generic 3 More Top B-Schools Unveil MBA Application Changes
The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University
Time to get serious, MBA applicants-to-be. Three more top business schools in the United States have officially put you on notice about how and when to apply to their MBA programs this cycle. And for at least one school, there’s a real benefit to acting fast.
Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business, Duke University Fuqua School of Business, and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business all made announcements leading up to the July Fourth holiday weekend about test waivers, deadlines, essay prompts, and more for applicants seeking admission to the MBA Class of 2025. Among the mostly minor tweaks to last year’s processes are a few significant changes. (For a comprehensive list of MBA application deadlines at the top business schools, click here.)
“We’re excited for what we hope will be a return to ‘normal’ after two years of disruption caused by the pandemic,” says Allison Jamison, Duke Fuqua assistant dean of admissions.
DUKE FUQUA UNVEILS NEW DEI CONCENTRATION
Allison Jamison, Fuqua’s assistant dean of admissions. Duke photo
The updated Duke MBA application to join the Class of 2025 in fall 2023 goes live on July 7. The biggest change from last year is the launch of a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Concentration that brings to 17 the total number of optional concentrations available to students in Duke’s Daytime MBA.
“The new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion concentration is relevant for any student who will need to effectively lead diverse teams towards common purpose,” writes Jamison in a June 24 blog post. “Applicants will have the option to select it under the other concentrations and certificates section of the application.”
In a separate blog, Rick Larrick, associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, writes that DEI is in Duke Fuqua’s DNA.
“So when we announced this spring that Fuqua was adding a DEI concentration, it wasn’t an out-of-the-blue decision for the school, but rather a natural next step — an acknowledgment of a strong set of DEI diversity and inclusion activities that already exist at Fuqua,” Larrick writes. “In fact, several of our graduating MBA students had already fulfilled the concentration requirements and that achievement has been added to their transcripts.”
DUKE UNVEILS NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Duke also introduced a new Fuqua Impact Scholars program, which will be “a set of named, merit-based scholarships for high-potential admitted students who intend to make an impact on the world through business with a focus area that is tied to one of our research centers,” Jamison writes. “These scholars will have the opportunity to attend special events with faculty, staff, and distinguished speakers, and will have access to specific resources provided by the centers most closely affiliated with their focus area.”
Fuqua Impact Scholars will be awarded in the following categories:
Health Care, tied to the Center for Health Sector Management (HSM)
Entrepreneurship and Innovation, tied to the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI)
Leadership, tied to the Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE)
Energy and Sustainability, tied to the Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE)
Social Impact, tied to the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE)
As with the Fuqua School’s other merit scholarships, all applicants are considered upon applying to the Daytime or Accelerated Daytime MBA programs.
OTHER CHANGES TO THE FUQUA APP
Applicants to Duke’s one-year Accelerated Daytime MBA will be offered the ability to apply in Rounds 1, 2 and 3 this year; in prior years the school only accepted applications in Rounds 2 and 3. Additionally, the school will be resuming its on-campus visit program this fall, and off-campus travel schedule starting this summer, going to cities in the U.S. and around the world to conduct recruitment events.
A couple of years back, Duke Fuqua made a change to require only one letter of recommendation with the application, but retained the option for applicants to provide a second one. This year the school is removing the second optional recommendation and will only accept one letter of recommendation. “We think this will cause less confusion and angst for applicants who might be wondering if the optional one is really needed or not,” Jamison writes, “and create a more level playing field for applicants since only one letter will accompany each application.”
Other changes:
Fuqua will no longer offer a separate interview period if you’re reapplying from the previous year. Instead, reapplicants are encouraged to interview during our Open Interview Period.
The school will continue to offer both on-campus and virtual interview options during the Open Interview Period and for interviews by invitation after each round.
Fuqua has added the opportunity for Duke alumni who are applying to any of its graduate business programs to receive an application fee waiver.
Fuqua will ask MBA applicants to record a video pronouncing their first and last names. “Don’t worry, it’s not a trick question,” Jamison writes. “We want to ensure that we pronounce our students’ names correctly throughout their journey with us as applicants and students.”
See the next page for information about this year’s application changes at Michigan Ross and Dartmouth Tuck.
The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
ESSAY CHANGES & OTHER MODIFICATIONS AT MICHIGAN ROSS
The 2022-23 MBA application at Michigan Ross will open “later in July,” Admissions Director Diana Economy writes in a June 30 blog post, and will contain a few changes, notably an additional short-answer essay question. The school also has made an adjustment to its exam waiver policy of the last two years — or as Economy writes, “We have a new policy on how students can demonstrate their academic readiness for the rigor of a top MBA program without submitting a standardized test score.”
Ross’s essay questions underwent significant changes, Economy writes.
“As with previous years, we are giving applicants flexibility in choosing from two sets of prompts in our short-answer essay questions, but we added a new short-answer question,” she writes. “The new question asks applicants to tell us more about one item on their resume. There is often a story behind a resume bullet point and we want to give you the chance to share it. What you choose is up to you — from why you started volunteering for an organization to a leadership position you held on a sports team.”
Diana Economy of Michigan Ross
She adds that the Ross career goal essay “will be similar to what we had in the past,” but will be split into two parts “to improve clarity and focus.” Below are the essay prompts, and we look forward to reading your responses.
Part 1: Short-answer questions
Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total).
Group 1
I want people to know that I:
I made a difference when I:
I was aware that I was different when:
Group 2
I was out of my comfort zone when:
I was humbled when:
I was challenged when:
Part 2: Short-answer question
Pick one thing from your resume and tell us more. (100 words)
Part 3: Career Goal
What is your short-term career goal? (25 words)
Why is this the right short-term career goal for you? (150 words)
ROSS OFFERS OPTION TO ‘SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF ACADEMIC READINESS’
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ross gave MBA applicants the option of requesting a standardized test waiver. Because the school continued to receive strong candidates even without an ironclad test requirement, it will continue to give students a chance to demonstrate academic readiness without a GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, PCAT, or DAT score.
However, Ross isn’t calling it a waiver.
“This year,” Economy writes, “we are requiring that all candidates either submit a standardized test score or evidence of academic readiness for the Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA as part of the admissions application. If you choose the option to demonstrate your academic readiness without a test score, you will be required to respond to this prompt:
Please demonstrate why you are ready to meet the academic rigor of our program. (200 words)
She adds that academic and professional accomplishments will be closely parsed, including but not limited to:
Master’s degree in an analytical or quantitative discipline
CPA, CFA, or international equivalent
Undergraduate or graduate record, especially in analytical or quantitative courses
Post-undergraduate, full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative function
Performance on an expired GMAT or GRE
Performance on the Executive Assessment
Economy adds an important note for those mulling a score-less application: “A strong test score can strengthen an applicant’s candidacy,” she writes, “and around 80% of last year’s class submitted a test score.”
Dartmouth Tuck
ALL EARLY-BIRD APPLICANTS IN TUCK’S ROUNDS 1 & 2 TO GET INTERVIEWS
At Dartmouth Tuck, the 2022-2023 MBA application is already live. Key application deadlines are:
Round 1: September 26, 2022
Round 2: January 4, 2023
Round 3: March 27, 2023
Applicants can expect Round 1 decisions on December 8, 2022; Round 2 on March 16, 2023; and Round 3 on May 4, 2023. Deadlines for students applying through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management are October 15, 2022 and January 5, 2023.
Importantly, those who complete the application — including Letters of Reference and test scores — by September 1 for Round 1 and December 1 for Round 2 will be guaranteed an admissions interview. Procrastination doesn’t pay!
ALL TUCK MBA INTERVIEWS TO BE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY
Amy Mitson
Perhaps just as importantly, all Tuck MBA interviews will be conducted virtually this cycle.
“Virtual interviews have become more commonplace, and we have learned over the past two years that the logistical ease of the virtual format allows for more applicants to engage with the school,” says Amy Mitson, co-executive director of admissions and financial aid. “We also want applicants to be able to fully immerse themselves in the Tuck experience when they visit campus, and not be encumbered by the anticipation of an interview.”
Adds Pat Harrison, Tuck’s co-executive director of admissions and financial aid: “It was an applicant-friendly change prompted by the pandemic. We’re keeping with this and making it standard for all applicants again this cycle. Virtual interviews continue to allow us to get the level of insight we need to truly understand what a candidate can bring to Tuck and they eliminate disparities around ability to or comfort level with traveling.”
For those for whom Tuck’s Hanover, New Hampshire campus beckons, numerous events are scheduled, including daily campus visit days beginning in September and the school’s usual autumn slate of larger admissions-focused events, including the annual Tuck Diversity and Women in Business Conferences, as well as a Military Visit Day.
NO CHANGES TO ESSAYS THIS YEAR
New for the 2022–2023 cycle, Tuck will accept the Duolingo English Test as an English language proficiency assessment. The test is taken online via a computer with a front-facing camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample which are shared with Tuck when applicants submit their results.
However, in other ways, Tuck’s admissions criteria remain unchanged this year. There will be three required 300-word essays in the 2022-23 application, plus optional and reapplicant essays, if applicable. The 2022-2023 Tuck Essay Questions:
Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)
Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are. (300 words)
Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative, and empathetic, even when it is not convenient or easy. Describe a meaningful experience in which you exemplified one or more of these attributes. (300 words)
(Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere and may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)
(To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)
“The MBA application process is an opportunity to reflect on your experiences, your plans for the future, and what motivates you,” Harrison wrote in a May blog post. “Just as you learn about us in the coming months, we can’t wait to learn about you as well!”
DON’T MISS 2022-2023 MBA APPLICATION DEADLINES AT TOP SCHOOLS
The post 3 More Top B-Schools Unveil MBA Application Changes appeared first on Poets&Quants.
