What You Need to Know About Early and Deferred Admissions

When you decide to apply for an MBA depends on where you’re at with your career and goals. Business schools often offer a variety of ways to apply—from early to regular admission and even deferred.

US News recently spoke to experts, who explain how early and deferred admission programs work, and what applicants should know about each.

EARLY ADMISSION

Early admission MBA programs are a good option if you’re a high-achieving undergraduate student who’s set on a specific business school.

“These programs are designed for students with no full-time work experience and open the door for recent graduates to build expertise in a chosen field before getting their MBA,” Alana Olswing, of InGenius Prep, says.

One of the biggest benefits of applying early admission is having higher odds of acceptance since most business schools admit students based on a rolling basis.

“It gives people an option to put themselves at the head of the line,” Michael Robinson, a senior director of MBA admissions at Columbia Business School, tells US News.

Olswing says the best way for early admission applicants to distinguish themselves amongst the competition is to convey both ambition and a unique approach to business.

“This means that you can distinguish yourself by pursuing impactful leadership opportunities in your activities and internships, and bring business to creative spaces like the humanities and social sciences,” Olswing says. “Aim for tangible and demonstrative achievements. If you are applying for early admit programs, you need to take the time to gain business experiences that are impressive enough for them to go ahead and admit you now.”

DEFERRED ADMISSION

Deferred admission MBA programs allow students to gain work experience after they’re admitted. Typically, deferred admission programs will guarantee college seniors a seat and allow them to enroll in the MBA program two to five years post-college.

“This allows students to focus on their work experience with their MBA plans already in place,” Olswing says.

A big benefit of deferred admission is the flexibility it gives for students who want to explore post-undergraduate jobs or experiences.

“So instead of me just kind of naturally taking this job with this big corporate brand, knowing that will help me get into MBA school, now that I already have an offer in hand, I might be able to take a job at a startup or at a nonprofit – something that is really more of a passion project,” Jarrett Brandon Early, a senior admissions consultant with the Menlo Coaching admissions consulting company, says of potential MBA students.

Sources: US News, InGenius Prep

Want a Full-Ride MBA? Here’s What It Takes

Tuition for a full-time, two-year MBA education tops $200,000 at every single top 25  business school in the U.S. But what if you could get an MBA degree for half the cost? Or, better yet, for free?

Fortune recently offered insight into what it takes to be eligible for a full-ride MBA and how applicants can best position themselves for financial aid.

WHICH SCHOOLS OFFER THE HIGHEST AWARDS?

Among the top B-schools, Columbia Business School, New York University’s Stern School of Business, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business are known to offer high awards for scholarships, according to Fortune.

But, experts say, landing a full-ride at a top B-school is rare. If you’re intent on getting a full-ride scholarship, your best bet is to consider a lower ranked B-school.

“Recognize that maybe you’ll end up at your fourth or fifth choice, but maybe your fifth choice is really coming up with a financial package that is going to make it feasible for you,” Judith Hodara, cofounder and director at Fortuna Admissions, tells Fortune.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A FULL-RIDE?

It isn’t easy to land a full-ride scholarship, but if you have the right elements in your application, you could very well be eligible.

Those elements typically include a high undergraduate GPA, above-average GMAT (or GRE) scores, outstanding leadership skills, and demonstrated interest in the B-school. One factor doesn’t necessarily outweigh the other, and you don’t need to hit every factor out of the ballpark, but you need to have the right mix.

“It’s more like cooking a recipe. You need the meat, the potatoes, the spices,” David White, founding partner of Menlo Coaching, tells Fortune. “You need a lot of things to make the right mix.”

If there’s one place to shine in your application, it’s your essay. This, experts say, is where you can showcase your fit for a B-school and make your case for a full-ride.

“Although there’s no ‘formula’ for receiving a scholarship, all of my clients who have received one have been especially vulnerable and personal in their essays, on top of impressive scores and accomplishments,” Melody Jones, co-founder and president of Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting, tells Fortune.

Sources: Fortune, Fortune, P&Q

Outside LBS’ Sussex Place Building. Copyright Richard Moran

 London Business School MBA Essays: Experts Tips

London Business School (LBS) prides itself as having one of the world’s most flexible MBA programs. The B-school values independence and its students have gone on to become leaders in a variety of industries—from finance to tech.

Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently discussed LBS’ 2022-2023 MBA essay prompts and offered insight into how students can best approach each essay.

REQUIRED ESSAY

The LBS required essay prompt asks applicants:

What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words)

To approach writing this essay, Blackman suggests practicing self-awareness in thinking about your strengths and interests and how they tie into your goals and dreams.

“It could be helpful to talk to colleagues and alumni who have MBAs in your field to identify various career paths,” Blackman says. “Make sure that your career goals are both realistic and aspirational. Think about the short-term roles post-MBA that may lead to your most ambitious longer-term goals.”

It can also be helpful to examine your past experiences and determine how they have formed a foundation for your post-MBA goals. However, Blackman warns, your essay shouldn’t simply reiterate information from your resume.

“Think about explaining the rationale for your decisions throughout the essay,” Blackman says. “Why did you pursue your past experience, and what has been the impetus behind subsequent career choices? At this point, why are you choosing LBS?”

OPTIONAL ESSAY

The LBS optional essay prompt asks applicants:

Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (500 words)

With this essay, admissions officers want to know how you’ll bring a unique perspective to the diverse LBS community. Blackman suggests approaching the optional essay by opening up about your personal story and highlighting the values that make you uniquely you.

“This could be the ideal place to describe a unique background, experience, or attribute that did not fit elsewhere in the application,” Blackman says. “Diversity can mean many things. For example, it can be where you are from, the culture you identify with, or your approach to life. If diversity of experience or attitude doesn’t resonate for you, have you been challenged and innovated? When have you taken a new view or challenged conventional wisdom?”

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, P&Q

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