Welcome 2024-2025 Darden Applicants Welcome, all Darden class of 2027 hopefuls. Let's use this platform to know each other, exchange ideas, and discuss app strategies? Who all are applying? Let us know by commenting below. Follow the thread and bookmark this post. https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=71511 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=71421 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=71522 Darden MBA Deadlines 2024-25 Round Application Due Decisions Released Early Action Sep 5, 2024 Oct 16, 2024 Round 1 Oct 2, 2024 Dec 11, 2024 Round 2 Jan 7, 2025 Mar 12, 2025 Round 3 Apr 2, 2025 Apr 30, 2025 Darden MBA Essays 2024-25 Essay 1: Short Answer 1 https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/transparent100-1.gif Community of Belonging What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words) Essay 2: Short Answer 2 Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words) Unique Trait That Defines Me Option: What is something unique about you that others will remember you by? (350 words maximum) Essay 3: Short Answer 3 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) Darden Application Stats Class of '25 Applicants 2,834 Accepted 1,116 Acceptance Rate 39.4% Enrolled 352 Yield Rate 31.54% Darden Class Profile Class of '26 Class Size 355 Median GPA 3.58 Avg. GPA 3.56 Avg. WE 68 Average GMAT 718 Median GMAT 720 Avg. GMAT Domestic 714 Avg. GMAT International 730 % GRE 36% Avg GRE Quant 159 Avg. GRE Verbal 160 Avg. Total GRE 321 Median GRE 320 International Students 30% First Gen. Students 14% View the full Darden Class Profile --> https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/admissions/class-profile Darden Employment Data Class of 2023 Employed 3 Months 96% Employed 3 Months 94% Average Salary $167,899 Average Bonus $37,588 Salary and Bonus $205,487 View the full Darden Employment Report Class of 2023 --> https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/career-support/employment-report Top Hiring Companies for Class of '23 Amazon Bain & Company BCG EY Parthenon J.P. Morgan Chase McKinsey & Compay Darden2.jpg

Darden shared a link with me along with the confirmation email where they mentioned ‘5-10 mins for the journey’ whereas I prepared for 20 mins I am being interviewed by meredith johnson, i will help you with the questions post my interview. Don’t worry😇

Wow thanks for sharing. None of my invitation or interview confirmation said that! Really helpful.

I know this is a dumb question but just wondering.. Do people really follow the EA binding options?

Not really a dumb question. I think it depends. Darden has been very strategic about their binding process. Example: Their 6K non-refundable deposit is DUE before other schools announce their decisions in december. So those that do not withdraw their applications from other schools will need to take a risk with their deposit. Also, the consequences aren’t really discussed. It is rumored school adcomms talk to each other, but are they really sharing a list of people from thousands of applicants? Might just be about getting blacklisted from that school.

I know! Even though I am not an EA applicant, it seems really tricky and is confusing, as some people could have conducted several interviews for higher tier schools before their EA decisions... Thanks for sharing your thought.

Agreed - and (no numbers to back this up) but thought is that EA also has less scholarship. If the schools know you are coming and they are your top choice, do they really need to lure you in with scholarship? So, students usually wait till December to see if other schools do give them some $$$. But it’s a risk people take.

Interview in 3 hrs, i am really nervous please send a little motivation haha And any tips?

You'll do great ! Good luck! Darden's adcom team is super friendly My interview was very straightforward with no tricky questions: - 5-10mins tell me about yourself/walk me through your resume - why MBA? This is really a goals question so if they ask this, it's good to preface the 'why' by restating your goals - ST & LT Goals may be asked seperately if you dont answer it - Why Darden? Be sure to articulate well here and also talk about what you can bring to the community in your answer - Tell me a time you had a challenging situation at work - What do you like to do for fun - Tell me about a time you worked with someone different than you For the Tell me about a time questions, definitely follow STAR method but instead of ending with just results, try mentioning any soft skills/results achieved and how you've carried them into some other work/project/personal life but do it in an organic way. For e.g. "TMAT you worked with someone different than you" The result could be: " we ended up achieveing 10% improvement in that project, BUT more importantly, I learned that working with someone different than me creates a learning opportunity (or some other specific trait you learned) All the best!

The best thing you can do right now is BREATHE. Try to be calm and it’s okay if you are nervous for the first few minutes of the interview. The interviewers are really friendly and even though I didn’t get selected, they were really curious about who you are. So at this time I’d say just breathe and do your best. All the best!