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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 Updated on: 13 Aug 2025, 04:25
Originally posted by MBADecoder on 17 Jun 2025, 15:12.
Last edited by MBADecoder on 13 Aug 2025, 04:25, edited 9 times in total.
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Consolidated List of Deadlines for 2025-26

US B-schools

B-SchoolRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Time Deadline
Harvard 03 SEP 202505 JAN 2026No 3rd deadline12 pm ET
Wharton3 SEP 202506 JAN 20261 APR 20265 PM ET
Stanford9 SEP 20257 JAN 20267 APR 20264:00 PM PT
CBS -Jan Intake17 JUN 202513 AUG 2025 12:00PM ET
CBS -August Intake3 SEP 20256 JAN,2026 26 MAR 202612:00PM ET
Tuck2 SEP*/25 SEP 2025
*guaranteed interview		1DEC 25*/ 5JAN 26
*guaranteed interview		25 MAR 20265 PM ET
DukeEA- 4 SEP '25R1-30 SEP '25R2-8 JAN '26R3- 24 FEB '26
DardenEA- 4 SEP 2025 R1- 1OCT 2025R2- 7 JAN '26R3- 1 APR '26
Yale10 SEP 20256 JAN 202614 APR 2026
Kellogg10 SEP 20257 JAN 20261 APR 20265 PM CT
MIT29 SEP 2025 13 JAN 20266 APR 20263:00 PM EST
Ross8 SEP 2025 5 JAN 202623 MAR 202611:59 pm ET
Stern Full-time MBA15 SEP 202515 OCT 202515 JAN 202615 APR 202411:59 PM ET
Stern Tech MBA5 SEP 20255 NOV 20255 JAN 20265 FEB 202611:59 PM ET
Haas 11 SEP 20258 JAN 202631 MAR 2026
Cornell17 SEP 20258 JAN 20267 APR 202611:59 PM ET
Booth16 SEP 20256 JAN 20262 APR 202611:59 PM CST
Emory1 OCT 20252 JAN 202618 MAR 202611:59 PM EST
UCLA1 OCT 20256 JAN 20267 APR 2026
McCombs15 OCT 202515 JAN 20261 APR 202611:59 PM CST
Rice (Jones)17 OCT 202516 JAN 20263 APR 202627 MAY 202611:59 PM CST
USC Marshall15 OCT 202515 JAN 202615 APR 2026
McDonoughEA- 8 SEP '25R1- 1 OCT '25R2- 7 JAN '26R3- 1 APR '2611:59 p.m. ET
Foster 1 OCT 20256 JAN 202624 MAR 202611:59pm PDT
Carlson 1 OCT 20251 DEC 20251 FEB 20261 APR 2026

European B-schools
B-SchoolRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Time Deadline
LBSSEP 2025DEC 2025JAN 2026
Judge, Cambridge26 AUG 20256 OCT 20255 JAN 202630 MAR 202611:59 PM GMT
OxfordSEP 2025DEC 2025JAN 202611:59 PM GMT
INSEAD AUG Intake16 SEP 20254 NOV 202520 JAN 202610 MAR 2026
HEC JAN Intake17 AUG 202521 SEP 202519 OCT 202523 NOV 2025

Indian B-schools
B-SchoolRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Time Deadline
ISB14 SEP 20257 DEC 202525 JAN 202611:59 PM IST
IIM A PGPX8 SEP 202524 NOV 2025
IIM B EPGPJUN - AUGAUG - OCT OCT - NOV
IIM C MBAExJUN - AUGAUG - OCT OCT - NOV
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 10 Jul 2025, 12:11
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HBS MBA Deadlines:

Round 1: 3 September, 2025
Round 2: 5 January, 20256

Essays:
After a revamp last year, Harvard Business School has made small changes to their essays for this year's application cycle.

Please respond to all three essay prompts:

Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations. (300 words)
Analysis: Although the content of the question remains the same, this year's wording is more concise. Its a short essay so brevity and staying on point will be most important to cover the ground. What personal/ professional/ academic choices have you made in the past that have guided your career. Alternatively, what motivations have you followed in pursuing your career path and what are your future career aspirations? What change or positive impact do you wish to make in the world and what career path do you intend to follow to make it happen?

Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead? (250 words)

Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (250 words)

Resume:
This can be your standard business resume or CV. HBS does not have specific preferences on how your resume is formatted.


Recommendations:
You will require two recommendations; the best recommenders are people who know you really well. These could be colleagues, supervisors or people with who you work on an activity outside work. Recommendation questions are:

Please provide specific examples of how the applicant's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles. (300 words)

Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250 words)
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 11 Jul 2025, 12:17
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Stanford MBA Essays

DEADLINES:
R1 - 9 September, 2025
R2 - 7 January, 2026
R3- 7 April, 2026

All deadlines are by 4.00 p.m. Pacific time

Mandatory Essays
Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why?

Tips from Adcom: For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay 2: Why Stanford?
Tips from Adcom: Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Length: Stanford recommends up to 650 words for Essay 1 and up to 350 words for Essay 2.

Optional essay:
Think about a time in the last few years when you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? You are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example).

Tips from adcom: we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. Using these optional spaces, perhaps you would like to expand upon a bullet item from your resume and tell us more about the “how” or “why” behind the “what.” Or maybe you have had an impact in a way that doesn’t fit neatly in another part of the application.

Additional Information:
If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the Additional Information section of the application. Pertinent examples include:
  • Extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences
  • Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere
  • Explanation of why you are not using a current supervisor as a recommender
This section should not be used as an additional essay.

Recommendations:
Stanford requires TWO letters of recommendations. One is required from a current direct supervisor and the second from another supervisor (like a past supervisor). Do not send recommendations from family members or your reports.
Recommendation questions are:

1. How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (Up to 500 words)

2. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (Up to 500 words)

3. (Optional) Is there anything else we should know? Please be concise.
Recommenders also have to fill a grid of characters or competencies (Similar to GMAC's).Download this here.­

Reapplication:
You must complete a new application in the year for which you apply.
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 Updated on: 05 Aug 2025, 15:13
Originally posted by MBADecoder on 11 Jul 2025, 12:18.
Last edited by MBADecoder on 05 Aug 2025, 15:13, edited 2 times in total.
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WHARTON MBA

Deadlines:
R1- 3 September, 2025
R2 – 6 January, 2026
R3- 1 April, 2026
Deferred Admission Round- 22 April, 2026

Applications must be submitted by 5 PM EST

Mandatory Questions:

Essay 1: Two short-form questions
  • What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 words)
  • What are your career goals for the first three to five years after completing your MBA, and how will those build towards your long-term professional goals? (150 words)

Essay 2: Long-form essay
Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to add meaningful value to the Wharton community? (350 words)

Optional Essay: Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)

Tips from the adcom:
Bullet points are okay!
This essay is a good place to address information that you believe warrants any additional context.
Acknowledging any part of your application that you might feel is “weaker” will not disadvantage you in any way.

Required Essay for all Reapplicants: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)

Recommendations:
Wharton requires ONE recommendation from an individual who know your performance in a work setting, preferably your current or former supervisors.

Recommendation questions are:
  1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
  2. How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
  3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.
  4. Is there anything else we should know? (Optional)
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 11 Jul 2025, 12:41
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BOOTH MBA ESSAYS: (New essay alert)

Deadlines:
Round 1: 16 September, 2025
Round 2: 6 January, 2026
Round 3: 2 April, 2026
Booth Scholars: 2 April, 2026

Applications are due by 11:59 pm CST

MANDATORY ESSAYS:
  1. How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)
  2. Chicago Booth appreciates the individual experiences and perspectives that all of our students bring to our community. This respect for different viewpoints creates an open-minded environment that supports curiosity, inspires us to think more broadly, and take risks. At Booth, community is about collaborative thinking and learning from one another to better ourselves, our ideas, and the world around us.

    The photos below represent some of the values described above that we uphold at Chicago Booth. Select one and share how it resonates with one of your own values. (250-word minimum)



Optional Question:
Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation?(300 word maximum)

Re-applicant Question:
Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (Maximum 300 words.)

Recommendations:
Applicants must submit TWO letters of recommendation. The first LOR should be from your current supervisor. If you are not able to use your current supervisor, explain the reason in the optional essay. The second LOR can be from a person who has worked with you in an organization, club, or on a volunteer project.

Booth has used the common recommendation prescribed by GMAC. Here are the questions:

1. How does the applicant’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.

2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.­
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 12 Jul 2025, 04:43
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Kellogg MBA Deadlines and Essays

DEADLINES:
Round 1: 10 September, 2025
Round 2: 7 January, 2026
Round 3: 1 April, 2026

MANDATORY ESSAYS:

The following two essays are required of all applicants:

Essay 1: Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words)

Essay 2: Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style.

Optional essay:
All applicants have the opportunity to provide explanations or clarification in Additional Information. Use this section if you think the person reviewing your application might have a few questions about one or more of your responses. This could include:

Unexplained gaps in work experience
Academic, GMAT or GRE performance
Extenuating circumstances that we should be aware of when reviewing your application

1Y applicants will respond to additional questions:
Please discuss your post-MBA career goal, the current experience you will leverage to support the transition, and the Kellogg 1Y opportunities that will help you reach this goal. (250 words)

Reapplications:
If you have previously applied to Kellogg, you must submit a new online application with updated transcripts and resume.

How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

Video Essay:

Applicants have to answer the video essays after they submit their applications. These are due 96 hours after the application deadline.

The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

You will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response. Your video essays should take about 20-25 minutes to complete

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
Applicants must submit TWO letters of recommendation. Ideally, one of these should come from a current supervisor while the second can come from someone who can evaluate your professional performance and your managerial/leadership potential e.g. a former supervisor, previous employer, client.
The recommendation questions are:

  1. Share an example of how the candidate has engaged with colleagues, clients, or stakeholders who held perspectives different from their own. How did they navigate the situation, and what does this demonstrate about their ability to lead or collaborate in complex environments? (300 words)
  2. How does the candidate’s performance compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words)
  3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the candidate. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words)
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 20 Jul 2025, 12:57
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MIT MBA Essays 2025-26

Deadlines:
R1: 29 September, 2025
R2: 13 January, 2026
R3: 6 April, 2026

Applications should be submitted by 3:00 p.m. EST

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).


VIDEO 1:
Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:
* No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length
* Single take (no editing)
* Speaking directly to the camera
* Do not include background music or subtitles

VIDEO 2:
All MBA applicants will be prompted to respond to a randomly generated, open-ended question. The question is designed to help us get to know you better; to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. It does not require prior preparation.

Video Question 2 is part of your required application materials and will appear as a page within the application, once the other parts of your application are completed. Applicants are given 10 seconds to prepare for a 60-second response.

The following are examples of questions that may be asked in the Video Question 2:
  • What achievement are you most proud of and why?
  • Tell us about a time a classmate or colleague wasn’t contributing to a group project. What did you do?

RECOMMENDATIONS:
ONE recommendation is needed, ideally from a manager or supervisor. The recommender should answer the following questions:
How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
Please give an example of the applicant’s impact on a person, group, or organization.
Please give a representative example of how the applicant interacts with other people.
Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.
Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
In addition to one required recommendation, applicants can provide the names of two other recommenders from a professional context. If the adcom feels the need for more inputs on your candidature, they will reach out to these recommenders separately. Similar to your recommender, these additional references should be able to speak to your professional and/or academic background. These two individuals should be different from your recommender.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART:
To help us better understand your current role and the impact that you have on your team and department, please submit an organizational chart. We should be able to clearly understand the internal structure of your organization, where you sit in your organization, and your line of reporting.­
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 04 Aug 2025, 05:34
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Columbia MBA Deadlines and Essays

DEADLINES:
JAN INTAKE:
Round 1: 17 June, 2025
Round 2: 13 August, 2025

AUGUST INTAKE:
Round 1: 3 September, 2025
Round 2: 6 January, 2026
Round 3: 26 March, 2026


MANDATORY ESSAYS:

Short Answer Question 1:
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Short Answer Question 2:
How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBA? If in an internship, please include target industry(ies) and/or function(s). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business. (50 characters maximum)

Essay 1
Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essay 2
Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (250 words)

Essay 3
We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership--academically, culturally, and professionally.
How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words)

Optional Essay
If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 Words)

Recommendation
First-time applicants require one recommendation. Reapplicants are required to submit one new recommendation. Your recommendation should ideally be from your current supervisor. If not, submit a statement of explanation in the Employment section of your application. Beyond your direct supervisor, other recommender options include: a former direct supervisor or another professional associate, senior to you, who can share their insights on your candidacy.

CBS asks recommenders to upload their recommendation on letterhead, whenever possible. The recommender should use the following guidelines when writing their recommendation (recommended limit - 1000 words):

  • How do the candidate's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
  • Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.

Interview:
Interviews are by invitation only and cannot be requested.

REAPPLICATIONS:
  • Reapplicants are not required to submit additional essays. Only the reapplicant essay is required.
  • One new recommendation letter
  • Updated sections in the application: “Application,” “Personal,” “Family,” “Employment,” “Education,” and “Extracurricular Activities.”
  • How will you finance your MBA?
  • Submit transcripts of any additional courses you have taken since your previous application.
Reapplicant Essay: How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (Maximum 500 words).
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 04 Aug 2025, 05:54
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TUCK MBA ESSAYS­

Deadlines:
Round 1: 25 September, 2025
Round 2: 5 January, 2026
Round 3: 25 March, 2026

R1 Guaranteed Interview deadline: 2 September, 2025
R2 Guaranteed Interview deadline: 1 December, 2025

All deadlines are at 5.00 p.m. EST

Mandatory Essays

  1. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your goals and aspirations? What particular aspects of Tuck will be instrumental in your growth? (2000 characters)
  2. Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your unique background contribute to Tuck and/or enhance the experience of your classmates? (2000 characters)
  3. Describe a time when you meaningfully invested in someone else’s success without immediate benefit to yourself. What motivated you, and what was the impact? (2000 characters)

Optional Essay:
  • Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (2000 characters)

Reapplicant Essay:
How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally and how your understanding of Tuck has developed. (2000 characters)

Reapplicants need to submit only one new recommendation

Recommendations:

You must submit TWO recommendations.

You should preferably get your current direct supervisor should to write one of your LORs. If you do not ask your direct supervisor for the reco, you will be asked to provide a brief explanation in the Other Employment Information section or in the Optional information section of the application on your choice of the recommender.

Reco questions are:
  • Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. (50 words)
  • How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Provide specific examples. (500 words)
  • Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (500 words)
  • Optional: Is there anything else we should know?
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 04 Aug 2025, 06:13
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DUKE MBA ESSAYS

Deadlines:
Early Action: 4 September 2025
R1- 30 September, 2025
R2 – 8 January, 2026
R3- 24 February, 2026
R4 – 1 April, 2026

Required short-answer essay question:

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (Word limit: 100 words).

First required essay: 25 random things about yourself

The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration.
Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.
(Word Limit- 2 pages, 750 words maximum, 1.5-line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point).


Second required essay: The Fuqua community and you
Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders.
Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?
(Word Limit- 1 page, 300 words maximum, 1.5-line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point).


Optional essay: Tell us more
If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). DO NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.
(Word Limit: 1 page, 300 words maximum).


Other Application Requirements:
Standardized Test Scores:
Fuqua accepts GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment (EA) scores.

Recommendations:
New applicants are required to submit ONE letter of recommendation. They can also submit an additional letter of recommendation.

Note: In addition to the two required recommendations, applicants can provide additional endorsements from Fuqua alumni or current students. Applicants will be eligible for application fee waivers if there is an endorsement form submitted on their behalf.

At least one recommendation should reflect your performance in your most recent professional setting. Volunteer activities or other service-oriented roles are also good sources for recommendations. Academic recommendations and recommendations from relatives and friends are discouraged.

Following are the Recommendation questions:
  • Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
  • How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?
  • Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.
  • Is there anything else we should know? (Optional)

INTERVIEWS:
  • Interviews are by invitation only and sent on a rolling basis.
  • Interviews may be conducted by alumni, staff, or trained second-year MBA students called "Admissions Fellows.
  • Your interviewer will have access to only your resume.
  • Interviews last about 45-60 minutes.

Application Fee Waiver:
You may be eligible to receive an application fee discount ($75 USD off of $225 USD) if you register for and attend atleast one:
  • Campus visit
  • Open house
  • Information session
  • Informational luncheon
  • Meet & greet
  • Multi-school information session
  • Virtual information session
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 12 Aug 2025, 01:15
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DARDEN MBA Essays 2025-26

Deadlines:
Early Action: 4 September 2025
Round 1: 1 October 2025
Round 2: 7 January 2026
Round 3: 1 April 2026

Darden’s essays questions are a series of small, multiple questions that allow the admissions team to understand “who you are and who you will be at Darden”:

Relationships: What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (200 words)

Community : Please describe an example of building community within your personal or professional life. What impact did this have on you and those around you? How will this experience contribute to the way you will build community at Darden? (200 words)

Careers with Purpose: At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)


*- the Early application round at Darden is non-binding. That means, you do not have to withdraw your applications from other business schools if you get an admit a Darden


Resume:
Darden requires a one page resume that focuses on impact and leadership. They also care to know what you have done outside work, so make your resume really flavourful and add pointers about your achievement and impact through ECAs, hobbies and interests. When we help applicants for Darden, we ask them to add a section called Leadership experiences to highlight a few key leadership experiences from work/ECAs.


Recommendations:
Darden requires ONE recommendation; which should preferably be work-related, with your recommender having known your work for a few years.. More recommendations may be submitted but use your discretion whether they offer new insights about you. Recommendation questions are:

1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
2. How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?
3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

Interview:
Darden has an open interview period from mid-July until 4th September, for applicants who apply in the Early application deadline only. To get consideration for the open interview, you must submit (NOW, before the 4th September deadline):
  1. Resume
  2. Relationships Matter Here’ short answer question
  3. Verified test score
Applicants applying to Round 1, 2 or 3 can interview only on invitation. Applicants living in the US must visit campus.­

GMAT WAIVER:

Darden accepts the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment (EA), MCAT and LSAT test scores,

For some candidates a test score may not be needed. Waiver applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the Darden Admissions Committee will consider a number of factors when evaluating these applications. Particular regard will be given for indicators of academic and professional accomplishment, including but not limited to:

  • A strong undergraduate record, including performance in analytical coursework or disciplines
  • Master's or advanced degree in analytical discipline
  • At least three years of professional work experience

To submit a waiver application start a new application and select Full-Time Test Waiver Application to begin.
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 13 Aug 2025, 03:39
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Yale MBA Essays 2025-26­

Deadlines:
Round 1: 10 September, 2025
Round 2: 6 January, 2026
Round 3: 14 April, 2026


Career Related Essay questions:
Briefly describe your career interests and how you arrived at them. What have you already done to pursue these interests? What do you need to do going forward?(200 words maximum)

Which industry best aligns with your short-term, post-MBA career interests?
(Drop down Menu)

Which industry best aligns with your long-term, post-MBA career interests?
(Drop down Menu)


Essays
Select from ONE AMONG the following THREE PROMPTS (500 words):

1) Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?

2) Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?

3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

Adcom’s tips: In answering the prompt – whichever one it is – you should think about the life experiences that have been most meaningful to you and that you most want to communicate to the committee, and pick the question that will best allow you to express that aspect of yourself. We find that the most compelling essays are the ones that are truly important to you, so make sure that’s your guide in choosing what to write about; don’t try to guess what we’re looking for or what you think we want to hear. Importantly, regardless of which prompt you choose, you’ll want to support your essay with concrete examples.


Optional Essay:
If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation, please provide a brief description here. (200 words maximum)
Adcom’s tips: Consider providing additional context if it will allow us to better understand your academic performance, promotions or recognitions, or other information that is not apparent from the rest of your application. If you’ve taken concrete steps to mitigate a weaker element of your application or have an accomplishment that does not fit anywhere else in the application, you might include that here. Note that you should use the specific prompts provided in the Work Experience section to address gaps in work experience or choice of recommender.


After the application submission:
  1. Submit the Video Questions. Applicants are required to record two video questions. These questions are randomized and no two applicants will receive the same questions. You will have 0 seconds to respond to each video question.
  2. Submit the Behavioral Assessment. After you pay the application fee, a link to the behavioral assessment will appear on your status page. The assessment is a series of 130 questions, from which you’re asked to select the statement that best aligns with your own behaviors. The assessment requires no prior preparation and take about 25 minutes to complete. It measures a set of interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies associated with business school success.

Recommendations:
Yale requires two sets of recommendations. Of these atleast one should be from a recommender at your most recent job. If you are an entrepreneur or work for your family’s business, you may get a professional recommendation from a client or mentor. To make the process easier for recommenders, Yale accepts recos written in English, Spanish, and Chinese. following are the reco questions:
  1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. (Recommended word count: 50 words)
  2. How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (E.g. what are the applicant’s principal strengths?) (Recommended word count: 500 words)
  3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (Recommended word count: 500 words)
  4. Are you in a position to know whether the applicant is sponsored for the MBA by his or her current employer? If so, please comment.
  5. (Optional) Is there anything else we should know?
­
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Consolidated List of Deadlines and Essay Questions- 2025-26 20 Aug 2025, 11:16
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Haas MBA Essays

Deadlines:
Round 1: 11 September, 2025
Round 2: 8 January, 2026
Round 3: 31 MAR, 2026

Haas MBA Essays for 2025-2026
Our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles – Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. We encourage you to reflect on your experiences, values, and passions so that you may craft thoughtful and authentic responses that demonstrate your fit with our program – culturally, academically, and professionally.

Required Essay 1:
This is a VIDEO ESSAY: What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why?
You will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes. You have two (2) attempts to record your video essay.

Required Essay 2:
What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals? (Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations.) (300 words max)


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Distance Traveled:
At Berkeley Haas, we consider "distance traveled" as the contextual information that helps us understand the unique circumstances, challenges, or influences that have shaped your personal and professional journey.

We invite you to share aspects of your background, personal circumstances, or significant experiences that have meaningfully impacted who you are today and how you've reached this point. Please tell us how these experiences have influenced your perspectives, decisions, and aspirations, and how they contribute to the person you are becoming. (300 words max)

OPTIONAL ESSAY:
This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate. (300 words max)


Letters of Recommendations:

Haas requires two letters of recommendations and prefer atleast one from a current employer/ current supervisor. If you are not getting a recommendation from a current supervisor, explain why in the supplemental section.

Following are the Recommendation questions:

  1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. (upto 500 words)
  2. How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (E.g. what are the applicant’s principal strengths?) (upto 500 words)
  3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (upto 500 words)
  4. (Optional) Is there anything else we should know?
­