MBA without Work experience.

I think for harvard, we need to apply when we're in final year.
I have taken a year gap.

Posted from my mobile device

The list here may provide a start - with a lot of caution of not getting influenced just by being eligible.

There are many leading B-Schools in the world that offer you the option to get admitted into MBA without work experience. Here are three of the most sought-after schools among our students.



1. Harvard 2+2 – Harvard Business School

Easily the most popular deferred admission program by a wide margin is the HBS 2+2 program.

The ‘2+2’ stands for two years of full-time work experience followed by two years as a part of the HBS MBA program.

To be eligible for admission via this program, you must not have any full-time work experience. You can apply if you’re in the last year of your undergraduate or postgraduate degree, as long as you have no full-time work experience.

Students of STEM and humanities backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply for the HBS 2+2 program.

However, students from all backgrounds are welcome to apply.

The application process for this program is the same as that of the HBS MBA program. The differences are that it has less than half the application fee and only one deadline as opposed to the multiple rounds that MBA applicants get.


2. Yale Silver Scholars – Yale School of Management

The Silver Scholars program at Yale was started as early as 2001. It is a three-year MBA program rather than the average two-year MBA that Yale offers.

Just like it is with Harvard’s 2+2, you will only be eligible for the Yale Silver Scholars program if you are a student in the final year of your under- or post-graduate program. Having no previous work experience is also a prerequisite for admission under the Silver Scholars program.


3. Young Leaders Program & Early Entry Option – Indian School of Business

While the YLP is the Indian School of Business’ deferred admission program that’s inspired by Harvard’s 2+2, the Early Entry Option is a rather unique proposition from ISB.

The YLP works along the lines of the 2+2 and Silver Scholars programs, except for a few differences. One of these differences is that YLP has a separate application process from the process for MBA applications, with very specific and pointed YLP application essay questions.

On the other hand, the Early Entry Option (EEO) is a program meant for people with less than 24 months of work experience. As opposed to deferred admissions programs designed for students with no work experience, EEO is designed specifically for people who have experience but not enough for an MBA.

In effect, the ISB EEO lets you defer your admission till you can complete at least 24 months of full-time work experience.

For a more detailed read, check out our blog on MBA through GMAT without Work Experience

Hey Uday,

Yes you can get through a top 50 MBA as a fresher.
However, GMAT is only one of the several parts of the whole journey to MBA. Your overall admission score is a function of GMAT score, quality of work experience, depth of essays and SOP, impact of recommendations, and of course, your performance in the interview stage.
I would suggest you look at MBA holistically. And do get in touch with alumni from your target B-schools for guidance.

If you need any help in the journey to MBA, do let us know. Our experts will get in touch.

Cheers !
TopTierMBA

It is good to have 2–4 years of work experience below applying for an MBA. Here are some reasons why:

1) It is easier to secure placement post-program if one already has prior work experience.
2) Most courses have case studies and a practical learning approach that cannot be followed if one has no experience in the corporate world.
3) Without prior experience, the aspirant themselves may not know which sector and role will best suit them.
4) It is difficult to network with your classmate and alumni if you don’t have any valid credentials.
5) It is also good to have been involved in social work/ NGO activities as well as sports and games. Aspirants with a diverse profile are given preference as they look for well-rounded candidates with varied interests and talents.

That said. You can apply for Deferred MBA programs like the ISB YLP or EEO, Yale Silver Scholars Program, HBS 2+2 program, Darden future year scholars program, MIT Sloan early admission program, Stanford deferred program, Columbia deferred program, Chicago Booth scholars program and others.

You can now use the “Intelligent B-School Selector” tool or the “Chances of B-School” tool to evaluate your chances of getting into the top B-Schools.