original and a certified translation. If admitted, you will receive further instructions on submitting your official signed and sealed transcript from all schools attended. Any discrepancies between the scanned transcripts and official transcripts may result in a rejection or a withdrawal of our offer of admission. Please do not mail transcripts to our office.

If my transcript is not in English, should I get it translated? Yes! You are required to upload both the original transcript and a certified translation. We accept translations issued by an institution or professional translating service, such as World Education Services (WES).

Should I include non-degree coursework in my application?  Yes! If you earned special certifications or took professional development courses in your spare time, please tell us about them. Feel free to submit academic evidence not already on your transcripts, such as professional certifications CFA, CPA, ACCA, among others; non-degree coursework such as MITx MicroMasters, CORe, edX, MBA Math, or any other non-degree coursework you completed. All of this information will assist the Admissions Committee in the evaluation process.

If I did my undergraduate studies outside of the United States, should I convert my GPA? You do not need to convert your GPA for the online application. Simply enter the grading system used by your college or university. We are familiar with various grading systems and can evaluate them on our end. 

My university does not provide class rank. What should I do? Many schools do not provide a class ranking system so you may leave this blank on your application.

How relevant is my undergraduate GPA to the Admissions Committee? We want to see your undergraduate GPA, but we understand this is just one component of your application, and will review it alongside any other coursework you’ve completed. We do not have a minimum GPA required for admission.

Test Scores

Do you require GMAT/GRE scores? Standardized tests, specifically the GMAT and GRE are a critical component of the application and play an important role in our holistic evaluation process. The MIT Sloan Admissions Committee expects that you will submit a GMAT or GRE score to be reviewed as part of your application. Both the remote and in-person versions of these exams are accepted with no preference. Test scores should be valid by the application deadline. If your current situation prevents you from being able to submit a test score, you may request a test waiver explaining the situation; the Admissions Committee will take your request under advisement and let you know if the waiver has been approved. If the waiver is approved, and you are admitted, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to offer conditional admission such as but not limited to receiving a certain score on the GMAT or GRE or taking a supplemental class.

What version of the GMAT/GRE will you accept? We will accept all versions of the GMAT or GRE, including in-person and online versions.

What is MIT Sloan’s code for the GMAT? If you are applying to the MIT Sloan MBA Program, you can share your GMAT score with us by entering the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - MIT Sloan School of Management.

Can you confirm receipt of my GMAT score? We cannot confirm receipt of your GMAT score. Please check with ETS to confirm that you have designated MIT Sloan to receive your score.

Where can I get more information on the GMAT? Visit MBA.com for more information on the GMAT, including sample questions and information on test registration. 

Will you accept my GRE score in place of a GMAT score? 
 Yes! MIT Sloan will accept your GRE score in lieu of a GMAT score. Our code for the GRE is 3791. We have no preference for which exam you take.

Do you require a minimum acceptable GMAT/GRE score? No. MIT Sloan does not require a minimum test score on either test. Visit our class profile page to view the average GMAT score of our students.

Where can I get more information on the GRE? 
 Visit GRE.com for more information on the GRE, as well as test registration information.

Which do you prefer, GMAT or GRE? We view scores from both tests equally. We have no preference.

Can I submit an EA score in place of a GMAT or GRE score? No. The MBA program will not accept an EA score in lieu of the GMAT or GRE.

If I have taken both the GMAT and the GRE, should I submit both scores? You are welcome to submit both exams or choose one. Again, we have no preference for which test scores you submit.

What if I took the GMAT or the GRE several times? Will you accept several scores? If you took the exam several times feel free to submit multiple scores.

Should I submit a test score with a higher overall score, but a lower quant score or a test score with a lower overall score, but a higher quant score? You should submit both. Our application allows you to enter multiple scores.

What is the last date on which I can take the GMAT? If you intend to take the GMAT and submit the score with your application, you may take the GMAT anytime up until our application deadline and submit your unofficial score in the application.

Should I send you my official GMAT/GRE score report now? Or, do I send it after I’m admitted? We want to see your official GMAT/GRE test score by the application deadline. However, we understand that sometimes it takes up to two weeks for test centers to release official scores. So, it’s okay if we receive your scores shortly after our application deadline.

I recently took my GMAT and will not receive the AWA score for another four weeks. May I submit my application without the AWA score? Yes, you may submit the application without reporting the AWA score.

If my score is not in the middle 80% for MIT, does the fact that I performed well in my undergraduate quantitative classes help? Is this something the Admissions Committee will consider when reviewing my GMAT score? We will consider all parts of your application. If you did not score high on the GMAT/GRE, we will look  for evidence of academic success, as demonstrated on your transcripts and quantitative professional experience.

How much of a disadvantage is a low GMAT/GRE score? We accept candidates with a wide range of test scores. If your GMAT/GRE is on the lower side, we will consider your other strengths, as demonstrated in your application. For example, we'll look for strong academic work and quantitative work experience.

Do I need a TOEFL/IELTS  score to apply to the MBA Program? No. This is not required to apply to the MBA program. 

Since a TOEFL score is not required, how do you measure English speaking ability? We assess English language ability during our interviews.

Work Experience and Background

Do I need work experience to apply to the MBA Program? 
 Our students have an average of five years of work experience when they join the MBA program. Having work experience helps you leverage the extensive opportunities at MIT Sloan. Students who already have a framework of experience and who understand workplace issues, generally get more out of the program and can often contribute more to classroom discussions and team projects. Use your own judgment in choosing the best time for you to pursue an MBA. If you are a college senior and do not have any full-time work experience, you might consider our deferred program—  MBA Early Admission .

Does internship experience count as full-time work experience? We will certainly consider your internship experience, but it does not count as full-time employment.

Does PhD research count as work experience? Yes! We will consider the research you conducted to earn your PhD as work experience.

If you’ve been out of the workforce or absent from work for a period of time, will that affect your chances of being admitted? Not necessarily. Make sure you address any gaps in employment in your application. Please explain why you weren’t working and let us know what you were doing during that time.

How do you measure the quality of work experience in such a diverse range of experiences? We have a competency model we use to evaluate candidates. We are looking for candidates to demonstrate evidence of these competencies, and they can come from any type of experience.

Are there specific types of work experience and industries that you look for in potential candidates? Would lack of work experience in a major organization count against me even if I succeeded in an independent venture? We do not prefer any specific work or industry experience. Instead, we want to see that you've been successful at whatever it is you've chosen to do prior to applying to the MBA program. Experiences at small organizations, start-ups, and big corporations can all provide distinct, valuable, and rich experiences.

If I already have an advanced degree (MBA, PhD, etc.) may I still apply? 
 Of course! If you hold a previous advanced degree, you are eligible to apply. You should, however, detail on your application why you are pursuing an MBA degree at this time. We consider those with advanced degrees the same as other applicants. Advanced degrees are additional evidence of academic success, but we do not consider them over undergraduate transcripts.

Do I need an undergraduate degree in a specific major to apply? Because of MIT’s quantitative strengths, does MIT Sloan prefer students who have a strong quantitative background? We welcome applicants with all types of undergraduate concentrations, including the humanities, the social and physical sciences, business, and engineering. View our Class Profile to see the academic background of our current students. We seek candidates who are strong in both verbal and quantitative abilities.

Is there any academic preparation or prerequisites I need before applying or enrolling? Should I take some college-level finance or accounting courses before applying to the MIT Sloan MBA program, if I have no experience in those fields? The only pre - requisite you must have is a bachelor’s degree. However, sometimes we give certain candidates conditional acceptance and require them to take a course(s) in microeconomics, calculus, or financial accounting prior to starting their MBA studies. If you feel as though your undergraduate background is lacking in quantitative strength, or you want to bolster your quant ability, you might consider completing a college-level microeconomics or a calculus course before you apply to our MBA Program.

Your MBA application asks for my calculus grade in college. I took a series of college calculus classe s , so which grade should I report on the application? That’s simple. Just report your Calculus I grade. If you took calculus in high school for Advanced Placement credit, please write "AP" as the grade.

I took an economics course in college, but not microeconomics. Can I report this grade on the MBA application which asks if I took microeconomics? Only report a grade if the class was titled “Microeconomics”.

I have a three-year bachelor's degree from a college or university outside of the United States. Am I eligible to apply? Yes. Candidates with a three-year bachelor’s degree from outside of the United States may apply.

Can you tell me my chances given my background? We do not pre-screen application materials (including resumes) to determine eligibility. The evaluation process is holistic, meaning we must receive and review your complete and submitted application in order to evaluate your candidacy. Take a look at our Class Profile to learn more about our MBA students’ backgrounds and experiences.

How important are extracurricular activities to the Admissions Committee? Is it okay if I include some in my application that are work-related? We’re interested in learning about what is important to you and how you spend your time, whether it’s related to work or not. Please feel free to include details of your relevant extracurricular activities and hobbies on your resume and/or in your video.

Cover Letter, Video, and Recommendation

Should I include only professional experience in my cover letter...or is it okay to also include some personal interests to paint a more complete picture of myself? Please include whatever best highlights who you are. If that’s a mix of professional and personal examples, then go for it!

In my cover letter, should all of the content and stories come from within the past three years alone? Try to stick to recent examples in your cover letter. If you can limit your examples to those within the past three years, that would be great.

Should I focus on past achievements or future goals in my cover letter? We won’t evaluate you on why you want an MBA or what you intend to do with it afterward, so concentrate on your past achievements. In our experience, past performance is the best predictor of future performance. We look forward to learning more about your experiences and achievements! 

You want me to introduce myself to my future classmates in my video. What is the Admissions Committee looking for in this video? We’re simply hoping to get to know you better. Just be authentic. Introduce yourself to your future classmates as if you are meeting them for the first time. Make sure you record your video in a single take (no editing), with you speaking directly into the camera. And remember, it should last no more than one minute (60 seconds). Keep the focus on you, so please avoid using background music and subtitles. We’re looking forward to seeing and hearing the real you.  

How do you collect letters of recommendation? MBA applicants may only submit one professional letter of recommendation. Your letter of recommendation must be submitted electronically through our online application. We do not accept recommendation letters via email or mail. For more information, please visit the How to Apply section here . 

May I submit an additional letter of recommendation? Applicants to the MBA program are required to submit only one letter of recommendation. If you know more than one person willing to sing your professional praises, consider listing them as one of your two professional references instead. 

Is it okay if I translate my recommendation letter because my boss does not speak English? If your recommendation letter is not in English, please use an official translator. Do not translate it yourself.

Does MIT Sloan accept recommendations from either current MIT Sloan students or alumni? We do not recommend using MIT Sloan students or alumni as your official recommenders unless they can speak to your professional abilities and achievements (e.g., your direct supervisor is an MIT Sloan alum).     

What is the Admissions Committee looking for in a recommendation letter? We prefer a recommendation letter from a professional contact who knows your work well. Please select an individual qualified to speak about your professional achievements and potential, ideally a manager or supervisor. We’re also interested to know how your performance compares to that of other well-qualified colleagues in similar roles at work.

What if I own my own business or work for a family business? Who should I choose as a recommender? We do not suggest using family members as a recommender. Choose someone in a supervisory role who is not related to you—someone who knows you best and can speak to your leadership development. You might consider choosing a client, a mentor, or a co-founder as a recommender.

What if I cannot get a recommendation from my current employer or supervisor because I don’t want to risk losing my job? What if my supervisor changes frequently? If you are unable to get a recommendation from your current employer, try to find someone who can speak to your accomplishments in a professional setting. This might be a past employer, a trusted mentor, or a senior colleague.

Why must I include two additional professional references? If, after reading your application materials, we have additional questions about your background and/or experiences, we might contact your professional references. So please make sure the references you choose are able to speak in detail about your professional strengths and accomplishments. 

What should I do if my additional reference contact(s) do not speak English? Please identify two additional references regardless of their English language ability.  If we need to contact your non-English speaking references, we will employ a translator.

Organizational Chart

Why are you asking for an organizational chart? How will you use it in the evaluation process? Our goal is to learn about you and your professional background. Your employer’s organizational chart will help us to better understand the role you play within your organization, who you report to, who reports to you, and the impact you might have on your department or company.

Click here to view a sample organizational chart.

I don’t have any direct reports. Will the organizational chart put me at a disadvantage? No! Managing others is not a requirement and not expected at this stage in your career. The organizational chart is not intended for us to count the number of direct reports you have, but rather to give us a clearer picture of the role you play within your organization and with whom you interact. 

I am currently serving in the military but previously held a civilian job. Which job should I include in my organizational chart? We recognize that applicants serving in the military are in a unique situation and might want to showcase both their military and civilian professional paths. Military applicants who are currently serving may submit two organizational charts: one outlining their previous civilian job and one representing the role they currently serve in the military.

My organization’s structure is confidential. Do I still have to submit an organizational chart? We recognize that some organizations' internal structures are classified or confidential. In this scenario, do your best to help us visualize your place within the organization without giving away classified details. You can redact names or titles or display only a certain level of your organization. Whatever you can share will be helpful.

If I work in consulting, should I submit an organizational chart of the overall firm or of a recent project team I worked on? If you work in consulting, we prefer that you submit a chart displaying the structure of a recent project you were staffed on rather than the overall consulting firm. Highlight the role you played on that team. 

What if I’m a solo entrepreneur or external contractor? What is the best way to display my chart when I am an organization of one? If you are a solo entrepreneur or contractor, try this: place yourself at the center of the chart, then make branches representing the various constituents and stakeholders you interact with (for example, clients, suppliers, investors, board of directors). 

Reapplication

What constitutes a reapplicant? Any applicant who has applied to our MBA program before.

I previously applied to the MBA Early program and was rejected. Does this hurt my chances of getting admitted to the MBA program? No! If you were not successful in gaining admission to our deferred admissions program, MBA Early, you are encouraged to reapply directly to the MBA program after gaining a few years of work experience.

You will not be considered a reapplicant if you previously applied to MBA Early.

When I reapply, will the Admissions Committee review both my current and past applications? Yes. If you reapply, the Admissions Committee will review both your current and prior applications in full. Carefully consider the content of your new application. Make sure you update us with what has changed since you last applied, but please don’t repeat everything included in your past application. Give us the new highlights.

If I am reapplying, must I provide a new letter of recommendation if my workplace has not changed? Yes, please submit a new letter of recommendation. This is an opportunity to share with us new, updated information about you. Use it!

What is the most common mistake reapplicants make? The most common mistake reapplicants make is submitting the same application materials they submitted the last time. If you are reapplying, make sure you examine your past application to see how you could do a better job of presenting your strengths this time.

Do you recommend reapplicants use the optional question to explain how their candidacy has evolved since they last applied? Ideally, you should use every part of your application to highlight how your candidacy has changed from your prior application. You are encouraged to use the optional question to give us a summary or highlight what’s new. We’re ready to learn about what you’ve been up to!

What percentage of reapplicants are accepted?  This percentage varies year-to-year but typically the acceptance rate for reapplicants is a few percentage points higher than our average.

Do you evaluate a reapplicant’s submission differently than a first-time application? Not really. In a reapplication, we look for all of the same characteristics we do in a first-time applicant.  This includes examples of your professional and academic accomplishments, your ability to lead and influence others, and your ability to collaborate as part of a community. But keep in mind, as a reapplicant, you will give us twice as much information to draw on (last year’s application and this year’s application) as we consider you.

Should I highlight the strongest experiences in my reapplication, even if it means retelling a story? The most important thing you can do is be clear on what you’ve been doing since the last time you applied, so be sure to highlight your new accomplishments and experiences.

Do you have any advice for a reapplicant who was invited to interview the prior year and was rejected? Is it fair to assume that I did not do well in the interview? We have to make many difficult decisions after interviewing candidates. If you were rejected after interviewing, do not assume it was necessarily due to your interview performance. We recommend reflecting on how you can strengthen any of the materials you submitted in your application in addition to the responses you shared during your interview.

Financial Aid

What types of financial aid are available from MIT? We understand that pursuing an MBA is a significant financial investment. Our Admissions Committee automatically considers all admits for merit-based fellowships. There is no additional application process required and admits will be notified of any merit-based fellowship at the time of admission. Additionally, the majority of MBA students use loans to finance their education. These come from two government programs, from MIT directly, or through an alternative lending source. Some students receive funding through on-campus teaching and research assistantships. You may apply for these after the completion of your first semester. You can find more information  here .

How are applicants evaluated for fellowships? The Admissions Committee reviews admits and awards merit-based fellowships to exceptional students who have shown academic excellence, professional achievements, and potential to enhance the MIT Sloan community.

When are applicants notified if they have been awarded a fellowship? We notify fellowship recipients of their awards at the time of admission. There are times when additional funds do become available after decisions have been released and we are able to notify recipients at that time. 

What financial resources are available outside MIT? If you do not receive a merit-based fellowship, there are plenty of funding opportunities outside MIT and MIT Sloan. If you are applying, begin researching sources of financial aid beyond MIT as early as possible. Visit here for more information.

What are the first steps in the financial aid application process for U.S. applicants? 
 The first step is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is required of all U.S. citizens and permanent residents who wish to apply for federal student loans. To expedite the processing of your federal loan application s , we recommend that you complete the FAFSA as early as possible. The FAFSA School Code for MIT is 002178. Please visit the U.S. Department of Education homepage for more information on the FAFSA, or write to:

FAFSA Information Center P.O. Box 84, 
Washington, DC, 20044 
 Or call FAFSA at: 1-800-433-3243

All other aspects of the financial aid application process do not begin until students have been formally admitted into the program.

Are there benefits to applying in a certain round over another in terms of financial aid and fellowship availability? Applicants in each round have equal access to fellowships and financial aid.

Are there fellowships for international students? Yes! All of our general fellowships are open to both domestic and international students. Learn more about fellowship opportunities here . 

Does MIT Sloan make provisions for loans for international students without U.S. cosigners? International students are eligible for loans without U.S. co-signers.

Can my spouse get a visa if I’m a student at MIT Sloan? We’re happy to support your spouse in obtaining a dependent visa. However, we are not able to provide work visas. Visit here for more information on visa categories.

Do fellowships cover tuition and living expenses? Fellowships are applied to tuition only. Visit here for more information.

What support systems exist for admits who need financial aid? The MIT Sloan Student Funding Office will share additional information about financial aid options and timelines if you are admitted. As an AdMIT, you will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a member of the Student Funding Team to discuss your specific situation and learn more about options that are available to you.

MBA Program Common Questions

What is the difference between the MBA degree and the Master of Science in Management? Students may choose to receive either an SM in Management or an MBA degree. Students who wish to receive the SM in Management degree must complete a thesis in addition to completing the MBA curriculum. To graduate with an MBA degree, writing a thesis is optional.

What subjects/areas of study are offered at MIT Sloan? The MBA curriculum is designed to give you the flexibility to tailor your education to your career goals. There is a one-semester core and then you have three semesters to shape the curriculum to match your interests.  MIT Sloan offers seven certificates: Finance,  Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Enterprise Management, Sustainability, Healthcare, Digital Product Management, and Business Analytics.  A list of courses offered at MIT Sloan is available here:  MIT Course Catalog . Explore the curriculum to better understand the program.

What are the degree requirements for the MIT Sloan MBA program?
 All degree candidates enrolled in the MBA program complete a required one-semester core curriculum in addition to 144 units of electives. While enrolled in the MBA program, students may take up to three non-MIT Sloan graduate level MIT or Harvard subjects approved by the school, towards completion of degree requirements (there is no credit limit to these three subjects.) Most MIT Sloan subjects range from three units to 12 units based on an approximation of weekly class hours, Lab or thesis units, and outside preparation time. Second-year students are given the option of writing a thesis.

Are there other dual degree programs? Yes, MIT Sloan offers three dual degree programs: Leaders for Global Operations–a 24-month program with the MIT School of Engineering; a three-year program with the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning; and a three-year program with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In keeping up with our commitment to innovation and academic adventure, these programs provide the extensive theoretical and practical training that is the hallmark of an MIT Sloan education.   Learn more here .

How many students are in the MIT Sloan/Harvard Kennedy School dual-degree program? The number of students in the HKS dua- degree program varies year over year.

What are the required core classes? The MBA core curriculum consists of six required fixed courses and 1 required elective course.

What are the benefits of MIT Sloan’s one-semester core? MIT Sloan’s one-semester core allows you more flexibility, earlier in your curriculum, when choosing your coursework. Completing the six required core courses in the first semester means students can start customizing their degree as early as the spring of their first year.

What teaching methods are used in the one-semester core? It varies and is left up to the professors: For example, Organization Processes is more case-based, whereas Data Models and Decisions is more lecture, problem sets, and exams.

What is the teaching style for professors at MIT Sloan?
 MIT Sloan faculty employ a variety of teaching methods including lectures, case studies, team projects, writing, problem sets, presentations, company visits, guest speakers, and other theoretical and applied teaching methods. The teaching method used in a class is the choice of the individual professor and is chosen to best facilitate learning for that subject matter.

Can I waive management subjects? Can I transfer credits from previous MIT Sloan coursework? We do not accept transfer credits. Any MIT classes taken pre-matriculation cannot be counted toward your degree at MIT Sloan.

Does MIT Sloan offer a specialization within the MBA degree? MIT Sloan offers seven certificates: Finance, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Enterprise Management, Sustainability, Healthcare, Digital Product Management, and Business Analytics.  Learn more here . ​​​​

What is the average class size? D uring the first semester, referred to as the core, you will be assigned to a cohort of approximately 60 students with whom you will take all your classes with. Core classes typically have smaller discussion sections in which you have the opportunity to talk about conceptual issues and work on specific problem sets. Beginning in the second semester of the first year, elective classes typically have 25 to 60 students (although some have as many as 90 students), and seminars may have fewer students.

How many students on average are in the elective courses? How difficult/easy is it to select the courses you want to take? Elective courses vary in size. On average the size is 50 students per class. There is a bidding process to register for electives. Second-year students get preference in the bidding process, so the most challenging time to get the classes you want is during the 2nd semester of your first year.

Are students allowed to take classes in other Masters programs? MBA students may take up to three electives either from other schools at MIT or Harvard University.

Can students cross-register at other schools? MIT Sloan students can cross-register at a number of the Harvard graduate schools and also take classes within other departments MIT. Of course, we also offer exchange programs, where you would be taking a full course load.

Is there a part-time program? There is no part-time or evening option for the MBA program. There is an  Executive Management MBA program  for working, experienced business leaders that meets primarily on weekends.

Does MIT Sloan offer a PhD program? Does MIT Sloan offer programs for executives? Yes, MIT Sloan offers a  PhD Program , an  Executive MBA , the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA , and a series of  non-degree programs  for executives.

Program Components

What is unique about MIT Sloan? MIT Sloan is a unique place. Our one-semester core allows students the flexibility to customize their education to meet their career goals. MIT Sloan’s hands-on Action Learning Labs give students the opportunity to apply the theory learned in the classroom to helping organizations solve business challenges. MIT Sloan’s small class size and tightly knit community appeal to applicants and students alike.

Are there opportunities to be a Teaching or Research Assistant? Yes, TA and RA positions are available starting in your second semester as an MBA student.  They not only help cover some of your expenses but also provide you with outstanding exposure to MIT Sloan’s educational and research programs.

Can students work full-time or part-time while attending classes at MIT Sloan? The MIT Sloan MBA curriculum is demanding and much of your experience will hinge on collaboration and working with your peers. This makes working during your time at MIT Sloan challenging. We understand that our student's financial backgrounds vary and there are a variety of resources available to help students navigate the MIT Sloan experience. 

How is MIT Sloan differentiating its program and offerings to prepare its students for an international business environment? We have an incredibly diverse population of students who study here, so everything you do will have a global focus. In addition, we are partners with leading academic and business institutions around the globe to give our students unique access. 

How are students connected to the entrepreneurial ecosystem? Are current students given the opportunity to interact with former students that have succeeded as entrepreneurs? There are many different ways to get support for entrepreneurial endeavors.  The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship  is the hub of support for students interested in starting companies and who want to participate in the  $100K business competition . The center provides opportunities for mentorship and advice from both peers and experienced entrepreneurs who can answer specific questions about your startups. MIT Sloan also has a large alumni network where alums help advise current students.

What is the presence of the Forte Foundation at MIT Sloan? How many Forte Fellows are there per year, and how are Fellows chosen? MIT Sloan takes part in Forte events and initiatives; we are a founding sponsor. We award between 10-15 fellowships each year. We select recipients based on many factors including their leadership experience, the strength of their application, the diversity they bring to the class, and their involvement with Forte.

Can you elaborate on the opportunities to work on-site with clients? Our  Action Learning Lab classes allow students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and participate in experiential learning. Action Learning works with small startups, nonprofits, NGOs, and established corporations located in Boston, across the USA, and around the globe. In response to COVID-19, the Action Learning faculty and staff re-envisioned how to meet the dual goals of student learning and host impact .

Student Life and Culture

How many students attend the MIT Sloan MBA program? MIT Sloan has approximately 400 MBA students per class year (350 MBA and 50 LGO students) for a total of approximately 800 MBA students.

What student clubs exist at MIT Sloan? What if I want to start a new club? The Student Life Office supports MIT Sloan students' enthusiasm and interest in a wide range of activities and topics by helping them lead and participate in clubs of all kinds. Currently, there are 80+ Sloan student-led clubs active on campus, with membership numbers ranging from 12 to 400+. Club leaders organize hundreds of events per year, including speaker series, recruiting prep sessions, social events, and  large-scale conferences . MIT Sloan students have access to  SloanGroups,  a tool for engaging with and organizing within the MIT Sloan community. Student club leaders use the platform to effectively manage their club membership base, communicate out to their contacts, and manage their events. If there is not already a student organization at MIT Sloan that suits your interests, you are encouraged to explore the more than 500 clubs organized under the MIT Association of Student Activities, which serves the entire campus .

Are there any intramural teams within the MBA community? MIT’s athletic complex encompasses 10 buildings and 26 acres of playing fields. Many MBA students participate in intramural sports across campus, as well as against other MBA programs in the Northeast and nationally.

Can you tell me about life at MIT? How many students live on campus? Many MIT Sloan students choose to live off campus; typically, 30% of MBA students live on campus. The  MIT Campus Housing Office  is an excellent resource for locating options. Housing may be found close to the campus and near the public transportation system. On-campus housing is also available. Demand exceeds supply, so a lottery system is used to allocate both the single student and married student housing units.

How would you define the culture of MIT Sloan, and what kind of support programs and activities are available for strengthening relationships among students? The student body as a whole is very collaborative. You will work on assigned teams starting in your first semester. You will come to know everyone in your class, and be together for academic, team, and social events! There are many opportunities to collaborate across programs through classes, clubs, conferences, and different centers on campus. 

Do MBA students collaborate with students from other parts of the university? Absolutely, you will see students from other degree programs in your classes (about 1/3 of our courses are cross-listed with other Schools at MIT). As an MBA student, you are eligible to participate in all MIT clubs and activities , such as the  $100K competition .

How many students have spouses or partners? Are there support programs for them? MIT Sloan welcomes partners and families to the community. About 35 percent of our students come to MIT Sloan with a significant other. Learn more here.

How would you describe the ability to interact with faculty while on campus? You will get to know professors not only inside the classroom but outside the classroom as well.  All MIT Sloan faculty are easily accessible.  The professors are very open, and students feel comfortable approaching them in their office hours and asking about career advice, project ideas, etc.  MIT Sloan faculty serve as mentors and advisors to student teams, and often can provide networking contacts during job searches.

Career Development

What support is offered by the Career Development Office? MIT Sloan students want both high-tech and personalized career support. The strategic resources we provide to support your success include:

• Guidance of experienced MBA Career Advisors focused on your specific goals
• YOUR CDO , a collaborative hub that promotes MIT Sloan career events, resources, and contacts; and connects you with the MIT career ecosystem
• Innovative AI technology that supports your career preparation with 24/7 feedback on your resume, interview skills, and LinkedIn profile
• Peer support, including the MBA Core Fellows, second-year students who serve as resources for career education and the internship search
• Alumni Connections through the MIT Sloan Industry Advisors program , featuring alumni who provide guidance for those exploring career paths in emerging industries
• Support for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion , with team members focused on affinity/diversity recruiting, career-related programming and resources, and data
• Strategic and Collaborative Business Development to advance MIT Sloan’s recruiting relationships within core industries, growth industries, and the alumni network

Career guidance is a critical part of your MBA experience. MBA Career Advisors are your guides as you navigate your next career step at MIT Sloan. They focus solely on students in the MBA program as they curate educational experiences to help you succeed in the MBA market. They also work closely with our Employer Relations and Recruiting Team to share the latest developments in the employment market, highlight opportunities in popular industries, and relay networking and job opportunities to you.

How does the Career Development Office help me prepare for the job search? In June, after your admission, you will get access to  Career Foundations , a self-paced online career education program curated for MIT Sloan MBAs. You’ll focus on the themes of Knowing Yourself, Understanding the Market, and Creating Alignment. The Summer Career Checklist will guide you through key career tasks to complete before you begin the program.

In September, we kick off  Career Core , a course to help you understand the opportunities available to you as an MIT Sloan student, and how to effectively position yourself for them. We engage MBA Core Fellows to participate in class sessions, allowing you to hear directly from Sloanies who have been in your shoes. We also partner with MIT Sloan faculty from Communication and Organizational Processes to lead sessions on managerial and professional competencies – sessions our alumni have identified as offering some of the most important tools for professional success in the years ahead. As you advance in your role as ‘CEO of your career,’ our goal is to guide you in understanding how your unique talents and contributions can help you leave your unique fingerprint on the future of business. Whether you are just beginning your career or are making a career transition, our team of MBA Career Advisors can help you create a customized plan for activating your talents for personal and professional success.

What types of opportunities do MIT Sloan MBAs pursue? What jobs did they accept, and what were their salaries?

MIT Sloan students accepted full-time and internship opportunities with 300 companies.  In 2022, our top industries were Consulting (31.2%), Tech (22.6%), Finance (22.6%), and Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech (6.8%). The average base salary was $159,391, the median base salary was $165,000, and the range of base salary was $62,000-$270,000. Check out our Employment Report for more information.

What if I’m not sure what I want to do? About 85% of MBA students are career changers. MIT Sloan provides unparalleled opportunities to explore new opportunities and try out new areas of interest, an important step in identifying the kind of work you want to do. If you are undecided about your career path, we encourage you to complete the Career Foundations course, actively participate in Career Core, and schedule an advising session with an MBA Career Advisor through Career Central.  If you are unclear about your strengths and interests or the type of organization where you can have the greatest impact, we offer Career Leader and the Clifton Strengths assessments. Speak with an MBA Career Advisor to learn more about how these tools can help you focus your job search. Career conversations happen everywhere at MIT Sloan: make sure to connect with MBA Core Fellows, faculty, and alumni who can share valuable experiences and insights.

What kinds of events does the CDO organize? To help you prepare for the next step in your career, the MBA Career Advising Team organizes Career Core and many other career programs, including ‘How to Create Your Own Internship’ and ‘Negotiating Your Employment Offer’, as well as career programs for affinity groups, including an ‘Immigration Update’ with a US Immigration Attorney for international students. To support you in activating your career plan, the Employer Relations and Recruiting Team work with top employers to organize events that help you connect with employers, including Company Presentations, Coffee Chats/Office Hours, Industry Events, Networking Nights (for full-time and internship positions), and the MIT Sloan Career Fair in April. How do I learn about career events and activities at MIT Sloan? Career activity is everywhere at MIT Sloan. To bring it all together in one place, the CDO created  YOUR CDO , a collaborative hub that connects you with career advice, events, clubs, resources, and job postings, customized for your program and industry interests. YOUR CDO highlights events and activities from Career Central , the system you will use to sign up for CDO events and advising appointments, as well as to apply for jobs.  YOUR CDO  also connects you to your peer and alumni network, through the Summer and Full-time Employment Directories, Alumni Directories, MBA Core Fellows Profiles, and MIT Sloan Industry Advisor Profiles. Your MBA Career Advisors also serve as guides to career activities and opportunities throughout your two years at MIT Sloan.  

How can I connect with MIT Sloan alumni in my industries of interest? MIT Sloan alumni play an important role in the career ecosystem at MIT Sloan. Starting in the fall, you will have access to the MIT Sloan Industry Advisors , a select group of alumni who provide in-depth industry expertise and guidance to students exploring specialized career paths in emerging fields and industries. With over 40 advisors across 17 industries, this team brings impressive industry experience and work histories that include leading companies like Amazon, Apple, Lululemon, Nike, and Tesla. Alumni often engage as speakers at industry events and recruiting representatives for their companies. You can also connect with alumni through club events, the summer and full-time employment directories, or the alumni directories. If you have any questions about how to incorporate alumni into your career exploration or job search, your CDO MBA Career Advisors are happy to be your partners in planning your outreach.

What is MIT Sloan’s policy on Grade Non-Disclosure? MIT Sloan does not have a grade non-disclosure policy. Students own their grades and are free to disclose or not disclose their grades at their discretion. 

Leaders for Global Operations

What is the Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program? LGO is a two-year, dual-degree program in which students receive an MBA from MIT Sloan and an SM from one of seven engineering departments within the MIT School of Engineering. The program is a partnership between MIT and more than 24 partner companies. LGO students are part of and participate fully in the MIT Sloan MBA program. The LGO program, which starts in June each year, includes a 6-month internship at an LGO partner company. On average, the fellowship covers at least 50% of tuition; all students receive a generous fellowship to attend the program. Please visit the  LGO website  for more information.

What's the process for considering applicants for the LGO program? You must apply to LGO through MIT Sloan. If you are not admitted into the LGO program, your application is automatically considered for MBA admissions. You can learn more about applying to LGO here.

What is the typical background of an applicant to the LGO program? Students come from a broad range of backgrounds. LGO students must have an undergraduate or graduate degree in a STEM field, at least two years of full-time work experience (three or more years preferred), and possess a strong commitment to working in operations, high-tech, or product design and development. It is not required to have an engineering background or to have worked as an engineer. 

How is the LGO course load different from the typical MBA? LGO students must fulfill the requirements of both the MBA program and their engineering department, so LGO students take fewer Sloan electives. Students begin the program in early June and take classes through the summer. All LGO students participate in a 6-month internship at one of our partner companies.

Is it required to have experience specifically in operations to be considered for admittance? Experience in operations is not a requirement for admission. We admit students with a variety of professional backgrounds.

What are the science requirements for admittance into the LGO program? Will an undergraduate in business be considered? We thoroughly review all applications that are submitted regardless of undergraduate degree. A STEM degree is strongly preferred, and candidates with non-STEM degrees will need to demonstrate substantial engineering and science coursework. 

What is the difference between LGO and the MBA when it comes to the management and finance courses taught in the two programs? LGO students are MBA students. They take the full MBA core curriculum in the fall with their MBA classmates; they are on the same teams and in the same classes as other MBA students. In addition to their MBA requirements, LGO students also take engineering courses to fulfill their SM degree.

How do post-MBA employment opportunities differ for LGO candidates and regular MBA candidates? With both business knowledge and technical skills, LGO students are highly sought after by both partner and non-partner companies. Over 95% of LGO students have accepted positions by graduation each year. Learn more about LGO career opportunities here .

How Work Experience Influences MBA Admissions

The average work experience among new entrants in 2021 at ranked full-time MBA programs was about four years.

Work Experience Affects MBA Admissions

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MBA admissions officials like to see evidence of growth, discipline and leadership when they examine a candidate's resume.

Although in rare instances it is possible to get into an MBA program immediately after college , that is not the typical route. Most MBA hopefuls need to gain work experience to become competitive candidates for business school, some admissions experts say.

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Highly selective MBA programs strive to admit individuals who are very accomplished within the workplace, notes Stacy Blackman, a former U.S. News contributor and president of Stacy Blackman Consulting. The most impressive MBA candidates already qualify as "top performers" and have received "fast promotions," she wrote in an email.

MBA admissions officials like to see evidence of growth, discipline and leadership when they examine a candidate's resume. People who plan to pursue an MBA degree should seek employment "that would give them the opportunity to grow and show their individual strengths," Chris Wszalek, executive director of graduate admissions and student recruitment at Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management in New York, wrote in an email.

Work experience expectations vary among business schools and depend on the type of program a candidate is applying for, such as an executive, full-time or part-time MBA program, Wszalek explains. "It is becoming more common for B-schools to focus on the quality of work versus the quantity."

There is no hard-and-fast rule about how much work experience is mandatory to qualify for an MBA program.

"As to how long a candidate should wait before applying, this really depends on the quality of his or her professional profile," says Graham Richmond, a former admissions officer at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School . "I've seen wonderful candidates with just one to two years of experience and others that clearly would benefit from more 'seasoning' in the professional world."

Richmond – a Wharton MBA grad and co-founder of Clear Admit, a community site for business school applicants – suggests that an MBA candidate's job specialty may have some bearing on admissions decisions. "While the programs do not explicitly prefer one sort of job or job function over another, they do seek a well-rounded student body. As such, if candidates come from over-subscribed professions (financial services, strategy consulting, IT), they often need to work very hard to stand out from other similar applicants in the pool."

Emily Archambeault, former director of master's admissions at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh, notes that work experience expectations are not rigid.

"Often applicants see the average years of work experience on admitted student profiles and think it is the magic number to acquire in terms of length of experience," she wrote in an email while at Carnegie Mellon. "We aren't looking for a specific number of years of work experience, but rather the quality of work and professional maturity. For some applicants, professional maturity comes more quickly than the average and the growth they have in a short period of time allows them to be highly competitive in the admission process."

Steady increases in responsibility are a positive on an MBA resume, Archambeault says.

"It is helpful to see progression in responsibilities which is often reflected in title changes, project leadership, or management roles," she says. "This progression indicates to the Admission Committee that the applicant is growing their skillset, recognized within their organization for their contributions and leadership skills, and has the ability to continue growing into more senior roles post-MBA."

An unexplained employment gap is a red flag in an MBA candidate's work history, Archambeault adds. "Our advice is to use the optional essay to explain any gaps in employment on a resume. Tell us the circumstances for any gap in employment, what was learned, and any growth that came from that experience. Being able to provide context is important so there aren't any unanswered questions."

Typical Work Experience Among Incoming MBA Students

U.S. News data reveals a significant difference between the amount of work experience that admitted full-time MBA students have vs. part-time and executive MBA students. Generally, full-time MBA students have less work experience than part-time students, while executive MBA students tend to have much more than both.

Among the 126 ranked full-time MBA programs that reported the average amount of post-undergraduate work experience of their admitted students in 2021, the average was about four years and two months. However, among the 201 ranked part-time MBA programs that reported this figure, the average amount of post-undergrad work experience was roughly six years and seven months. The average among the 28 ranked executive MBA programs that reported this statistic was even higher: about 14 years and eight months.

Full-time MBA students tend to be significantly younger than part-time and executive MBA students. Among the 132 ranked full-time MBA programs that specified the average age of new entrants in 2021, the average was almost 27. Meanwhile, the average age among the 257 ranked part-time MBA programs that reported this figure was around 29, and the average age among the 29 ranked executive MBA programs that provided this data was almost 39.

How Much Work Experience Is Ideal for an MBA?

Nikhil Varaiya, a finance professor at San Diego State University's Fowler College of Business and the school's former director of graduate programs, says most full-time MBA applicants are still early in their career , so admissions officers don't expect them to be high-level executives.

"You are starting as a junior and you might have limited supervisory roles, but you are probably working in a specialized area, and you are trying to either advance in that area or gather other skills," he says.

Three to five years of work experience is the ideal amount for a traditional MBA program, Varaiya says. He has accepted MBA applicants directly out of college in rare cases of exceptional academic credentials, but he advises MBA hopefuls to spend a few years in the workforce before heading to business school.

"In general, I say that because I think that if they have worked for three to five years, they have a better sense of what a graduate degree is going to do for them, so they would be better prepared," he says.

The proliferation of specialized master's programs that focus on a particular aspect of business has meant that graduate business school hopefuls who intend to go straight from college to B-school often opt for an M.S. degree rather than an MBA, he says. In addition, he adds, some people who have strictly defined career goals and who would have pursued an MBA in a different area now choose M.S. programs instead.

Amanda Karr, director of marketing and communications for the college of education at the University of Texas—Austin, says that at least three years of experience allows MBA admissions officers to see whether a candidate has had significant career progression.

This amount also allows admissions offices to gauge whether an applicant's career is on an upward trajectory, says Karr, who once served as executive director of enrollment management at Pepperdine University's Graziadio Business School .

Once an MBA hopeful has spent a long time in the workforce and has achieved a senior-level executive rank at a company, Karr and Varaiya agree, a traditional two-year MBA program might not be the best fit.

Seasoned MBA applicants might feel out of place in a traditional MBA program, where the typical student is in his or her 20s and trying to climb the career ladder to a leadership position, Karr says. MBA applicants with lengthy resumes often prefer nontraditional MBA programs where the vast majority of students have extensive business experience, because these programs teach people who are already leaders how to lead better, she says.

MBA hopefuls with abundant work experience should consider attending an accelerated MBA program or an executive MBA program designed for midcareer or late-career professionals, Karr and Varaiya say.

Why Employers Matter Less Than Accomplishments

MBA hopefuls often mistakenly believe that they need to have an impressive job title at a high-profile company in order to get accepted to a top graduate business school, according to MBA program administrators.

Business school officials acknowledge that MBA applicants sometimes have a leg up in the admissions process when they have an important job at a prestigious for-profit business. MBA applicants who have worked at well-known companies like Amazon, Google or General Electric have an advantage in the admissions process, Varaiya says.

"Other things equal, such work experience can tilt towards a favorable admissions decision," he wrote in an email.

However, Varaiya urges applicants to remember that this kind of work history is not required for an MBA degree. "For example, if somebody has worked, let's say, in the Peace Corps for two years, they may not have worked for an employer, but I find that very compelling."

Where an MBA applicant has worked is not the only factor that matters when admissions officers evaluate the quality of work experience. Another important consideration is whether an applicant has compelling professional success stories.

Having a leadership title is only impressive if the title is credible, if the applicant can convince admissions officers that he or she shouldered a significant amount of responsibility and if the applicant was a meaningful authority at the company, Varaiya says.

"A VP title for somebody who has just worked two years would not be credible," he adds.

What Jobs Impress MBA Admissions Officers

Business-related positions such as a job in finance or technology are impressive types of work experience on an MBA resume, Karr says. Another plus is professional experience that demonstrates quantitative expertise, since the math in MBA courses is rigorous.

Another positive is when business school applicants participate in or have recently completed management training rotations at established companies, Varaiya says. These applicants have usually been exposed to multiple aspects of business, including finance, and have had ample opportunity for career exploration, so they are expected to have clear career goals .

Because MBA applicants with rotation experience tend to be self-aware about what kinds of business jobs they prefer, they can choose a concentration or specialization with confidence, he says.

There are many less traditional forms of pre-MBA work experience that are also valuable, Varaiya says. Applicants who have worked at startups typically have a well-rounded understanding of business because that work demands versatility, he says. Public service jobs in the military or government can provide impressive leadership experience, he adds.

Military MBA applicants tend to be particularly compelling, Varaiya says. "They are an attractive group for us, simply because these people are very disciplined, hard-working and take their responsibilities seriously."

In addition, applicants with backgrounds in science, biotechnology and technology in general are desirable and frequently accepted, Varaiya and Karr say.

Stellar work experience also can help MBA applicants compensate for lackluster GRE or GMAT scores, Varaiya says.

Regardless of what job an applicant has, he or she must demonstrate the potential to thrive academically during an MBA program and excel professionally afterward, Varaiya adds.

April Klimkiewicz, a career coach and owner of Bliss Evolution who previously worked as a college career counselor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other universities, says applicants can impress business schools by gaining management experience.

"If you've managed a coffee shop, or even informally managed a team or project, you are displaying the ability to manage," she wrote in an email.

Below are three interactive tables – one each for full-time, part-time and executive MBA programs ranked by U.S. News – that provide a view of the 25 highest-ranked programs in each category. Prospective MBA students can sort through the information based on age or years of work experience to identify programs that may align with their background.

Full-Time MBA Work Experience

Work experience for full-time mba programs, part-time mba work experience, work experience for part-time mba programs, executive mba work experience, work experience for executive mba programs.

Searching for a business school? Get our complete rankings of Best Business Schools.

10 Ingredients of a Strong MBA Resume

Tags: MBAs , business school , education , graduate schools , students

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What Counts When Applying to Grad School: GPA vs. Work Experience

Both count—and strength in one area can help make up for weakness in the other

Daniel has 10+ years of experience reporting on investments and personal finance for outlets like AARP Bulletin and Exceptional magazine, in addition to being a column writer for Fatherly.

A degree from a top-tier graduate school can open a lot of professional doors, and savvy students do everything they can to get into the best program possible. But just what factors do admissions officers consider when they look over applications from prospective students? Here's what you need to know about the admissions process and how applicants are evaluated.

Key Takeaways

• Most graduate schools take a holistic approach to applicants, looking at both academics and other factors.
• When applying, focus on your strengths but don't neglect to address your weaknesses.
• Solid work experience may help offset a less-than-spectacular grade point average.

How Admissions Officers Judge Applicants

The graduate school admissions process is not always transparent, but a successful application typically includes the following:

• Undergraduate transcripts, including course grades
• Graduate school test results (usually the graduate record examination (GRE) , although some fields have their own specialized exams)
• A resume with a work history
• Letters of recommendation
• An essay or statement of purpose 
• An interview (either in person or by phone or Zoom)

Which of these matters the most to universities? According to many education experts, graduate admissions committees usually take a holistic approach to selecting candidates. For instance, they may have certain thresholds for GRE scores or undergraduate grade point averages, which are commonly called GPAs. But as a general rule, they consider all aspects of an application in making a decision.

Recognize Your Weaknesses and Use Your Strengths

According to higher-ed experts, the best approach when applying to grad school is to work hard to address the weakest components of your application. You may have stellar test scores, a high GPA, and enthusiastic letters of recommendation, but don't be complacent and submit a lackluster essay.

If, on the other hand, standardized tests are your Achilles heel, try to improve the numbers by taking an extra GRE preparation class. Schedule the exam far enough in advance that you have time to retake it if the need arises. You can take the exam once every 21 days, up to five times within a continuous 12-month period. And you can take the test at home if your equipment meets certain requirements.

Does this mean that every factor in your application has the same weight? Not necessarily. Vijay Chidambaram, assistant professor at the University of Texas, Austin, ranked application components from most important to least important as follows:

• Recommendation letters
• Research and/or published papers
• Industry internships
• Experience as a teacher's assistant

Similarly, a survey by Kaplan Test Prep found that 44% of graduate school admissions officers said the student's undergraduate transcript was the first thing they examined. While traditional factors continue to be important, roughly 27% of admissions officers said they also look at prospective students' social media profiles. As such, if your undergrad GPA is weak, there's not much you can do about it now. But you can emphasize your strengths to help compensate.

Certain fields have a different set of criteria from others. While GPA is important, some schools may place greater emphasis on a student's work experience, which might trump a mediocre GPA.

Avoid These Application Killers

Some all-too-common common mistakes can undermine your application. According to Gradschoolmatch.com, they include:

• Applying at the deadline. Needless to say, you don't want to apply after the deadline has passed, but even applying toward the end can cause you to miss out on scholarship opportunities or be rejected altogether if the class has already filled up.
• Not answering questions on the application. Plan to address every question and try to include specific details and examples where possible.
• Copying and pasting answers. If you're filling out multiple applications, avoid the temptation to repurpose your responses. Instead, tailor your answers to each specific program.
• Using poor grammar and misspelling words. Don't rush to press "submit." Proofread your application and have someone else read it, too.
• Using grandiloquent writing. Don't try too hard to impress the admissions committee with your vocabulary. Strive for a tone that's conversational and professional.
• Not speaking with your recommenders. While you can't write their letters for them, you can provide them with information about the programs you're applying to and remind them why you'd be a great fit there.

The key to a strong application is knowing what the school is looking for and adjusting your application to fit that mold. It's a good idea to seek input from recently graduated alumni about the admissions standards at your schools of choice and to ask them what you can do to set yourself apart.

How Does Work Experience Influence a Grad School Application?

Admissions officers look at different factors when they review the applications of prospective students, including their GPA, recommendation letters, GRE scores, and work experience. Although some of these rank high on the list of requirements for graduate school, your experience on the job weighs heavily with admissions officers. In fact, some programs want their students to be working professionals. For instance, some MBA programs want applicants to have work experience. Officers for other programs often look at, but won't put as much emphasis on the professional work applicants do in the workforce.

Does Work Experience Make up for a Low GPA on My Grad School Application?

There are a number of factors that grad schools review when they're reviewing applications from prospective students. Your grades are a very important part of the decision-making process, which means admissions officers will scrutinize your grades and transcripts carefully. But your work experience may offset a low GPA. If you're applying for an MBA program with less-than-stellar undergraduate grades but are a working professional with five years of experience in the finance industry, the admissions officer may consider you to be a suitable candidate. Keep in mind that a similar candidate looking for a spot in a highly competitive program with the same experience and good grades may rank higher than you.

What Is the Average GPA Required by Most Grad Schools?

That depends on the school and program. The average GPA required by most graduate schools ranges between 2.5 and 3.0. Keep in mind that you may need a higher grade point average for competitive programs at some of the top schools, such as MBA and business programs at Harvard and Columbia.

Applying for graduate school can be very daunting. There are so many factors to consider, including filling out the application, writing an essay, sitting for the grad school entrance exam, getting recommendation letters, submitting your transcripts, and providing other information like your work experience.

While most schools look at most or all of these things, the two biggest factors are your grades and work experience. Some schools may weigh professional experience more heavily than others, so having low grades may not completely eliminate you from the applicant pool. Be sure you do your research to find out how your GPA and work experience will help or hinder your application.

ETS. " The GRE® General Test ."

Kaplan. " Kaplan Test Prep’s 2014 Survey of Graduate School Admissions Officers ."

Kaplan. " Kaplan Survey: The Percentage of College Admissions Officers Who Say Applicants’ Social Media Content is “Fair Game” Ticks Up ."

Gradschoolmatch.com. " 10 Common Grad School Application Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them) ."

My Degree Guide. " GPA for Grad School: Best Range for Acceptance [2023 Guide] ."

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Frequently Asked Questions

Wharton mba admissions faqs, the following are the most frequently asked questions (faqs) we receive from prospective students interested in the wharton mba program. in addition, the  mba admissions blog  has the latest news from admissions and financial aid. if you’re unable to find an answer to your mba program questions, please contact us to ask your question directly to an mba admissions team member., visiting & getting in touch with the wharton mba program, what can i do when i visit campus.

You can take a campus tour, sit in on a live class, and attend a student panel. These activities are not available May through September when classes are not in session. For more information, explore the Visit Campus  page.

How can I contact Wharton alumni in my area?

Alumni often attend our admissions information sessions and receptions all over the world. To find an event close to you, please check the Admissions Events page .

As an international prospective student, I need a visa to come to the U.S. for a campus visit. Will Wharton or the University of Pennsylvania sponsor me or provide a letter of support that I may use when I apply for a visa?

The university is unable to sponsor individual visits to the campus. The  Office of International Programs , which handles visa and immigration issues at the university, may only support students who have been admitted to and intend to enroll at the school. For more information & resources for international applicants, please refer to our International MBA Students page .

MBA Admissions Process and Requirements

Do i need to hire an admissions consultant to get into wharton.

Hiring a paid admissions consultant isn’t necessary to gain admission to the Wharton MBA program. Our goal is to have a transparent evaluation process, as we believe in providing each applicant with an equal opportunity for success. While we certainly encourage you to have a trusted family member or peer review the written portion of your application for clarity and accuracy, we do not believe that professional services are needed.  If you have questions during the application process, we recommend seeking guidance through our  website  and  visit opportunities .

When should I apply, and when is the application deadline?

Wharton offers three rounds of admissions. To determine which is the best round for you, please visit the  Application Deadlines  page. We encourage all applicants to apply in the year preceding their start at Wharton. Our general policy is not to grant deferrals. All requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

What are the minimum requirements to apply to the Wharton MBA program?

The minimum requirements to apply to the MBA program include:

• Completion of an undergraduate program in an accredited U.S. college or its equivalent in another country.
• Results of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Submission of the Wharton application.
• Results of an English Language Test (TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS) unless you have earned an undergraduate or Master’s degree in an English-speaking country or from an institution in which English is the language of instruction. To waive an English language test, you must include a letter requesting the waiver in your application AND documentation that your education was in English.

For more information on the application process, go to the  Admissions Requirements  page.

I already have an MBA. Can I apply to the Wharton program?

Yes. We do not exclude candidates who have an MBA or any other graduate degree. You should, however, fully explain your reasons for pursuing a second MBA in your application.

I earned an undergraduate degree that only took three years. Am I eligible to apply to the Wharton MBA Program?

Several universities around the world offer three year undergraduate programs. If you have received a Bachelor’s degree upon completion of such a program, you are eligible to apply to the Wharton MBA program.

How many applications do you receive each year for the MBA program?

We typically receive 6,000 to 7,000 applications in a given year. Approximately 75% to 80% of all applicants are qualified for admission. Of these, we generally admit about 1,000 candidates for a class of about 840 students. Check out more facts & figures from our most recently admitted class on the Class Profile page .

Do I need an interview, and if so, how can I arrange one?

We interview by invitation only. After we review the completed application, we select candidates for interviews. No candidate is admitted without an interview. Read more about the details and how to prepare for our Team-Based Discussion interview format .

Can I get my decision over the Web or by e-mail, telephone, or fax?

All applicants receive their decision letter over the Web via their online account. We do not release decisions over the telephone or via e-mail or fax. If admitted, you will receive additional information, along with a hard copy of your admissions letter, via regular mail. Start and manage your application status on the Wharton MBA Application Portal .

How long does it typically take for an applicant to receive a decision after he/she has submitted his/her application?

After your application is submitted to the Wharton MBA program you can expect the following timeline for updates from the admissions team. Applicants who are invited to interview will be notified via email on the interview invitation dates listed below. The interview invitation email will include a link to schedule an interview, and resources to prepare for an interview.

Integrated Joint Degree Program Application and Decision Timelines

Please note, the following integrated joint degree programs accept applications only in Round 1 and Round 2, and follow the above-listed application timelines for Rounds 1 and 2. To learn more about each program, click the links below:

• Francis J. & Wm. Polk Carey JD/MBA Program
• MBA/MA Lauder Joint-Degree in International Studies Program

How does Wharton notify applicants of their status?

Applicants who are not moving forward in the application process will be notified via email on the same dates listed above. For example, if you are not invited to interview, you will be notified on the same timeline as those applicants who are invited. After the interview process, you will be notified whether you’re admitted or not on the above-listed decision release dates for the round in which you applied. Applicants who do not move forward in the application process are encouraged to revisit their application and consider reapplying during Round 1 or 2. For advice and guidelines around reapplication, see the  Reapplication section  in our Application Requirements page.

What should I know about the GMAT and GRE tests?

All applicants must submit results of either the Graduate Management Admission Test (older version or Focus Edition, both now referred to as GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). We accept scores from tests taken at a test center or at home/online. All at-home tests are monitored by a human proctor online. Scores may be self-reported; when self-reporting your score(s) in the application please list your highest score first. Should you receive an offer of admission, official scores will then be requested for verification.

You should register for a test at least one month before you plan to take it. You must complete the GMAT or GRE before we can process your application. We recommend that you take your test no later than 2 weeks prior to the application deadline. This will ensure that you are able to submit your application with all scores. Scores are valid for five years after the test date.

Test codes for the Wharton MBA Program are: GMAT: G56-97-73 GRE: 6802

What is the average TOEFL? Do you keep scores submitted in prior years?

The average TOEFL score for those students in the Class of 2022 who were required to take it was 115 . We keep TOEFL scores submitted within the previous two years or as long as they are valid (two years from the test date). If you studied at an English speaking institution please request a TOEFL waiver in our application as your TOEFL score is waived. If we cannot locate your official report, we will verify it with ETS. For more information, go to Admissions Process .

Can I submit the English for International Opportunity (IELTS) exam results instead of the TOEFL or PTE?

As of the 2023-2024 application cycle, we will accept the IELTS, TOEFL and PTE exam score. We also pay careful attention to a student’s GMAT (verbal percentile and AWA score), written and spoken English, recommender observations, and exposure to language, in addition to the GRE. Applicants who earned a baccalaureate or advanced degree at an institution in which the medium of instruction was English, or who have had considerable exposure to the language, may waive the test. A waiver request may be submitted as part of your application.

Learn about other important information and resources for international applicants on our International MBA students page.

Are application fee waivers available?

Application fee waivers are only granted to students for whom the application fee would create an extreme financial hardship or for U.S. military active duty or veteran applicants.

Applicants who wish to request a fee waiver must start their application and e-mail [email protected] with information detailing their financial need. We will then follow up for supporting documentation. Requests must be submitted no later than 15 days prior to application submission, and no requests will be granted after the application deadline for the round in which you applied.

For veterans or active duty applicants, reach out to our admissions office when you are ready to submit your application.

Work Experience Before Applying to the MBA Program

Work experience isn’t  mandatory for applying to the MBA program but the admissions committee does seek individuals who will come to the program with diverse experiences and professional maturity. Check out our Class Profile page for an idea of the work experience and background of our most recently admitted class.

How much work experience do most accepted students have? Is there a particular type of work experience Wharton seeks?

The average student has worked for five or six years between graduating from college and entering the MBA program. The program does accept early career candidates with limited or no experience who exhibit strong managerial and professional potential. The Admissions Committee looks for individuals who exhibit professional maturity. In other words, we evaluate work experience not in terms of years, but the depth and breadth of an individual’s position, his or her contributions to the work environment, and level of responsibility and progression.

Wharton looks for diversity in the professional backgrounds of its admitted students just as it does in all other parts of our applicants’ profiles. No one industry is favored over another, and experience in a Fortune 500 company does not have higher value than experience in a small business or public institution.

Does graduate education count as work experience?

While we recognize the value of graduate academic work, we do not count academic work as professional work experience.

Does time spent in the military count as work experience?

Absolutely. The service provides many rich and varied opportunities for professional growth and development. Military candidates are evaluated based on the same criteria as other candidates, including the nature and scope of the work, the skill sets required, work progression, and general leadership and management skills developed.

Does time spent in the Peace Corps, on a Latter Day Saints’ mission, or other voluntary assignment or internship count as work experience?

Certainly. As with all work experiences, we are interested in the skills acquired on the job and level of progression (measured by scope of responsibilities, job title, salary).

I am still an undergraduate student. How can I increase my chances for admission?

We welcome applicants directly from undergraduate programs who are motivated and exhibit strong leadership and managerial potential. When preparing for the Wharton MBA program, consider that the stronger your quantitative background, the better prepared you will be to take finance, statistics, accounting, economics, and other quantitative courses offered in our curriculum. For example, calculus and/or statistics are good foundation courses. We do accept students without this type of background, but we like to see evidence of a capacity to handle these types of topics (e.g., strong quantitative GMAT scores, strong academic performance in quantitative subjects). We are also interested in your history of involvement in extra-curricular activities, community service, and hobbies.

We advise undergraduates to apply in the Fall prior to the academic year in which they want to enroll in the program. Admission to the program is contingent upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree. For current undergraduates , the Moelis Advance Access Program provides a guaranteed deferred admission pathway for undergraduate seniors accepted into the program.

I have less than your average four years of work experience. Is this a disadvantage in the admissions process?

Each year, we welcome several early career candidates (individuals with 0 to 3 years of professional work experience) into our program. We are more interested in the skills you have acquired to date, including leadership and management opportunities, than the number of years you have been in the work force. We consider both the skills you have demonstrated to date and your future potential.

Check out our most recent Class Profile for additional context on the background and work experience of this year’s accepted class.

Is an applicant at a disadvantage without previous course work in business?

No. Many students at Wharton have not had business courses prior to entering the program. Generally, 40% of our class consists of people with liberal arts backgrounds. Pre-term offers incoming students an opportunity to “brush up” on their quantitative skills before classes begin. Candidates are also encouraged to complete introductory courses in calculus and statistics prior to entrance, since much of the course work requires quantitative skills. Please go to  Non-traditional Backgrounds  for more information.

Online Application Questions

When you submit your Wharton MBA application via the Wharton Application Portal you may have a few questions as you make updates & submissions. This section highlights some of the most common questions we receive on this process, but please reach out to our admissions office for any specific issues not reflected here.

How does the system work?

You may already have an account on the Wharton Web Application System if you have completed your profile through the “Let’s Get Acquainted” Form, or if you started or completed your MBA application through the  Wharton Web Application System .

If you encounter problems logging on, please email [email protected] .

I created an account and began and/or submitted my application. But, when I log into my account, information I entered is missing and/or my application does not appear to have been submitted. What happened to my information?

The problem you encountered typically happens when two accounts are inadvertently created. To determine if you have more than one account on our system, please follow the instructions below:

Return to the login page. Click on the “Search” button in the user login box at the top right-hand corner of the page. A PIN lookup box will appear. Complete the required fields for first name, last name, birth date, and e-mail address. Then click “Search.”

An e-mail(s) will be sent to you with your login and password information for each of your accounts. Please check both to see which one is active and make a note of it. If you continue to encounter problems, please contact [email protected] .

When should I check the system after submitting the application?

You should allow three weeks for us to process your online account and update your online status to reflect receipt of your online application and any supporting materials.

Will I receive an e-mail when decisions are made? How do we know when to check the system?

You will receive an e-mail each time your status changes, including when we release a decision. Once you receive an e-mail, you need to check your status online (the e-mail only indicates there is a change, but it does not indicate what the change is).

How do I calculate my GPA if my university or college does not provide one?

Students reporting grades from institutions that do not evaluate academic performance on a 4.0 GPA scale should NOT convert their scores to a GPA. Report your scores or grades as your university lists them in your official transcripts, including an explanation of the grading scheme if needed. Keep in mind that we have students from more than 70 countries in our program and have broad expertise in grading methods around the world.

Interdisciplinary Programs Questions

Customize your MBA experience with our interdisciplinary programs. The Wharton MBA FAQ covers each response in as much detail as necessary, but if your interdisciplinary MBA questions remain unanswered, visit the interdisciplinary page for more details.

Am I able to apply to the Lauder Program after I have started the Wharton MBA Program?

The academic calendar for first-year students in the Lauder Program begins in May. Students that have been accepted to the Wharton MBA Program in Round 1 or Round 2 can apply separately to the Lauder Program and still will be expected to start the program in May. Students cannot apply to the Lauder Program after they have started their first or second years at Wharton. For more information about applying to the Lauder Program, please visit the Lauder website or contact [email protected] .

Can I combine the Lauder Program with a degree program other than the Wharton MBA?

The Lauder Institute also offers a joint JD/MA program in partnership with Penn Law. For more information about the Lauder JD/MA, please visit this website .

Is Health Care Management a major or a separate program?

Health Care Management (HCM) is one of the 18 majors offered through the Wharton MBA Program. The Health Care Management major differs from other majors in that students must select this major at the time of application to Wharton. HCM integrates academic and professional development, helping students to obtain summer and permanent positions in all parts of the health care sector, including consulting firms, health care venture capital and private equity, digital health, health care analytics firms, biotechnology, pharmaceutical firms, hospitals, insurers, and government agencies. If prospective students wish to explore the Health Care Management major, the HCM department is happy to arrange either a telephone conversation or a meeting with June Kinney, the Associate Director of HCM. Please find more information on the application process here .

If I am not accepted into the Health Care Management major, can I still be admitted to Wharton?

Your application will be evaluated specifically for the Health Care Management major. If the Admissions Committee feels you are not best suited for HCM but could be a good fit for the MBA program more broadly, you will be considered for Wharton.

If I am admitted to a dual degree program with the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) or the School of Advanced Studies (SAIS), can I start my degree at HKS or SAIS instead of Wharton?

Applicants should apply to Wharton during the application cycle directly preceding their desired Wharton start date. If you are admitted to both programs and do not want to begin at Wharton, you will need to request a deferral and will be subject to our deferral policy. Deferrals typically are only granted for extenuating circumstances.

Are there any dual degree programs that will not allow me to start at Wharton?

The School of Design requires all dual degree students to start at Penn Design. The Harvard Kennedy School encourages students interested in the MPA/ID dual degree to start at HKS.

If I want to apply to a dual degree program, do I have to apply to the Wharton MBA Program and the other program separately?

Unless otherwise noted on the Interdisciplinary Programs website, you must submit separate applications and materials to both programs. Some schools will have strict application requirements around testing, recommendations, and essays. Please follow the admissions requirements for each individual school.

Are admissions decisions for integrated dual degree programs made by one committee?

Applicants to the MBA/MA Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies, the Francis J. & Wm. Polk Carey JD/MBA Program, and the MBA in Health Care Management will receive one joint decision.

Can I create my own dual degree with a school not listed on the website?

We cannot accept any credits from other programs. You can pursue another program in your own time, but you would still be required to complete all Wharton credit units as prescribed by the full-time MBA program. As a full-time MBA student, you are expected to be at Wharton and pay tuition for four full semesters.

How do I learn more about a graduate program not listed on the Wharton Interdisciplinary Programs website?

If you are interested in other programs not listed on the website, please contact the program office of that respective program.

How many credit units can I take at other Penn graduate schools while a Wharton MBA student?

All Wharton MBA students can take four to six credit units at other Penn graduate schools .

Can I apply to a dual degree program after starting at Wharton?

For most dual degree programs, you can apply to the other program during your first year at Wharton. However, this may extend your time at Penn.

Can I connect with a current student that is a part of a specific dual degree program?

Due to the volume of such requests, we are unable to connect prospective students with current students in every dual degree program. Please review the profiles of our Admissions Fellows and request to be connected with a current MBA student who most closely aligns with your interests.

What if I want to pursue a degree beyond the master’s level at Penn?

Please speak with the PhD department of your interest if you intend to continue your studies beyond the master’s level.

Deferred Admissions with the Wharton MBA Advance Access Programs

The Wharton MBA Advance Access Programs are deferred admission programs that offer undergraduates seniors a guaranteed pathway to the Wharton MBA program after pursuing 2-4 years of work experience after graduation. Please visit the Deferred Admission Programs section  to learn about each program, view frequently asked questions, and learn about upcoming events.

Miscellaneous Frequently Asked Questions

I heard that wharton is offering some of its core courses online through coursera. where can i find out more information about this.

Yes, as part of a greater Penn initiative, Wharton has recently launched nine non-credit, massive open online courses (MOOCs) available at no cost through  Coursera . More information about these offerings is available on the Wharton.Online site ,  Penn’s Open Learning Initiative  site, our  Coursera FAQS page, and the University’s  Coursera homepage . Registration for these courses is available directly through  Coursera.org .

How will changes to the curriculum affect current applicants?

Wharton fully implemented the new curriculum in 2012 and has received much positive student feedback regarding the new course structure and resources. The new curriculum offers increased flexibility based on your background and experience with strengthened emphasis in microeconomics, statistics, ethics and legal responsibility, leadership and communications. New MBA graduates will have access to tuition-free executive education every seven years throughout their careers. See  curriculum .

Are transfer credits accepted?

Wharton does not accept transfer credits, but does encourage students to waive required core courses, either by furnishing the required academic or professional credentials or passing Wharton’s waiver examinations. Waiving courses gives you the opportunity to take more electives.

Can I reapply to the MBA Program?

You can reapply to the MBA program, but not during the same academic year. For more information, visit the Reapplicants section in Admissions Requirements .

What is the median compensation package for graduating MBA students?

The median Annual Base Salary for graduates of the Class of 2020 was $150,000.

Other compensation included tuition reimbursement, relocation expenses, mortgage assistance, automobiles, stock options, etc. For more detailed information, please see the  MBA Career Management’s Annual Career Statistics .

Does Wharton offer a one-year, a part-time, an evening, or a distance-learning MBA?

Wharton offers the  Wharton MBA for Executives  program, a two-year program that offers the same MBA degree in an executive format, delivered in Philadelphia and San Francisco. Other (non-MBA) programs that may interest you are executive programs offered by  Wharton Executive Education .

I’m fluent in another language. How can that help me with my MBA?

Consider the joint  MBA/MA – Lauder program  if you are interested in acquiring an expertise in a specific region and speak one of these nine languages relatively well: Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish. In addition, Wharton offers many opportunities to participate in career treks or global consulting in which you can immerse yourself in the culture and language. See  Global Learning .

We hope that the information on this page has been useful in your educational journey. If you have any further questions you would like to ask MBA admissions , please contact us directly.

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Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

February 3, 2024

How an Admissions Committee Views Your MBA Work Experience

As you apply to MBA programs, you need to think about your work experience and how it fits into your overall story. Work experience is important because of what it reveals about you with respect to your character, maturity level, and abilities. Even if your GPA and GMAT/GRE scores are spectacular, your work experience still needs to impress the admissions committee.

Post-college employment reveals you have “real-world” experience in taking direction, meeting deadlines, assuming responsibility, and working in teams , all of which are highly relevant in a program where group projects are the norm. Developing a baseline track record in your field also gives you industry knowledge and the ability to contribute insights to class discussions. Finally, recruiters prefer MBAs who have work experience.

What follows are some thoughts on how admissions committees view different types of work experience and how you might want to frame your work experience in your MBA application. 

Traditional work experience

You might have worked in marketing but not at Procter & Gamble, worked in banking but not at Goldman Sachs, or worked in technology but not at Google. Will your experience at a modest, relatively unknown company count as much to the admissions committees as that of applicants who have worked for brands with caché? 

Fear not! The quality of your work is much more important than whether you’ve been employed at a name-brand institution.

Brand experience can be a bonus.

Experience with a brand-name firm might give you an edge, at least on the surface, especially if you are an international candidate looking for a job in the United States. For example, the adcoms are familiar with the typical career path at organizations such as Infosys, Google, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg Financial, so they will understand that you were a small fish in a large pond. They will appreciate that you had to work harder to stand out, but they will also look for signs of your talent.

Advancement in large companies is often slow, because such firms are highly structured and bureaucratic, with less room for employees to dazzle their supervisors with distinctive skills and abilities. If your talents were recognized, and you were given a project that would normally be assigned to someone above your pay grade – or if you were fast-tracked for a promotion – this will add stature to your application. Additionally, the fact that a large company with a valued brand name hired you in the first place is an indication that you probably possess at least some of the qualities and skills that your MBA program is looking for.

Even at big-name companies, the substance of your work is still the most important factor.

There are a few things adcoms want to see to verify that your experience within an organization is strong.

Longevity 

If you were employed at a brand-name firm for less than one year, the adcom might have concerns that you did not thrive in that work environment. On the other hand, if you were (or have been) employed at such a company for two or more years, that duration signals competence, persistence, and hard work.

Were you promoted, or did you otherwise earn increased responsibilities? If so, ensure that any promotions are apparent on your resume, even if you haven’t been in your most senior position for long. Regardless of the company, those boosts are proof that you are considered highly capable by management and therefore have a great future ahead of you.

Movement 

If you have more than one brand name on your resume, that is a strong signal that you were able to successfully transition from one world-class firm to another – or perhaps were poached.

Working at a major company provides an additional benefit: an adcom will see that you have experienced the inner workings of an organization that is best in class and will therefore be able to provide valuable perspectives in class discussions. Top companies have done something right to earn their reputations, and you have used and internalized techniques and practices that have enabled their growth to the top.

For all these reasons, experience working with A-list firms can give you an edge in the initial review process. However, what really matters is the substance of your work rather than where you performed it.  

Adcoms seek students with as wide a range of experiences as possible , especially experiences that are relevant to an MBA curriculum. When faculty teach a particular subject and students have related real-world experience, the lessons come to life. This means that the skills and knowledge you gained from significant projects you managed from start to finish matter a great deal – involvement with strategic initiatives matters. You don’t need to have been part of a multimillion-dollar deal to gain strong leadership and management skills.

Small projects can shine, too!

Even small projects that you “own” can be extremely valuable in providing expertise in particular areas. As you advance in your career, always be on the lookout for projects that allow you to take on a significant leadership role and provide you with a degree of autonomy.

Make the most of your resume real estate.

On your resume , you need to condense notable achievements down to just one bullet point each and make every bullet point as impactful as possible. For example, “Led a team of eight to cut supply chain costs by 20% by strategically repurposing older machines.” This example shows leadership, strategic thinking, and quantifiable results – all really important stuff! This is what adcoms want to see. It doesn’t matter if the project size was $10,000 or $1,000,000, or whether it was done at Boeing or Jane’s Jewelry Creations. What matters is that you provided significant results to your company.

Can you show increasing responsibility?

In addition to looking for real-world experience that you can share in the classroom, adcoms look for upward mobility. If you have a track record of promotions, your mobility will be immediately obvious on a resume. If your promotions have been quick because of extenuating circumstances, use the optional essay to explain the specifics.

Even if you don’t have such growth, you can still employ thoughtful wording to showcase how your responsibilities have increased over time: “Rewarded with project management of X following the successful implementation of social media planning schedule.” Essays also offer a place to highlight forward momentum, depending on the topic. Being trusted with greater responsibilities is the clearest signal of strong work experience you can provide for MBA programs. It shows that you have what it takes to succeed both in the program and in your career. 

What about nontraditional work experience? 

Applicants with nontraditional work experience often worry about whether their experiences will be considered relevant in an MBA classroom. I have even heard this from doctors, lawyers, military officers, and other people with impressive accomplishments. Believe it or not, the less traditional one’s work experience, the more an adcom might be interested!

When putting together a cohort, the adcom strives to make it as diverse as possible , in every way they can – job function, industry, culture, and so on. Imagine if a class was made up of only finance people! Or IT engineers! How rich would the discussion be across courses? Not very! Individuals coming from a non-business background are assumed to have approached issues and problems with a different perspective and set of priorities that might allow for additional learning opportunities for their classmates – and possibly even the faculty! That’s why schools are delighted by nontraditional applicants, and you can be assured that your application will get noticed.

However, as a nontraditional applicant, you will need to have two things solidly in your profile to be seriously considered for admission:

Evidence of quant skills

You need to have a top-notch GMAT or GRE score and/or stellar grades in a few courses that indicate your ability to successfully manage the quant work (e.g., statistics, calculus) of a demanding MBA program Because your undergrad coursework might not be directly relatable to a business school’s curriculum, the school needs assurance that you will be able to handle the academic demands of the MBA program. If quant courses are missing from your transcript (and you don’t knock the GMAT or GRE out of the park), you should consider taking a “calculus for business” or statistics class at a local community college or online — and aim to earn a letter grade of B or better to alleviate any concern.

A solid reason for needing an MBA

Believe it or not, there are serial degree seekers out there. Your reason for pursuing an MBA will most likely not be obvious based on your previous work experience, so you must do an outstanding job of presenting your career goals and objectives. Why is an MBA necessary to get you where you want to go?

A nontraditional background can give you a leg up with an admissions committee. But once you have their attention, you’ve got to make your case for acceptance with an impressive application. You’ll need to convince the adcom that you will thrive in their program and require the education it provides to achieve your dreams.

Does entrepreneurship count as work experience?

Yes! If you launched an entrepreneurial venture or joined a start-up, you will have the opportunity to show how you survived and perhaps even thrived in those risky, exciting, uncharted waters. In a small company, you would have had more occasions to display your adaptability and versatility. You probably also handled a wider variety of roles and had more responsibility with less supervision.

Most applicants with these experiences have learned invaluable lessons on a faster track than if they had worked in established firms. Even if their ventures were short-lived, they wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything. Not only did they have to toggle among many disparate kinds of tasks, ranging from sales to public relations to product design, but they also learned – sometimes the hard way – fundamental rules of business planning and formation.

If you write about being an entrepreneur, however, you will have to demonstrate that this is not a euphemism for “unemployed.” Your business might or might not have succeeded, but showing how you planned for it and executed that plan will speak volumes about you. You can write about how you strategized, determined the need in the market for your product or service, and employed a logical sequence of steps to launch and manage your enterprise. If you are leaving your own venture to go to business school, share what will happen to your organization while you are in the MBA program. Who will take on your responsibilities?

Presenting self-employment experience on a resume

Creating a resume as a self-employed individual presents some challenges. If you already have an established business, some of this information is superfluous, but if you have been doing contract work, there are details to manage beyond the summary of the work you have been doing.

Company name 

If you own an established business, you probably already have a company name, but if you are doing freelance work or contract consulting, you might not. You should consider creating a purposeful company name that helps the reader understand that you are indeed self-employed. It could be something as simple as “John Smith Media Consulting” or “E-Commerce Branding Solutions.”

If you are doing contract work or other freelancing, avoid putting “Self-employed” or “Freelancer” as your title. Consider “CEO/Founder,” or if that is overreach, something like “Senior Consultant” or “Senior Engineer.” Choose something that is as close as possible to what your title would be if you were employed by someone else, but without sounding inflated or self-congratulatory. If you have an existing business, the “CEO/Founder” designation is most likely an accurate representation.

Describing your work experience

If you run a business that offers tangible goods or services, mapping out your experience should be fairly straightforward. For example, if you are a contractor, you should discuss projects you have worked on for various firms or individuals, listing details and successes of those projects as much as you can without violating any confidentiality agreements. Hopefully, you have some good, quantifiable results that you can point to. Here are some examples of how you could present projects:

“Overhauled payment system for $XM automotive parts manufacturer, resulting in 20% reduction of A/P.”

“Researched and presented findings on a nonprofit’s proposed expansion into a new territory. Findings were also shared with donors, who then funded 100% of the expansion.”

“Designed website and implemented social media strategy for eight-member start-up in the energy industry.”

How much work experience for MBA programs is enough? How much is too much?

Most applicants to two-year, full-time MBA programs have three to eight years of work experience. If you have been working longer than that, you should probably consider an EMBA or part-time program, or another option geared for more experienced professionals.

Unless a program actively courts younger applicants , two years of work experience is usually the minimum you will need to prove that you can contribute to and benefit from the program. 

How do you handle being laid off? 

With the recent waves of layoffs in the tech industry, you might wonder how an adcom will view applicants who have been let go in this way. Business can be messy, especially during economic uncertainty, and the adcoms understand this. In your resume – and possibly the optional essay – convey what you have been doing to advance your skills while you have been out of work.

Bottom Line

What matters most to MBA adcoms is not the quantity of work experience you have or whether you gained that experience in a small start-up or at Google, it’s how much you have contributed and what impact you have had . Whatever your work experience has been since you graduated from college, if you can prove that your focus, determination, collegiality, initiative, and maturity paved the way for you to make an impact, you are several steps closer to securing a seat in your chosen MBA class. 

Explaining the kind of work experience you have and your career progression in a meaningful way will help the adcoms get to know you better. Furthermore, even two years of full-time, professional employment can lend credibility and substance to your stated career goals, because those goals will clearly be based on real-world business experience that has tested, refined, and clarified them and your roadmap to achieve them, rather than on a youthful, fuzzy, naive dream. 

As the former executive director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and assistant dean of admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School, Kelly Wilson has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for the MBA and master’s programs in management of information systems, computational finance, business analytics, and product management. Want Kelly to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources

• Seven Tips for MBA Applicants from a Family Business Background
• What MBA Admission Officers Think of Applicants Using ChatGPT and AI , podcast Episode 556
• Admissions Advice for MBA Management Consulting Applicants

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Do I Need Work Experience to Apply for an MBA?

MBA programs are typically aimed at candidates who are already in the workplace and wish to develop their management skills to switch careers or launch their own business. That’s why most programs require you to have work experience, which acts as a foundation for the competencies and expertise you build on during an MBA degree.

Work experience typically refers to part-time or full-time employment after graduating from your undergraduate degree, but some schools also consider pre-graduation work, internships, and volunteering as work experience.

What is the minimum work experience required for an MBA?

As one of the core MBA entry requirements , most MBA programs usually require you to have a minimum of two years’ experience. The average MBA student has between three and five years.

But being within or outside of that range doesn’t guarantee an MBA application’s success or failure.

Why does work experience matter?

An MBA refines your skills, rather than developing them from scratch. That’s why it’s important to have some understanding of the working world.

“MBA programs are designed to be hands-on, experiential learning experiences, where students draw from the context of their past professional experience, and their peers' experience, to enrich the learning environment,” explains Melody Jones, co-founder of Vantage Point Admissions Consulting.

Without work experience, class discussions would have to rely much more on theory, offering fewer opportunities for students to learn from each other’s past mistakes and successes.

“They expect a certain degree of maturity, skillset, and managerial ability that comes with experience,” Melody adds.

Work experience also contributes to your post-MBA career development, which requires both academic credentials and real-world experience.

“Since recruiters do not only consider the additional skills gained through an MBA degree, but also the experience brought in from before, it is much harder to convince an employer to consider a candidate who has no kind of professional experience,” says Stephanie Kluth, head of admissions for ESMT Berlin .

What kind of work experience do I need?

There really is no "typical" kind of work experience for an MBA candidate. MBA programs look to build diverse cohorts with students from different industry backgrounds.

“Diversity of experience and professional background are what make MBA programs so unique,” Melody points out.

MBA students hold undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of disciplines like STEM, business, and humanities. They come from a broad range of fields including technology, healthcare, nonprofits, the media, and consulting.

Some have worked for big, well-established firms, while others have experience in very small startups.

Top MBA Programs

What are the best MBA programs for you? Check out our list of top MBA programs by GMAT score sending, featuring HBS, Stanford, and Wharton.

Ultimately, what matters is not the work experience itself, but what it’s taught you and how your responsibilities evolved throughout your experience.

MBA admissions teams don’t look for big name companies, but instead for evidence of leadership. They want to know how you approached challenges, and how your role helped you develop your problem-solving, communication, analytical, and managerial skills.

“Factors like leadership capacity, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and international outlook play a major role in this assessment,” Stephanie says.

Can I get an MBA without work experience?

Clearly, work experience is important in your MBA application. But it’s not the sole predictor of success.

If your application stands out in other ways—exceptional GPA, a strong GMAT score , self-taught data analysis skills, for example—that may be enough to counterbalance a lack of professional work experience.

Activities outside of work, including hobbies, extracurriculars, and community service involvement can also strengthen your MBA application. Especially if you’re able to indicate evidence of leadership development.

As with professional experience, the type of activity doesn’t matter as much as your approach to it and what you’ve learned. Admissions teams are less interested in a particular title than in a demonstrated sense of initiative and willingness to make an impact.

If you have little to no work experience, you can still get an MBA. Early career MBA programs , for instance, equip you with the expertise and network for a successful first step into the professional world. 

You might also consider a deferred MBA program .

Other pre-experience options

If you think you’re too young for an MBA, another alternative could be a business master’s degree , which is targeted at recent university graduates and doesn’t require any work experience.

A business master’s can, like an MBA, provide a holistic understanding of business practices. But while MBA class discussions rely on real-world expertise, learning for business master’s students is usually more theory based. Although real-world learning experiences like consulting projects and company visits are often baked into the curriculum.

If you’re unsure about which degree is the right fit for you at this stage of your career, then ask if you should study a business master’s now or an MBA later . Some candidates do both.

Either way, a lack of professional work experience shouldn’t put you off applying for an MBA. Although most top programs will expect you to have a minimum of a few years’ experience before applying, there are other options available.

If you have a lack of professional work experience when applying for an MBA, do make sure your leadership and academic capabilities shine through elsewhere in your application.

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How Much Work Experience for MBA Programs Do Applicants Need?

When researching MBA programs and structuring your resume, you may have some questions about MBA work experience. 

Which work experiences should you include in your application? How can you know what kind of experience a business school seeks? Do you have enough work experience for MBA programs, or do you have too much?

This article will answer these questions and more, giving you insight into the best way to present yourself and your professional background to an MBA admissions committee.

What is the Purpose of Work Experience for MBA Programs?

The work experience that you include in your MBA application can tell an admissions committee a lot about who you are. It can portray how you’ve grown throughout your career, the ways in which you’ve taken initiative, the impact you’ve made on your company, and the skills you’ve obtained from your profession.

According to Valeria Wiens , Associate Director of Evaluation, Admissions, at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, “The Employment History section of your application allows you to demonstrate that you are accomplished.” 

In short, work experience is an essential aspect of your MBA profile and can make an extensive impression on admissions committees.

How Important is Work Experience to Admissions Committees?

Work experience for MBA programs is an essential aspect of the business school application process . Most top business school admittees have at least some professional experience, and many programs are designed for people who have had at least some full-time experience.

However, it is not impossible to get into business school without a post-graduate career, especially if you apply for a deferred MBA. In this type of program, you can gain admission to business school as soon as you finish your undergrad, take a few years to start your career, and then start working toward your MBA.

Too Much Experience, Or Not Enough?

You might be wondering how much professional experience is required in order to get accepted into a top MBA program. Every program varies slightly in its recommendations and requirements for work experience.

If you have less than two or three years of work experience, you could be at a severe disadvantage at many top business schools. For example, Harvard Business School (HBS) tends to exclusively admit students who have two or more years of experience. 

However, HBS offers its “2+2” program , a deferred degree program that allows current students to apply to HBS. Through this program, students will undergo two years of professional work experience followed by two years of MBA schooling. 

Source: Harvard Business School

On the other hand, there are some schools that stress how work experience is not a defining aspect of their admissions process. One such program is UPenn’s Wharton School , which states that they sometimes accept candidates with little or no work experience as long as they demonstrate strong potential. 

Ultimately, if you have fewer than three years of work experience, it is up to you to use your best judgment in applying to MBA programs. Maybe you need to make up for this experience deficiency in other aspects of your application, like a statement of purpose , or prove your capabilities and potential during your interviews. 

If you think that you can effectively exhibit your potential and growth in ways other than through a post-graduate career, then you may be able to earn a spot in one of your top programs. 

However, if you aren’t confident in your chance of admission without a full-time career, there are other options available. You can wait a few more years to grow in your profession, or you can apply to a deferred MBA program to ensure you have enough experience before you begin your schooling.  

You may also face a disadvantage if you have too much experience. Generally, for full-time MBA students at the top business schools, the range in years of work experience is about two to eight years. 

If you have over eight years of experience, you might find more success in pursuing an Executive or Part-Time MBA. These programs are geared toward those who are further along in their profession and can prove to be significantly more suitable for more experienced candidates. 

Average Age and Years of Work Experience at the Top 10 Business Schools  

You might be wondering where you stand in relation to other MBA candidates’ work experience. The following is a layout of the average age and years of work experience for students in the top 10 business schools . 

These numbers are only averages, not absolutes. However, it might prove beneficial to compare your own age and years of experience to those of your target schools. Doing so will help you determine how well you would fit into an MBA program and if it is the best choice for you. 

If you are outside of the listed ranges, don’t worry. There are many cases of MBA success later in life.

Best Types of MBA Work Experiences

When it comes to deciding which work experiences to include in your MBA application, there are a few important things to consider. 

By researching your target programs and properly exhibiting what you gained from your professional experiences, you can make the most of your career background in your MBA applications.

No Business-Related Experience? No Problem

You might think that not having a business-related career, such as in the fields of finance, accounting, or management, could put you at a disadvantage in the MBA admissions process. 

However, that is not the case . There are people from all walks of life in every MBA program, including those with non-business degrees and professions. Many business schools value diversity among their students’ backgrounds, as having a variety of different perspectives can maximize the learning experience.  

Yale’s School of Management is an example of this; among their MBA students, there are people with backgrounds in Human Resources, Information Technology, and Media and Entertainment. So, even if you do not have a background in a typical “business” field, don’t let that discourage you from applying.

Desirable Skills 

Your MBA work experience should demonstrate an array of desirable skills, particularly leadership, teamwork, and communication. In the MBA application, it isn’t about the type of work you have done but rather about what skills or lessons you gained from your experience.

For example, Harvard Business School’s website states, “rather than focus on specific categories of work experiences, applicants should focus on their roles, responsibilities, and what they have learned from the types of work experiences that they have been involved in.” 

Even if you don’t have an extensive background in a business-related field, that’s okay. Just make sure that your experiences demonstrate that you are ready for the fast-paced, rigorous curriculum that these top business schools have to offer. 

Acceptable Work Experience

When you think of “work experience,” the first thing that comes to mind is probably part-time or full-time paid positions. Maybe you think of a desk job or administrative work. 

However, this type of background, while completely valid for the MBA application, is not the only acceptable type of experience. Maybe you haven’t held a typical nine-to-five job, or you have been involved in a unique profession; it’s still okay to include those positions in your application. 

For example, Wharton accepts a variety of unique backgrounds and positions, including time in the military, the Peace Corps, on a Latter-Day Saints’ Mission, or in other voluntary or internship positions.

Regarding these types of professional experiences, Wharton says, “As with all work experiences, we are interested in the skills acquired on the job and level of progression (measured by scope of responsibilities, job title, salary).” 

If you have a unique background, don’t be afraid to include it in your application. What is important is that you make sure that you are demonstrating how you grew and learned through the opportunity.

However, make sure that you know what exactly your target programs count as work experience. For example, unlike Wharton, NYU Stern considers certain positions, such as full-time work, as “professional work experience” and others, like internships, as just “work experience.” These distinctions are important to keep track of when applying.

Furthermore, Wharton does not consider graduate education as work experience, yet Stern accepts academic projects. Make sure that you check what each of your target schools considers to be work experience before filling out your applications.

Different Schools, Different Values

Different programs have different values, and you should make sure that those particular values are visible through your work experience.

For example, Kellogg School of Management outlines specific qualities that it looks for in MBA applications, including students who “can motivate a team to drive impact, are not afraid to question the status quo and seek the non-obvious solutions, [and] approach business problems with a mix of intellect, energy, and creativity.” 

If applying to Kellogg, you would want to make sure that these qualities are evident when you are discussing your work experiences.

Suppose you are unable to demonstrate your target school’s qualities through your professional background. In that case, you may want to consider a more fitting school or gather experience that provides the necessary qualities and skills. 

Quality Over Quantity

Don’t worry about not having an abundance of experiences or professional positions to discuss in your application. The key is to make sure you can draw from those few experiences and exhibit the skills you gained, the lessons you learned, and the successes you brought to your industry or organization.

1. What is the best kind of MBA work experience?

It’s best to include around three to five years of work experience on your MBA application. However, the “best” kind of experience is any work that can portray your growth and capabilities.

2. Does time in the military count as MBA work experience?

Generally, military service can count as work experience in the MBA application. If you plan to include this in your application, be sure to highlight any leadership roles you held or communication and teamwork skills that you gained during your time in the military.

3. Do I have to have work experience to get into an MBA program?

Most MBA programs require a minimum of two years of professional experience. While there are students with no post-graduate work experience who gain acceptance to top MBA programs, this is a very small percentage of admittees. It’s best to gather at least 2 years of work experience before applying to an MBA program. 

4. How old do you have to be to apply to an MBA program?

Most MBA students are about 27 or 28 years old on average at top business schools. However, there is not a specific age requirement for MBA applicants. 

5. Should I include undergraduate work experience in my MBA application?

Unless you are newly graduated or applying to a deferred MBA program, you probably should not include work experience from your undergraduate years in your application. , Ty to focus on your post-graduate positions unless you had a particularly impactful opportunity in undergrad.

6. Can you have too much work experience for an MBA?

The average MBA student at the top business schools has 4-5 years of experience. However, there is generally no set maximum work experience limit for traditional MBA applicants. 

If you think that you might have too much experience for admission, you may want to apply to Executive MBA programs instead.

Work experience for MBA programs is one of the most critical aspects of your business school application. Not only can it show your professional achievements, but it can also display your best qualities and how you’ve grown professionally. You can demonstrate your potential to admissions committees and how you will contribute to their program.  

By taking the time to understand your target schools and accentuating your best qualities, you can use your MBA work experience to your advantage in the MBA application and show schools why they need your perspective in their class.

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Full-time MBA Program

Frequently asked questions, application process.

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Below are answers to some of our most commonly asked questions, organized by the following topics:

MBA Program

General Information Financing Your MBA

Admissions Criteria  

Admissions General Information Eligibility & Qualifications Work Experience Academic Requirements

Application General Information Transcripts Test Scores Essays Letters of Recommendation Interviews Admissions Decisions

Waitlist Candidates

Waitlist General Information

Consortium General Information

If your questions are not answered here, please feel free to  contact us .

General Information

The Full-Time Berkeley MBA program is a two year full-time degree program. The Berkeley MBA curriculum is anchored by twelve required core courses which students complete in the first year. The  core courses , which make up about 40% of a typical student's course of study, are deliberately designed to build upon one another and provide a common foundation for all the students in the program.  Elective courses  comprise 60% of the Berkeley MBA curriculum, meaning that students begin to customize their own course of study very early in the program. Students take classes Monday through Thursday. Fridays are usually spent attending discussion sessions, career services workshops and other curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Our goal is to enroll roughly 300 students in the Berkeley MBA Program each August. The entering class is divided into four cohorts. In the first semester, all students in each cohort will take the same core classes together. The cohort system provides a support system for first-year entering students.

The main difference between the programs is the profile of the students. The full-time students generally have about 5 years of work experience, Evening & Weekend students generally have about 7 years of work experience, and Berkeley Executive MBA students generally have about 12 years of work experience.

Besides looking carefully over the website, we recommend reaching out to   current students . We also participate in and periodically sponsor  events for potential students.

If you would like to speak with current students, please contact the Haas Student Ambassadors (HSAs). Contact information and bios can be found on the  HSA page . We do not share private alumni or student contact information. However, we do provide several opportunities for prospective applicants to meet both alumni and students. For example, our information sessions bring together members of the Admissions Committee and alumni, who will share information about the program and answer your questions. If you are invited to interview, your interview will be conducted by an alum or current student. If you are offered admission, you will have many opportunities to connect with current students and alums.

Financing Your MBA

Approximately 70% of Haas students receive some form of financial assistance, including   scholarships ,   loans , and/or assistantships.Over $13 million in scholarship funding is awarded each year, providing gift aid to over 50% of full-time MBA students.

All applicants will be considered for merit-based awards and do not require any action. Merit-based awards will be determined based on the overall strength of the admissions application, professional goals, educational achievement, intended concentration, leadership skills, and embodiment of the Haas Defining Leadership Principles. Please note that meeting the stated criteria does not mean you’re guaranteed funds; rather, it means you are eligible for consideration.

Students interested in applying for available supplemental scholarships are encouraged to complete their supplemental scholarship application in the same round for which they are applying for admission. Please note that funding is limited, and funding strategies are subject to change annually. If scholarship funding is a major factor in your decision-making process, we recommend that students apply sooner rather than later in the admission cycle to ensure that they are considered for all available scholarship opportunities.

The University of California, Berkeley participates in the Federal Loan Program, which allows students enrolled at least half-time (6 units) to borrow money directly from the federal government at a fixed interest rate (6.8% for Direct Loans; 7.9% for the Grad PLUS Loan).

A   Free Application for Federal Student Aid   (FAFSA) must be filed each year that a student intends to borrow a Federal Loan. The loans must be paid back beginning six months after graduation or dropping below half-time enrollment. The standard repayment term for these loans is 10 years.

Students often borrow funds through a private loan instead of Federal Loans if they can secure a much lower rate with zero fees. The choice of which type of loan to use rests with each student. While it is often recommended that students utilize the federal loan programs first, we understand that based on individual circumstances, a private loan may be more appealing to some students. The Haas Financial Aid Office encourages students to compare the benefits of the different loan types.

For more information, please visit the   Financial Aid   website. If you still have questions, you may contact the   Financial Aid Office   directly.

Berkeley Haas awards   scholarships   to both domestic and international students.

UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business has secured a loan program for International Students that does not require a co-signer. The lender was selected based on their ability to make loans at reasonable rates for students who are ineligible for federal loans and those with no access to a credit-worthy U.S. co-signer. The loans for this loan program are not made by UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business but is made by the lender below.

We have partnered with a credit union to provide a no-cosigner option by assuming some of the risk on your behalf. For more information see the   International Student Loans   section of the Financial Aid website.

Due to the rigorous nature of the MBA curriculum, students in the Full-time MBA program are not able to work off-campus during their first year. In some cases, second-year students have worked up to 10 hours per week, usually by continuing to work for the company where they held their summer internship. More common is the opportunity for second-year students to serve as graduate student instructors (GSIs). Nearly 30% of our Full-Time MBA students serve in this role, which partially reduces their rate of tuition and also provides them with a small monthly stipend.

All applicants will be considered for merit-based awards and do not require any action. Merit-based awards will be determined based on the overall strength of the admissions application, professional goals, educational achievement, intended concentration, leadership skills, and embodiment of the Haas Defining Leadership Principles .

Students interested in being considered for supplemental scholarship opportunities should are encouraged to apply in the same round for which they are applying for admission.

To apply for Federal Loans, file the   Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) .You can complete the FAFSA any time after October 1st for the upcoming academic year in which you will begin your MBA program. We encourage admitted students to apply for Federal Loans by July 15th. This allows time to complete any supplemental steps in time for the fall semester.

For private loans, you may begin the process as early as May directly with the lender of your choice. We encourage you to complete the private loan application process by July 15th to ensure funds are processed in time for the fall semester.

When filling out the FAFSA, use UC Berkeley Federal Code 001312.

When requesting certification for private loans, use Haas' branch code: 001312-75.

Admissions General Information

The program receives approximately 3,700 applications in a typical year. In recent years, we have received as many as 4,500 applications and as few as 2,800 applications.

Each year, the Berkeley MBA program admits people from a wide variety of backgrounds. When making offers of admission, the Admissions Committee does not follow quotas. The number of people admitted from a certain country, industry, educational background, etc., each year depends on the number of people who apply, and the strength of the applicant pool.

There are three   Application Deadlines , which can be found on the main admissions page.  

Note : The GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL must be taken on or before the designated deadline. Your complete online application must be submitted prior to 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on the deadline date. In addition, all supplemental materials must be postmarked on or before the deadline date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, provided that you do not sacrifice the quality of your application to do so. If you find that you need more time to revise your essays or retake the GMAT, for example, you should definitely take the extra time to do so.

Eligibility & Qualifications

We are unable to evaluate a candidate's competitiveness or determine eligibility in advance of submitting a formal application. Each applicant's professional experience is reviewed along with academic aptitude, GMAT/GRE examination results, TOEFL examination results (if applicable), and letters of recommendation. Generally speaking, most of the current MBA students have two or more years of full-time professional experience following the completion of their undergraduate degree.

Our   class profile   will serve as a good first point of evaluating your qualifications in relation to our current students.  The profile includes statistics related to test results, years of work experience, industry interests, etc. Our website outlines the   Guidelines and Criteria   for applying to the Berkeley Full-time MBA program. This outline will provide explanations of what the Admissions Committee is looking for in each applicant. 

Applicants with a four-year bachelors degree from an Indian school are eligible for consideration. Applicants with a three-year Indian bachelor's degree who also hold a master's or other advanced degree are eligible for consideration. Applicants with a three-year Indian bachelors degree and no additional degree may apply, but are at a significant competitive disadvantage when compared to applicants with similar backgrounds and eligible education.

Recognized 4-year basic or first degrees from India include:   B. Tech., B. Eng., B. Eng. (Hons), B. Sc. in Engineering, B. Pharmacy, and BSc. in Agriculture and Forestry.

Other recognized basic or first degrees from India include:   B.D.S. (4-5 years); B. Arch. (5 years); B. VSc. (5 years); LL.B. (5 years integrated course or 2-3 years following a bachelor’s degree); B. Tech. and the M. Tech. (5 year dual degree program awarded by the Indian Institute of Technology); Bachelor’s of Medicine Bachelor’s of Surgery (M.B.B.S); and Postgraduate Diploma (PGDM) awarded by the International Management Institute of New Delhi (2 years full-time or 3 years part-time).

Recognized second degrees from India:   A Postgraduate Diploma (PGDM) awarded by the Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad (IIM), Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore (IIMI), or Lucknow (2 years beyond bachelor's degree) is a recognized second degree. A PGDM in Industrial Engineering awarded by the National Productivity Council (2 years beyond bachelor's degree with first class) is also recognized as a second degree.

Unaccepted first degrees:   A Postgraduate Diploma in business technology awarded by the Centre for International Management (16 mos) is an UNACCEPTABLE first degree.  Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Associate of Institute of Cost Works Accountants, Associate of Business Management, and Associate of Institute of Engineers are NOT acceptable as substitutes for a four-year degree.

Eligibility with regard to the degrees equivalent to a US bachelor's degree cannot be determined in advance of filing an application. The Graduate Division reserves the right to review the official academic records of all applicants whose undergraduate degrees were earned outside the US to determine whether the academic credentials presented for a foreign institution are comparable to the US bachelor's degree.

University policy prohibits awarding of duplicate degrees. If you have an MBA or comparable degree from an institute of higher education, your application will be ineligible for consideration.

Work Experience

The quality of an MBA program is immeasurably enhanced by the real-world business experience that students bring to the classroom. Most of our students have two or more years of full-time professional work experience following the completion of their undergrad degree. The average years of post-university work experience is 5 years.   More important than quantity, however, is the quality of that experience. When reviewing applications, we are particularly interested in the progression and milestones of your career, as well as your supervisor's assessment of your value as an employee and potential as a leader. 

We admit candidates with solid professional experience who come from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds. Our   class profile   provides a list of previous industries prior to beginning the Berkeley MBA program. Preference is not given to a particular field or fields.

Although not a formal requirement, virtually all of our students have two or more years of professional work experience since the completion of their bachelor's degrees. The average years of post-university work experience for those admitted is just over 5 years. The middle 80% range of years of work experience is between 3-8 years. Therefore, applicants without any substantial work experience would not be as competitive. We recommend current undergraduates to consider Accelerated Access for a conditional admission opportunity. The Admissions Committee does review and consider pre-university work experience in the review of each application; but very often pre-university work experience does not demonstrate the level of progression and milestones (such as promotions and increased responsibility) that are evident in post-university experience. Please document pre-university work experience on your application in the Supplemental Information section (list full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies, indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree). Your work experience prior to pursuing your undergraduate degree should not be counted in the post-university employment section of the application.

The Admissions Committee takes everything into consideration when reviewing applications. While we realize graduate education can provide worthwhile experience, it does not necessarily carry as much weight as full-time professional work experience.

Academic Requirements

While there is no minimum acceptable GMAT or GRE score, see last year's   class profile   for average test scores. We are especially interested in your performance on the quantitative section as an indication of your mathematics proficiency. Please note that the Analytical Writing component is required for both the GMAT and GRE.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is administered in three formats, internet-based, paper and pencil, and computer-based. If you take the internet-based version, you must earn a score of at least 90. If you take the paper and pencil version, your score must be at least 570 out of 677. And if you take the computer-based test, you must earn a score of at least 230 out of 300. For detailed information about the TOEFL please visit the TOEFL website at   http://www.toefl.org/   While TOEFL is preferred, you can submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) designed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and administered by the British Council worldwide. To register for the IELTS, consult the IELTS website at   http://www.ielts.org/ , or contact the office of the test center where you plan to take the test. You may also write the British Council, Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 6BB, U.K. or email the Council. You are responsible for providing us with an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS. Remember to order the TRF when you register to take the test. Your most recent overall BAND score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.

Although we do not have a minimum requirement, a GPA of B (3.0) or better is generally the standard for serious consideration. Our   class profile   provides more information about test scores, years of work experience, average GPA, backgrounds, and industry interests for current Berkeley MBA students.

The admission committee reviews your entire academic record; however, the committee focuses more heavily on your first bachelor's degree.

If your institution does not use a 4.0 grading scale, please do not calculate your GPA. Please enter your GPA as is and indicate the grading scale being used. If you were educated outside of the US, complete the appropriate information in the application.

The Admissions Committee reviews international coursework according to the educational system for each particular country/institution. Every year they review hundreds of applicants with degrees from institutions all over the world, and they are familiar with the various international systems and grading scales. The UC Berkeley Graduate Division maintains a database with educational information from every country, and the Admissions Committee uses this as a resource when assessing academic performance for international applicants. 

Please do not attempt to convert your grades to a US scale. We do not accept credential evaluation reports or conversions from outside institutions (WES, ECE, FCSA, etc.). Please do not send credential evaluation reports in addition to or in place of a transcript issued by the institution.

We do not accept transfer credits from other universities into the MBA program. You may waive out of core courses at the discretion of the faculty, but you must replace the waived course with another class.

Quantitative proficiency is assessed by looking at whether applicants have taken calculus, statistics, and/or any upper-level math courses during their undergraduate education. The Admissions Committee will also look at your GMAT or GRE score, and the quantitative nature of your work (if any) to determine your level of quantitative proficiency. The curriculum at Haas includes courses that have a qualitative focus and others that are more analytical and quantitative. All applicants should have completed, at a minimum, a college-level mathematics or statistics course. Haas faculty who teach quantitative courses will assume you have mastered the basic material. Therefore, although there are no official course requirements, the Admissions Committee looks carefully at quantitative proficiency when making its admissions decisions.

Application General Information

Applications to the Full-time MBA and Evening & Weekend MBA programs are processed separately - the programs are independent of one another.  Applicants may only apply to one program per admissions cycle as outlined by our Graduate Division requirements.

This depends on the dual degree program to which you apply. To find more information about the MBA/MPH, MBA/MEng, or JD/MBA, please visit our Concurrent Degree Applicants page, and check out contact information for each program below.

Any student who seeks admission to the MBA program will need to complete a new admissions application, regardless of whether or not they are currently enrolled or completed a degree program at UC Berkeley.

Once your application has been submitted, you may not make changes or adjustments to the content. The Admissions Committee asks that you do not send additional material other than what is requested as part of the application.  However, you may provide an update if you have a change in your employment status or position, if you completed a quantitative course and are providing the grade, or if your contact information has changed.  Please send an email to   [email protected]   with the updated information.

The Admissions Committee strongly discourages sending any application material other than what is requested. Only applicants placed on the waitlist are given the option of submitting additional materials at that time.

Please refrain from contacting the admissions office to verify that we have received your official transcripts or test scores. You will receive an email once your application has been initially reviewed for completeness, approximately 3 - 6 weeks from the deadline for which you applied. If anything is missing, we will send you an email outlining the missing documents needed for review.

Transcripts

You must provide one   official transcript   (or academic record) issued by the university for each institution you have attended. For initial review, you may provide a copy of each official document. If you are recommended for admission, you must immediately submit all required official academic documents issued by your institution. All applicants must provide transcripts with:

• The name of the degree and date of conferral.
• The name of every class you have taken toward the completion of the degree.
• The number of credits received per class.
• The grade obtained for each course.

International applicants must also provide:

• An official degree certificate issued by the university , if the name of the degree and the date of conferral are not listed on the transcript.
• A certified English translation of the official transcript , if the original transcript is not in English.
• A certified English translation of the official degree certificate , if the original degree certificate is not in English.

Please Note : If you have attended school abroad, either as part of an exchange program administered by your school or on your own, or if you have transferred units from another institution to your degree-granting institution, please make sure your degree-granting institution's transcript meets all of the above requirements for those classes. Otherwise, request official transcripts directly from the institution where each class was taken.

A transcript is considered   official   if:

• It arrives in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution.
• It includes the name of the degree and the date of conferral. If you have an international degree and your transcript does not include the name of the degree and the date of conferral, you must submit an official degree certificate to fulfill this requirement.
• It includes the course names, credits, and/or grades received.
• It is sent Electronically via a  secure third-party transcript vendors. Some examples:  eTranscript California ,  Parchment Exchange ,  eSCRIP-SAFE , and  National Student Clearinghouse . 

A transcript is considered   unofficial   if: 

• It arrives in an opened/unsealed envelope or without an envelope from the issuing institution.
• It was sent by the applicant without an envelope sealed by the issuing institution.
• It is a photocopy or scan of an original transcript.
• It was sent via email attachment.
• It does not include the name of the degree and the date of conferral and there is no degree certificate included.
• It does not include the course names, credits, and/or grades received.

Please note:  We will not accept printouts of online grade reports in place of transcripts. If you submit a scan or photocopy of your transcript for review, it must be a copy of the official transcript.

We prefer that you upload copies of your official transcripts or degree certificates with your online application. If you are recommended for admission, you will be required or instructed on how to submit official transcripts and degree certificates.

Please do NOT email electronic versions of academic records to us. They will not be accepted. Your academic documents contain confidential information and sending them via email could expose you to risk. The Haas School of Business is not responsible for academic records that are emailed to us.

Online:   See the application instructions for more information. PDFs of academic records may be uploaded via the application for each educational institution you list in the education section. We only accept PDF format for upload and ask that you determine the document will be legible and can print on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. Please scan BOTH sides of your transcripts. You may withdraw and re-upload your documents as often as you like, but due to security concerns you will not be able to preview your uploaded document. Please do not contact the admissions office to confirm that the upload was successful. If your documents are not legible or there were any problems during the upload, we will contact you as we prepare and set up your file for review.

By Mail:   Full-Time MBA Admissions   Haas School of Business   University of California, Berkeley 430 Student Services Bldg #1902   Berkeley, CA 94720-1902

Transcripts are required for:

• Any quantitative transfer courses that do not appear on the transcript from your degree-granting institution.

Transcripts are   NOT   required for:

• Non-quantitative transfer courses.
• Courses taken during high school.

Official records are original documents issued by the institution that bear the original stamp or embossed seal of the issuing institution and the stamped or signed signature of the appropriate authorizing official.

For initial review:   Copies of official academic records (including photocopies) will be accepted for review purposes. You may submit scans of your transcripts via the online application or mail the copies in as part of your Supplemental Materials.

For admission:   If you are recommended for admission, you will be required to immediately submit official academic records issued by the school. If it will take more than 2-3 weeks to receive official, certified documents, you should request them now as any delay in our receipt of your documents could jeopardize your review and timely admissions decision.

Official international transcripts may be brought in by hand. When you arrive on campus in August you will hand deliver your official documents to the Graduate Division office on campus:

Admissions Office of the Graduate Division 318 Sproul Hall Berkeley, CA 94720-5900

If your institution only provides one set of documents at the time of graduation, you must provide official photocopies that have been certified or attested as “true” by the registrar of the university, the principal of the constituent college, the controller of examinations, the head of the student’s department, or the Fulbright Commission. To be acceptable as “true” the photocopies must be signed in ink by one of the officials listed above.

All academic records must be issued in the original language and accompanied by English translations prepared by the issuing institution. Specially prepared English versions are not acceptable in place of documents issued in the original language. If translations are not available from the institution itself, they may be prepared by government or official translators. Translators must state that the translation is a complete and exact word-for-word translation of the original. In particular, be sure that the translator or institution does not "interpret" grading scales on our behalf by attempting to convert your institution's or country's system into the US 4.0 scale.

If recommended for admission we will require an official transcript and degree certificate issued by your University. We require that you send academic documents in both the original language and in English. We accept an official English translation by a university official or by a certified ATA translator.

You can utilize the following websites to search for and reach out to a certified ATA translator:

• ATA homepage: http://www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories/
• ATA website for searching for certified translators in a certain country: http://atanet.org/onlinedirectories/individuals_tabs.php#tabs-2

*Only individual translators can be certified by ATA. Documents prepared by translation companies with ATA membership DO NOT suffice. Documents prepared by a certified ATA translator should show the ATA-Certified Translator Seal

Generally, notarized copies (public or government) are acceptable. If you have a question about providing a notarized copy, you should contact the Admissions Office by email at   [email protected] .

Test Scores

The Graduate Division requires all applicants who received their degrees from countries in which the official language is not English to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement is education-based, and we are unable to make an exception. Not all universities where instruction is conducted in English are considered sufficient to waive the TOEFL requirement. Please review the English Language Proficiency Requirement  for more information.

All exams (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL) must be taken on or before the application deadline for the round in which you apply. Please self-report your scores on the application, and request to have your official scores sent to us.

You may also seek to improve your GMAT or GRE score after you submit your application. We will consider updated scores as long as they are received no later than two (2) weeks prior to the notification deadline for the round in which you applied. Learn more about reporting dates .

GMAT code: N2VPT47   GRE code: 0574 TOEFL institution code 4833, department 02 IELTS: Send IELTS electronically from the testing center, no institution code is required. Our address for IELTS identification purposes is: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Rm 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 94720. Please do not mail any score reports.

You may cut and paste formatted text into the Berkeley Haas application. However, please note that the format of your responses may change. This happens because different web browsers and word processing applications all behave a little differently and interact adversely at times with our online application. Please consider these best practices:

• Type directly.   When possible, type a response directly into the application and format using the online tools.
• Strip formatting before pasting.   Do not copy and paste directly from a word processor (i.e. Word 2010, Outlook 2010) into the online application. First, copy and paste the response into Notepad (PC) or Textedit (mac) and from there into the Berkeley Haas application. Your formatting will be removed but your text will all be preserved in the proper order. Rebuild your formatting, adding bullets, bold, etc., using the application tools.
• Review your answers.   After you finalize and save your response, be sure to review your answers.
• No pictures or other media.   Please do not paste pictures or other non-text media into your answers. They may cause problems in our reviewing your application.

Letters of Recommendation

We prefer that both letters come from a current or former employer, but we also understand not all applicants have the same options for letters of recommendation. Select individuals with whom you have had considerable professional interaction such as your supervisor or a major client. The title or status of those you select is not important. What does matter is how closely your recommenders have worked with you and whether they can attest to your value as an employee, your professional accomplishments, and your personal qualities and interpersonal skills in an organizational context. For this reason, we discourage academic references. Letters of recommendation from co-workers, someone you have supervised, or personal and family friends are inappropriate and can be detrimental to the review of your application.

It is up to you to determine who would be the best person to write your letter of recommendation. You may want to consider major clients, a former supervisor, or the Director/Leader of an extracurricular group or volunteer organization in which you're involved. Select individuals who have had the opportunity to observe you in a supervisory capacity and who can attest to your professional qualities, leadership abilities and/or potential, and skills in an organizational context.

As long as you have submitted your application and paid the application fee by the deadline, it is acceptable for your recommender to submit the letter of recommendation a few days after the deadline date. Please keep in mind that without two letters of recommendation, your application will be considered incomplete and cannot be reviewed until both letters have been received. You can check the status of your recommender's submission by logging into your   online application .

While we prefer that recommendations are submitted electronically via the online application, you may ask your recommender to complete a paper recommendation form. All paper recommendations must arrive in a sealed envelope with the letter writer's signature across the envelope seal.

Please mail official letters of recommendation to:   Full-Time MBA Admissions   Haas School of Business   University of California, Berkeley 430 Student Services Bldg #1902   Berkeley, CA 94720-1902

It is acceptable to obtain the recommendation in the native language of the author. The original letter and an English translation completed by an ATA ( American Translators Association ) certified translator must be provided through the mail with the letter writer’s signature across the seal of the envelope.

Unsubmitted Applications.   If you are still working on your application, you can manually change your recommender by logging into your   online application :

• Go to the Recommendation section of your application.
• Select   Edit   and   Exclude   the recommender you wish to remove.
• After excluding your original recommender, you will have the option to add your new recommender's information.

Submitted Applications.   If you have already submitted your online application and would like to change your recommender, please email the admissions office directly at [email protected] . We are open Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM PT.   Please note: If your recommender has already completed and sent in their form, we are not able to delete it.

Interviews are conducted solely at the invitation of the admissions committee, and only after the initial review of your application. Therefore, we ask that you please refrain from contacting us to request an interview. Receiving an invitation should be taken as a sign of interest on the part of the admissions committee.  Interviews are offered through prerecorded video, and remotely with a current student or alumni.

Interview invitations are extended 4 weeks after the application deadline, and continue on a rolling basis until the deadline for your round. You will be notified by email if you are invited to interview.

There is no difference between the review of pre-recorded and live interviews. All interviews are reviewed equally, and the same interview form is completed to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee, who gives equal consideration to all formats.

Interview invitations will be sent to the email you provided on your application. You may complete a pre-recorded interview at your earliest convenience, or register for a scheduled live interview. For live interviews, the schedule is offered based on our student and alumni interviewer availability.

Admissions Decisions

We communicate with applicants through email.  Admissions decisions will be released on the notification deadline for each round. You will receive an email from our office at that time, instructing you to check your online application status. Current application deadlines can be found on the main Admissions page of our website.

Our Admissions Committee takes great pride in reading and evaluating applications for admission. Every single application, regardless of GPA, test scores, or number of years of work experience, is read by a minimum of two readers. In many instances, an application is read by three readers, and sometimes four. As a result, it does take some time before we extend our interview invitations. Interview invitations are extended approximately 4-6 weeks after the deadline date, and continue until the notification deadline. Please be patient as you await word from us.

Unfortunately we are not able to expedite admissions decisions for applicants. We understand that many applicants apply to several schools, and the varying deadlines often conflict. However, it is our policy to release all decisions for each round on the same day. You will be notified of your admissions decision on the notification date of the round in which you applied. Current   application deadlines   can be found on the   main Admissions page   of our website.

All admission decisions are final, and there is no appeal process.

Deferrals are very uncommon for the Full-time Berkeley MBA Program.  In extreme circumstances, they may be granted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Director of Admissions.

To accept a place on the waitlist, please indicate your interest via your   online application   portal as soon as possible. If we do not receive a response from you by the deadline stated in the email, your application will be withdrawn.

Candidates must also have a completed interview on file to be further considered for admission. Those who have not yet had an interview will be able to submit a video interview via your online application portal.

The number of candidates on the waitlist fluctuates depending on timing within the admissions cycle. While we anticipate admitting some waitlisted candidates, the applicant pool and yield on offers of admission varies each year. Therefore, we cannot predict exactly how many candidates will be placed on the waitlist or how many applicants will be offered admission based on previous years.

We will review the waitlist periodically throughout the admissions cycle and provide updates regarding admission status on an ongoing basis between late February and early August. During this time, we may make offers of admission from the waitlist, release candidates from the waitlist, or reconfirm candidates' interest in remaining on the waitlist. As we will be reviewing the waitlist on a rolling basis, please be sure to submit any updated information that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider when evaluating your candidacy in a timely manner. All final admissions decisions will be communicated by August.   We strongly discourage applicants from calling or emailing frequently to inquire about their status on the waitlist.

No, we do not rank our waitlist. We periodically review all waitlisted candidates but waitlisted candidates are not placed in a ranked order.

The Admissions Committee is not able to provide individual feedback regarding the specific area(s) to address while you are on the waitlist. We value candidates who are able to self-assess areas of growth in the application process. Focus on substantive, meaningful improvements that you feel will make you a stronger candidate or provide information not already presented in your application.

Below are general suggestions of common areas to address to help enhance your candidacy; not every suggestion will be relevant to each candidate.

2)  Test scores.  If your GMAT or TOEFL scores fall below  our averages , you may wish to retake the test and forward an unofficial score (followed by your official score) to the admissions office. Please email your scores to  [email protected] .

3)  Quantitative ability.  If you feel you have not sufficiently demonstrated quantitative ability through your undergraduate and graduate level coursework and/or your quantitative subscore on the GMAT or GRE, you may wish to enroll in a statistics or calculus course at a local college, retake the GMAT or GRE, or do both.

5)  Personal statement.  You may submit a new statement to update the Admissions Committee on any significant changes in your professional or personal life since your application was submitted that will add value to your candidacy.  Relevant updates may include a promotion, change in employment, updated test score, enrollment or completion of a quantitative course, etc.  You may also submit a personal statement if you wish to clarify your career goals or, particularly for those intending to switch careers, provide further detail on steps you have taken to prepare for your career transition.

No. We are not able to conduct an expedited review of your application.

In recognition of the time typically required to secure a visa and relocate from abroad, we plan to provide a final admission for all international candidates on the waitlist by July. Our program and international office is readily available to support students through the matriculation process.

You may submit updates via email or mail to the admissions office.  When possible, updates sent via email are preferred. Please consolidate your updates into as few communications as possible.   We will confirm via email when any updates have been made to your file.

Email:   [email protected]

Mailing Address: Full-Time MBA Admissions   Haas School of Business University of California, Berkeley 430 Student Services Bldg. #1902   Berkeley, CA 94720-1902

Since we will be reviewing the waitlist on a rolling basis, please be sure to submit any updated information that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider when evaluating your candidacy in a timely manner. At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, a member of the admissions team may contact you regarding your application. We strongly discourage applicants from calling or emailing frequently to provide updates or to inquire about their status on the waitlist.

Candidates who are admitted from the waitlist are eligible for Berkeley Haas scholarships based on the remaining scholarships.  For more information about scholarships and other financial aid opportunities, please refer to our   Financial Aid   website or contact the Office of Financial Aid at   [email protected] .

A campus visit is not required, but we welcome you to   visit Berkeley Haas   to continue learning about our program while you are on the waitlist.

Please notify us immediately if you no longer wish to remain on our waitlist — you may email us at   [email protected]   or indicate your decision via your   online application   portal.

Please see our  Consortium  webpage for more details about upcoming deadlines.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, provided that you do not sacrifice the quality of your application to do so. If you find that you need more time to revise your essays or to retake the GMAT, for example, you should definitely take the extra time to do so.

If you apply in Round 1, we will review your application earlier, so you may receive an interview invitation and/or admission earlier. The Consortium determines the application deadlines so that you can plan accordingly for submitting your Consortium application to all member schools for which you wish to apply.

No. We do not provide test fee waivers to Consortium applicants.

The GMAT or GRE must be taken on or before The Consortium application deadline for the round in which you apply. Updated scores can be emailed to us up to two weeks before our notification deadline.

Both Berkeley Haas and The Consortium keep application materials from the previous two application cycles. If you applied more than two years ago, you are required to submit an entirely new application. Reapplicants who applied in the last two years must submit a new application that includes all required data forms and essays, an updated résumé, one mission support recommendation, and the application fee. You may re-use the following items: GMAT or GRE score if not expired, professional recommendations, and transcripts.

As a reapplicant to Berkeley Haas, we strongly recommend that you use the optional essay (on the Berkeley Supplemental Application) to outline how you have improved your candidacy since your last application. The Admissions Committee will be looking for substantive change in your qualifications. We also recommend that you provide updated professional recommendations which may highlight your most current professional achievements, as well as speak to how you have enhanced your candidacy since you last applied. If you have taken the GMAT/GRE and TOEFL again, ask to have the new official scores sent to The Consortium and note your new score on the Test Score section of the application.

No. If you are denied admission to the Full-time Berkeley MBA program after applying through the Consortium, you are not eligible to apply to the Full-time program within the same academic cycle.

Once the Admissions Committee has reviewed your Consortium application, you may be invited to interview. Receiving an invitation should be taken as a sign of interest on the part of the Admissions Committee. Interviews are offered through prerecorded video, and remotely with a current student or alumni. Interview invitations generally start going out four weeks after the application deadline, and continue to go out on a rolling basis up until the notification deadline. You will be notified by email if you are invited to interview.

Yes, you are eligible (and encouraged!) to apply for any of our MBA   Scholarships . You can find information on our scholarships and other details to finance your MBA on our   Financial Aid   website.

MBA/MPH:   You may apply to the MBA/MPH program through The Consortium. You should choose the MBA/MPH option when completing the Berkeley Haas section of The Consortium application. Applicants to the MBA/MPH program are required to submit an additional statement of purpose. Please note that for fellowship recipients this only covers the first two years of the two-and-a-half year MBA program.

MBA/MEng:   You may apply to the MBA/MEng program through The Consortium. You should choose the MBA/MEng option when completing the Berkeley Haas supplemental section of The Consortium application. Applicants to the MBA/MEng program are required to submit an additional statement of purpose.

JD/MBA:   The JD/MBA concurrent degree applicants are not eligible to apply to the JD/MBA program through The Consortium. To apply for the JD/MBA concurrent degree, please apply directly through the Berkeley Haas  application .

Whether a Consortium Fellowship recipient or Consortium Member, you must remain in good academic standing (i.e., 3.0 GPA or higher) while a student at Berkeley Haas.

Deferrals are very uncommon for the Berkeley MBA Program. In extreme circumstances, they may be granted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Director of Admissions. Deferral of a Consortium Fellowship is also reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The University of California, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and university policy, prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized). This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.

Inquiries may be directed as follows:   Sex discrimination and sexual harassment: Nancy Chu, Title IX Compliance Officer, 510-643-7985.   Disability discrimination and access:   Ed Rogers, A.D.A./504 Compliance Officer, 510-643-5116   (voice) or 510-642-3172 (TTY).   Other inquiries may be directed to the Academic Compliance Office, 200 California Hall, #1500, 510-642-2795

Notice of Availability:

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the University of California, Berkeley publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes current security policies plus crime and fire statistics for the previous three calendar years. The body of the report also contains contact information for various campus and community resources related to crime prevention and survivor assistance. A digital copy of the report can be accessed via the link below, or paper copies are available free of charge at 1 Sproul Hall.

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Is Masters counted as work experience ?

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College Nut

Do Internships Count as Work Experience for MBA?

The importance of internships in college.

College students often think of internships as a means to gain experience in their field of study. It’s a chance to get their foot in the door, network with professionals, and see if the profession is for them. However, internships also have an impact on post-college plans, particularly on graduate school applications. In this essay, we will explore the question of whether internships count as work experience for MBA programs.

The Value of Work Experience for MBA Programs

MBA programs have a reputation for being competitive and selective. They look for candidates who possess exceptional leadership skills, have a demonstrated track record of success, and possess industry knowledge. Work experience is one of the metrics that MBA programs consider in evaluating an applicant’s candidacy. The more work experience one has, the more competitive they become in the applicant pool.

What Counts as Work Experience?

Before we can dive into the question of whether internships count as work experience, we must first define what counts as work experience. Generally, work experience refers to any employment, paid or unpaid, that one has had in their field of study. It includes any job, internship, or co-op experience that is related to the profession in which one is applying.

The Difference Between Work Experience and Internships

Work experience.

Work experience is typically a full-time or part-time job that one holds in their field of study. The job may be a paid position, but it could also be an unpaid internship or volunteer work. The key factor in work experience is that the individual is performing duties that relate to their field of study, and they are accountable for their performance. Employers expect them to show up on time, complete assigned tasks, and work collaboratively with others on their team. They may have to report to a supervisor or manager, and they may be evaluated on their performance.

Internships

An internship is a temporary work experience, usually lasting between 3-6 months, that is designed to give college students hands-on experience in their field of study. It’s a chance for students to apply classroom knowledge to the real world, gain practical skills, and make valuable connections in their industry. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and some offer college credit. Interns are expected to show up on time, complete assigned tasks, and work collaboratively with others on their team. They may have a supervisor or mentor, but they are not typically evaluated on their performance in the same way as an employee.

The Pros and Cons of Including Internships as Work Experience on MBA Applications

Including internships as work experience on MBA applications can benefit the applicant in several ways.

Demonstrates Industry Knowledge: If the internship was in the same field as the MBA program, it shows the admissions committee that the applicant has a good understanding of the industry.

Highlights Leadership Skills: Depending on the internship, the applicant may have had the opportunity to take on leadership roles, such as supervising other interns or managing a project.

Shows Initiative: Taking on an internship while in college shows initiative and a willingness to gain hands-on experience in the profession.

On the other hand, there are some potential drawbacks to including internships as work experience on MBA applications.

Lack of Accountability: As previously mentioned, internships are different from jobs in that interns are not typically evaluated on their performance in the same way as an employee. This lack of accountability could raise questions about the quality of work the applicant did during their internship.

Short Duration: The duration of an internship is usually shorter than that of a job. Admissions committees may view this as a sign of less experience and less commitment to the profession.

In conclusion, whether internships count as work experience for MBA programs depends on how the applicant defines work experience. Generally, MBA programs consider work experience to be any employment, paid or unpaid, that one has had in their field of study. This includes internships, but the value of the internship will depend on the duration, quality of work, and relevance to the MBA program. It’s up to the applicant to decide whether to include their internships on their MBA application and to make a case for why it should be considered work experience.