Wharton Business School | UPenn | Full time MBA | Admission details

Background Information

Background information includes: contact information (e.g., mailing address and phone number), date of birth, academic degrees earned, professional experience, and family information.

Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $265 is required for the MBA and MBA/MA-Lauder programs. For details on how to submit the fee, please visit our online application.

Essays

• First-time applicants and reapplicants are required to complete the same set of essay questions.

REQUIRED QUESTION:

How will Wharton MBA help you achieve your professional objectives? (400 words)

RESPOND TO 2 OF THE FOLLOWING 3 QUESTIONS:

1. Select a Wharton MBA course, co-curricular opportunity or extra-curricular engagement that you are interested in. Tell us why you chose this activity and how it connects to your interests. (500 words)

2. Imagine your work obligations for the afternoon were cancelled and you found yourself "work free" for three hours, what would you do? (500 words)

3. "Knowledge for Action draws upon the great qualities that have always been evident at Wharton: rigorous research, dynamic thinking, and thoughtful leadership." - Thomas S. Robertson, Dean, The Wharton School

Tell us about a time when you put knowledge into action. (500 words)

ADDITIONAL QUESTION FOR REAPPLICANTS:

All reapplicants to Wharton are required to complete the Optional Essay. Please use this space to explain how you have reflected on the previous decision on your application and to discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). You may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances. (250 words)

OPTIONAL SECTION FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words)

Transcripts

Transcripts of all academic work completed at the baccalaureate/undergraduate level and beyond, whether or not for credit or a degree, are required. Grades or marks may be self-reported on our online transcript template, with official documents required upon admissions and matriculation.

Letters of Recommendation

The Admissions Committee requires two recommendation letters, preferably from supervisors.

GMAT/GRE

All applicants must submit results of a Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) that are no more than 5 years old, based on the start date of the program. For the fall 2013 entering class tests taken between August 1, 2008 and March 5, 2013 will be accepted. Scores may be self-reported.

TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for non-native English speakers with limited exposure to English. The test may be waived by candidates who earned a baccalaureate or master's degree from an institution at which English is the language of instruction.

Interviews

Interviews are by invitation only, following a thorough review of the completed application. Instructions are provided at the time of invitation.

Resume

Please upload a one-page resume in Microsoft Word. We are more concerned with what you have learned than in your length of time in the workplace. We consider functional job skills, breadth and depth of experience, demonstrated leadership and management skills, as well as potential for growth.

We offer interviews by invitation, based upon a full review of your application.

As someone selected to interview from a tremendously accomplished group of individuals around the world, you should feel excited to communicate your background, your interests, your plans, and your decision to pursue an MBA at Wharton.

All applicants will have the option of interviewing on Wharton’s campus or in one of our selected major cities around the world. While there are two options and no one way is preferred over another, we do encourage invited candidates to interview on campus whenever possible to get a sense of our community and culture.

Interview Format
The Admissions office has partnered with the Wharton Innovation group to launch a new evaluation method, the team-based discussion for the 2012-2013 application cycle. If you are invited to interview, you will participate in a team-based discussion with 5-6 other applicants during your scheduled session. The team-based discussion will allow you the opportunity to interact with your fellow applicants through discourse involving real-world business scenarios, which will highlight how you approach and analyze specific situations. Your discussion will have a prompt and a purpose and you will work towards a tangible outcome with your group. The team-based discussion is additive and does not replace the opportunity for an individual exchange. There will be time allotted for a short one-on-one conversation with a member of the Admissions staff during the interview.

source - http://www.wharton.upenn.edu

Stanford Graduate School of Business | Full time MBA | Admission details

Application Deadlines for Class of 2016 (Entering Fall 2014)*

Round 1	2 October 2013, 5:00 PM PT
Round 2	8 January 2014, 5:00 PM PT
Round 3	2 April 2014, 5:00 PM PT

It is important that you apply only when you feel your application is as strong as it can be.

• You may apply in any one of the 3 application rounds each year.
• If you are considering applying in either Round 1 or Round 2, we strongly encourage you to consider Round 1.
• Over the past few years, we've noticed more applicants applying in Round 2 and, as a result, this round has become bigger and a bit more competitive.
• You should never rush your application. But, on the margin, earlier is better.
• While we admit outstanding individuals in all three rounds, there are some advantages to applying in either the first or second round.
• The ability to receive an aid award from the Financial Aid Office prior to the date by which you must respond to your offer of admission.
• Ample time to complete preliminary quantitative and/or language coursework prior to arrival on campus.
• Access to the on-campus housing lottery and/or Schwab Residential Center housing.
• Sufficient time to complete the visa application process (international students).
• Enables attendance at Admit Weekend. (There is no Admit Weekend for third round admits.)

Application Fee

• The non-refundable MBA Program application fee is $265.
• You may pay via credit card as part of the online application.
• If you pay by check or money order, please make your payment in U.S. currency and payable through a U.S. bank. Submit the payment so that we receive it before 5:00 PM Pacific Time on the appropriate deadline.
• If someone else writes the check or money order for you, please ensure that your name appears on the front.
• Please make the check or money order payable to the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
• Fee waivers are granted only to university/college seniors who receive need-based financial aid.
• We do not grant other fee waivers.
• If you are requesting a waiver, please upload a copy of your school's financial aid award letter in the Additional Information section of your online application.

If you do not pay the application fee, we will not evaluate your application or release your decision

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Application Requirements for Class of 2015 (Entering Fall 2013)

·     Undergraduate Degree - India: The two-year master’s degree following the three-year bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.

·     Work Experience – NO - There is no minimum work experience required for entry to the Stanford MBA Program, nor is there a maximum. College seniors and recent college graduates are encouraged to apply, as are those with all levels of work experience.

·     GMAT - Self-report your scores on the Application Form. These are the scores we will consider in our initial evaluation of your application.

ü  If you do not have your official scores, list the unofficial scores.

ü  If your AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment) and IR (Integrated Reasoning) scores are not available, leave these fields blank. We will retrieve these scores directly from Pearson VUE or ETS.

The Stanford MBA Program school codes:

ü  For the GMAT, instruct Pearson VUE to send your official GMAT scores directly to the Stanford MBA Program (school code L9R-KW-09).

ü  For the GRE, instruct Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send your official scores directly to Stanford University (school code 4704).

ü  If you do not take the test prior to submission, your application will be reviewed as is.

TOEFL-IELTS-PTE – YES

·  The minimum TOEFL score for study at Stanford University is 250 for the computer-based test (CBT), 100 for the internet-based test (iBT), or 600 for the paper-based test (PBT).

·  The minimum IELTS overall band score for study at the Stanford MBA Program is 7.0.

·  The minimum PTE overall score for study at the Stanford MBA Program is 68.

·  TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE scores are valid for two years and must be taken before submitting your application. The scores must be valid on the deadline date of the round in which you apply.

·  You must instruct the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send your official TOEFL scores directly to Stanford University (school code 4704). For the IELTS, report your scores directly to the Stanford MBA Program. For the PTE, report your scores to the Stanford MBA Program.

·  Self-report your scores on the Application Form. These are the scores we will consider in our evaluation of your application.

Academic Record

There is no recommended curriculum for undergraduate study, but we expect you to challenge yourself throughout your academic career and to do well. If you have earned academic honors, we give you the opportunity to list them in the application.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Many applicants worry that we may not know that lower grades in one concentration (or university; or, for international students, educational system) may be equivalent to the strongest at another. We do.
However, it is not a grade point average (or rank in class, or actual grade) that is of greatest importance to us.
By focusing on your achievements within context, we evaluate how you have excelled within your individual academic environment and how you have taken advantage of the opportunities available to you in your school and community.
GPA Reporting for Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees

• If you attended a school that does not report annual and cumulative GPA, you should compute it yourself. Only classes that have counted (or will be counted) toward your degree are to be included in that calculation.
• If you attended a school that calculates grades using a 4.0 numeric grading system, report a grade point average (GPA) for each undergraduate year and a cumulative average of all undergraduate years attended, and (if applicable) report a GPA for your graduate degree.
• If you attended a school that reports grades on a scale other than a 4.0 numeric system, report that GPA or other classification and the grading scale used.
• Undergraduate GPA Reporting
• In the Education section of the online application, in the box marked Undergraduate Cumulative GPA, include only those courses in calculating your GPA that counted toward your undergraduate degree.
• Graduate GPA Reporting
• If you have multiple graduate degrees, report your graduate degree GPA on the application form for one degree only. Only courses that counted towards that degree are to be included in that graduate degree GPA.

Transcripts

• Do not mail an official transcript. We request an official transcript only after admission, and will notify you.
• Do not include transcripts from secondary school.
• Scan and upload a black-and-white copy of the front and back of your university transcript(s). The transcript may be unofficial.
• Confirm that your uploaded transcript is readable and that the name of the institution is on it. If your transcripts are illegible, it will delay your application.
• If you have difficulty uploading a copy or reducing the file size of your scanned transcript to 500 kilobytes (KB), you may use the self-reported transcript template provided in the online application as an alternative.
• If your transcript is in a language other than English, please include an English translation.
• Submit transcript(s) from each university you have attended for one full academic year (two academic semesters, three quarters or trimesters) or more, regardless of the number of credits received.
• Transcripts for units that were transferred from a previous institution are not required if the courses, units, and grades are included on your undergraduate transcript.
• Transcripts from year-abroad programs are not necessary if the grades are included on your undergraduate transcript.
• Transcripts should include degree conferred and conferral date, if applicable.
• Any discrepancy between the uploaded transcript and the official transcript could result in the denial of your application or withdrawal of your offer of admission.

Language Proficiency

Fluency in foreign languages is not required for admission to the MBA Program. However, the value of foreign language proficiency for a global manager is clear.
Language skills provide much more than business access. They expose you to new realms of cultures, ideas, and values. Languages provide not only an appreciation for a world outside your own, but also a new perspective on your own culture.
In the application, you can assess your proficiency for up to three languages (excluding English) using the following language proficiency levels and corresponding descriptions.
If you speak more than three languages, or speak a language that is not listed, please use the Additional Information section.

Level 1: Elementary proficiency

• Able to satisfy routine survival needs and minimum courtesy requirements
• Can ask and answer questions on familiar topics

Level 2: Limited working proficiency

• Can handle confidently, but not easily, most social situations, including casual conversations about current events, work, and family
• Can handle limited work requirements, but need help in handling complications or difficulties

Level 3: Professional working proficiency

• Able to participate effectively in formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics
• Can discuss particular interests and fields of competence with reasonable ease
• Would never be taken for a native speaker, but errors never interfere with understanding and rarely disturb the native speaker

Level 4: Full professional proficiency

• Able to use the language fluently and accurately for all professional needs
• Can understand and participate in conversations within own personal and professional experience with fluency and precision of vocabulary
• Would rarely be taken for a native speaker, but can respond appropriately even in unfamiliar situations
• Can handle informal interpreting from and into the language

Level 5: Native or bilingual proficiency

• Are fluent in the language, such that speech on all levels is fully accepted by educated native speakers in all of its features, including vocabulary, jargon, and pertinent cultural references

*These descriptions are based on the Interagency Language Roundtable scale developed by the United States Foreign Service Institute.

Awards and Honors

We want to learn about your accomplishments, specifically those for which you have received recognition. We are interested in your successes inside and outside of the classroom.

• Please list up to five awards and/or honors and describe the basis upon which you were selected.
• These may include academic, civic, or professional activities for which you received recognition.
List each in order of importance to you, with the most important listed first.

Activities

We do not expect every applicant to be involved in activities outside the classroom or workplace.

If you have been involved in activities, however, this is an excellent way for us to learn more about your interests and experiences.

• Please report your activities in order of importance to you, with the most important listed first.
• A sustained depth of commitment in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six organizations.
• Report activities during university/college separately from those after university/college.
• Examples of activities in which you are/have been involved may include charitable, civic, community, and professional.
• Please avoid using acronyms to describe your activities.
Do not report internships in this section. Instead, report internships in the part-time employment section.

Employment History & Resume

In this section of the online application, you have an opportunity to describe your employment history, including your responsibilities, your challenges, and accomplishments.

Include both full-time and part-time work experiences.

We value diversity of experience in our student body, so no one industry or function or background is preferred over another.

As you approach your MBA application, keep in mind that we are more interested in the impact you have had in your work place than the name or stature of your organization.

Have you made the most of your professional opportunities? Are you cultivating your leadership and team skills and making a difference? We look at your responses in conjunction with your recommendations to create a broad picture of the impact you have had in your work environment(s).

If you have had more than one job, we also ask why you left your previous employer(s). Your response to this question will help us understand your career development and what has motivated your decision making.

We also ask you to report the industry and job function you hope to pursue after you obtain your MBA.

Resume

After completing the Employment History section, please upload a current copy of your resume. Suggested length is one page--maximum is two pages.

For College Seniors, the recommended length is one page.

Letters of Reference

Qualitative accounts of your intellectual and professional abilities are essential to us. As we read your letters of reference, we hope to discover specific descriptions and examples illustrating your potential to make a difference in the world.

Choose individuals who know you well, and who will take the time to write thorough, detailed letters with specific anecdotes and examples. The strongest references will demonstrate your leadership potential and personal qualities. We are impressed by what the letter says and how it reads, not by the title of the person who writes it.

All letters of reference must be submitted by the deadline of the round in which you apply.

Three Letters of Reference Are Required

Two Professional/Workplace References

• You must obtain at least one recommendation from your current direct supervisor.

• If you are unable to provide a letter from your current direct supervisor, include a brief note of explanation in the Additional Information section of the online application. It is up to you to choose an appropriate replacement.
• College seniors may use a direct supervisor from a summer, part-time, or internship experience. Alternatively, you may ask someone who oversaw you in an extracurricular, volunteer, or community activity.

• Your second Professional/Workplace Letter of Reference must come from someone else in a position to evaluate your work—another supervisor, a previous supervisor, a client, etc.

One Peer Reference
 

• An individual with whom you have worked on a team or on a project, in a position equal to your own, should complete this recommendation. You may choose this person from any of your team experiences: charitable, extracurricular, professional, or other.
• The peer recommender cannot be your supervisor or subordinate. We understand that this person may not always be a peer in title, but it should be a person for whom there is no structural/positional influence in your relationship.

Guidelines for Letters of Reference

• Drafting or writing your own Letter of Reference, even if asked to do so by your recommender, is improper and a violation of the terms of the application process. 
• Choose individuals who have had significant direct involvement with you within the last few years.
• Encourage recommenders to write letters specifically for this application since outdated and/or general recommendations typically do not strengthen an application.
• Strictly academic Letters of Reference generally are less helpful in our evaluation.
• Your recommenders must submit their Letters of Reference via the online application.
• We strongly suggest that your recommenders submit Letters of Reference at least one day prior to the application deadline.
• You are responsible for ensuring that all three recommendations are submitted online before the application deadline.
• Letters of Reference should not exceed 4 pages, double-spaced, using a 12-point font. Recommended fonts are Arial, Courier, and Times New Roman.

Questions We Ask Your Recommenders

Professional/Workplace recommenders

1. Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization.
2. How does the candidate's performance compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?
3. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.
4. Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Office.

Peer recommender

1. Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization.
2. Please describe a time when the applicant changed your thinking or actions.
3. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.
4. Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Office.

All 3 of your recommenders will also be asked to assess you on some competencies and character traits that contribute to successful leadership.

» 2013 LOR Grid (updated for Class of 2015)

Online Submission of Letters of Reference

• Recommenders are required to submit Letters of Reference online.
• We strongly recommend that Letters of Reference be submitted at least one day prior to the application deadline to ensure that your application is complete.
• You are responsible for ensuring that all three recommendations are submitted online prior to the application deadline.

Step 1: Register Your Recommender

• Go to the "Recommendations" tab on the Online Application Form.
• Enter the recommender's personal information carefully on the registration page. It is extremely important to enter the email address correctly so that your recommender receives the instructions in a timely manner.
• Read and mark one of the waiver statements on each Letter of Reference.

Step 2: Recommender Receives Email and Logs In

• Your recommender receives an automated email with instructions to log in to the Online Recommendation.
• You can track the status of recommendations and see whether they have been started, not started, or submitted.

Step 3: Recommender Completes and Submits Recommendation

• After logging in, your recommender has access to an online replica of the Letter of Reference Form and the ability to submit the recommendation directly to us.
• If your recommender is experiencing technical difficulties, please ask the recommender to contact ApplyYourself Technical Support directly by clicking on the button labeled "Tech Support."

Step 4: You and Your Recommender Receive Confirmation

• After your recommender submits the recommendation, both you and your recommender will receive an email confirmation.

Step 5: Submit Your Online Application

• Please make sure that all of your recommenders have submitted the online Letters of Reference before the appropriate application deadline. You should expect that late Letters of Reference will not be included with your application file.

Step 6: Stanford Receives Your Application Form and Letter(s) of Reference

• Please do not send a hard copy of an online Letter of Reference.
You may track the status of your recommendations via the "Recommendations" tab on the online application form.

Essays

We read your essays to get to know you as a person and to learn about the ideas and interests that motivate you. Tell us in your own words who you are.

In other parts of the application, we learn about your academic and professional accomplishments (i.e., what you have done). Through your personal essays (Essays 1 and 2), we learn more about the person behind the achievements (i.e., who you are).

Because we want to discover who you are, resist the urge to "package" yourself in order to come across in a way you think Stanford wants. Such attempts simply blur our understanding of who you are and what you can accomplish.

We want to hear your genuine voice throughout the essays that you write and this is the time to think carefully about your values, your passions, your hopes and dreams.

In your short answer responses (Essay 3, options A, B, or C), we learn more about the experiences that have shaped your attitudes, behaviors, and aspirations.

Truly, the most impressive essays are those that do not begin with the goal of impressing us.

Essay Questions for Class of 2015
(entering Fall 2013)

Tell us in your own words who you are. Answer essay questions 1, 2, and one of the three options for essay 3.

• Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why?
• The best examples of Essay 1 reflect the process of self-examination that you have undertaken to write them.
• They give us a vivid and genuine image of who you are—and they also convey how you became the person you are.
• They do not focus merely on what you've done or accomplished. Instead, they share with us the values, experiences, and lessons that have shaped your perspectives.
• They are written from the heart and address not only a person, situation, or event, but also how that person, situation, or event has influenced your life.
• Essay 2: What do you want to do—REALLY—and why Stanford?
• Use this essay to explain your view of your future, not to repeat accomplishments from your past.
• You should address two distinct topics:
• your career aspirations
• and your rationale for earning your MBA at Stanford, in particular.
• The best examples of Essay 2 express your passions or focused interests, explain why you have decided to pursue graduate education in management,  and demonstrate your desire to take advantage of the opportunities that are distinctive to the Stanford MBA Program.
• Essay 3: Answer one of the three questions below. Tell us not only what you did but also how you did it. What was the outcome? How did people respond? Only describe experiences that have occurred during the last three years.
• Option A: Tell us about a time in the last three years when you built or developed a team whose performance exceeded expectations.
• Option B: Tell us about a time in the last three years when you identified and pursued an opportunity to improve an organization.
• Option C: Tell us about a time in the last three years when you went beyond what was defined or established.

Essay Length

Your answers for all of the essay questions cannot exceed 1,600 words.

You have your own story to tell, so please allocate the 1,600 words among all of the essays in the way that is most effective for you. We provide some guidelines below as a starting point, but you should feel comfortable to write as much or as little as you like on any essay question, as long as you do not exceed 1,600 words total.

• Essay 1: 750 words
• Essay 2: 450 words
• Essay 3: 400 words

Formatting

• Use a 12-point font, double spaced
• Recommended fonts are Arial, Courier, and Times New Roman
• Indicate which essay question you are answering at the beginning of each essay (this does not count towards the 1,600 word limit).
• Number all pages
• Upload all three essays as one document
• Preview the uploaded document to ensure that the formatting is true to the original
• Save a copy of your essays

Editing Your Essays

Begin work on these essays early, to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask your friends or family members to provide constructive feedback. When you ask for feedback, ask if the essays' tone sounds like your voice. It should. Your family and friends know you better than anyone else. If they do not believe that the essays capture who you are, how you live, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely the Committee on Admissions will be unable to recognize what is most distinctive about you.

There is a big difference, however, between 'feedback' and 'coaching.' There are few hard and fast rules, but you cross a line when any part of the application (excluding the Letters of Reference) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when you show someone your completed application, perhaps one or two times, and are apprised of errors or omissions.

In contrast, inappropriate coaching occurs when your application or your self-presentation is colored by someone else.

You best serve your own interests when your personal thoughts, individual voice, and unique style remain intact at the end of your editing process.

It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process, to have someone else write any part of your Stanford MBA Program application. Such an act will result in denial of your application or withdrawal of your offer of admission.

Additional Information

If there is any other information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, please include it. Examples of pertinent additional information include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance
• Explanation of why you do not have a Letter of Reference from your current direct supervisor or peer
• Explanation of criminal conviction, criminal charges sustained against you in a juvenile proceeding, and/or court-supervised probation
• Explanation of academic suspension or expulsion
• Any other information that you did not have sufficient space to complete in another section of the application (please begin the information in the appropriate section)
• Additional work experience that cannot fit into the space provided
Additional information about your academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

Interviews

Your admission interview is both evaluative and informative: it is not only an opportunity for us to learn more about you, but also for you to learn more about Stanford.

Our goal is for the interview to be a positive exchange of ideas and information.

We use the information derived from the interview in context, just as we use all other information in the application process.

The interview focuses on past actions rather than on hypothetical situations. The primary questions revolve around attitudes, behaviors, and skills that we believe are key to good citizenship in the Stanford community and vital to high-impact leadership post-MBA.

We ask you to reflect on your personal and professional experiences, what you've learned about yourself, and how best to lead people and manage situations.

You'll probably surprise even yourself with the many ways you've demonstrated leadership in your life; take advantage of this opportunity to think about the people, situations, and events that have shaped you.

If you are invited to interview, the MBA Admissions Office will contact you via email.

Approximate Interview Schedule
Round 1	Mid October to mid-December	If you are offered a place in the waitpool without an interview, you may be interviewed after you accept your spot in the waitpool.
Round 2	Mid-January to late March
Round 3	Early April to mid-May

Interview Process

All interviews are by invitation only and almost all are conducted by alumni near where you live or work. Candidates invited to interview have been reviewed by the Committee on Admissions and are considered competitive for admission.

We do not have resources to interview every applicant to the Stanford MBA Program, but we will interview every candidate who is offered admission to the class. We expect to interview roughly 900 applicants this year.

• We will contact you via email or phone to notify you of your interview invitation.
• Do not call or contact our office to request an interview.
• After you receive an invitation, you and your interviewer will set up a mutually convenient date and time to meet.
• If you are offered a place in the waitpool without an interview, you may be interviewed after you accept your spot in the waitpool.
We do not provide interview feedback.

Stanford Admission Criteria

What Are We Really Looking for?

We're looking for outstanding individuals, and the very qualities that define you make the GSB a stimulating place to learn.

We recognize that what happens to your application after you submit it to Stanford may seem mysterious. It need not be. Here, we attempt to share with you what we consider when we evaluate applications.

As we build the class, we seek the most promising students in terms of intellectual distinction and professional merit. We base this judgment on the totality of information available. No single factor—whether your college performance, essay, test score, interview, letter of reference, or work experience—is decisive.

We consider each application holistically, and take into account factors such as your background, experiences, perspectives, fit with the GSB and its MBA Program, aspirations, values, and accomplishments.

We evaluate each applicant in the context of the application year and are guided especially by three primary admission criteria of intellectual vitality, demonstrated leadership potential, and personal qualities and contributions.

Assumptions

A few basic assumptions underlie our approach.

First, just as no two Stanford MBA students are the same, no two Stanford MBA applicants are the same either. This means we must pay careful attention to the particular circumstances of each applicant.

Second, we believe that past actions usually are the best predictor of future performance.

Third, we believe that how you have developed your talents is as important as what you have actually accomplished.

Fourth, while there is no single academic or professional background most suitable for the MBA Program, admitted candidates tend to have sound analytical skills and strong performance in managing programs, processes, or people.

And finally, we look for diversity in the MBA class because we believe that the GSB's collaborative educational process leverages students' diverse backgrounds to deliver a range of perspectives and approaches to real-world problems. We define diversity in the broadest possible terms, encompassing (but not limited to) educational and professional background, personal experiences and goals, culture, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and nationality.

We Evaluate All Applicants In Three Areas:

Intellectual Vitality

One of the ideas or themes that is central in our minds as we evaluate an application is your intellectual vitality.

You can demonstrate this in many ways, not simply through grades and test scores. In other words, your attitude toward learning is as important as your aptitude.

Because the Stanford community believes in the power of ideas to shape the future, we want to see your passion, dedication, and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons throughout your application.

We look for evidence of the kind of curiosity and interest that will allow you to spark a lively discussion in class and continue that conversation during coffee with a faculty member, walking back to the Schwab Residential Center with a classmate, or over dinner with alumni.

Another consideration is the initiative with which you seek out opportunities that enhance your knowledge. We want to understand your willingness to "suspend disbelief"—by mastering concepts that may not be immediately relevant to your intended career, to carve your path in ambiguous environments, and to support the School's goal of developing knowledge that deepens and advances the practice of management.

Demonstrated Leadership Potential

Another factor that is primary in our minds as we read your application is your demonstrated leadership potential.

In short, we try to understand your character and your professional competence.

Your personal character matters not only because integrity is the cornerstone of any academic community, but also because of the vast responsibility our society reposes in leaders of businesses and social-sector organizations.

As a result, we look for evidence of behaviors consistent with your ideals, even under difficult circumstances—a sort of directed idealism.

We want to understand your personal motivation and convictions, and your ability to confront complex, unfamiliar issues with good judgment.

We envision you defending your position with vigor and respect to a peer advocating a different view.

We also try to uncover the ways in which challenges to your beliefs may have changed some of your perspectives and reinforced others.

In understanding your competence, we look for both leadership experience and potential. In doing so, we don’t limit ourselves to your professional life. Neither should you. We look at your background for evidence of your impact on the people and organizations around you, and the impact of those experiences on you.

Learning about your activities, experiences, interests, and aspirations helps us discover your potential contributions to Stanford and to society.

We imagine you working with a group of students and faculty to design a new multi-disciplinary course on ethical issues in life sciences or leading the Principal Investing Conference.

We look for evidence of your desire to make a lasting impact in the organizations you serve throughout your career, inspiring and motivating your colleagues.

We consider your awareness of what you do well and the areas in which you can improve; your group and interpersonal skills; and your commitment to utilizing fully your opportunities and available resources.

These qualities will help you to shape your own experience as a student, and will influence your ability to shape the future as an alumna or alumnus.

Personal Qualities and Contributions

A third major concept that we consider is the perspective that you bring to the Stanford community—your personal qualities and contributions.

In a world that often rewards conformity, the Stanford community thrives only when you share your individual experiences and perspectives.

As a result, the strongest applications we see are those in which your thoughts and voice remain intact.

To understand how you will contribute to and benefit from the Business School community, we want to know about you: your experiences, beliefs, your passions, your dreams, your goals. Will you revolutionize the Healthcare Innovation Conference, take initiative, or be the dissenting voice in a classroom discussion?

Take time to reflect on who you are, and have confidence in yourself. We always remember that there is neither an "ideal" candidate nor a "typical" Stanford MBA student. You should remember this, too.

Yes, our community includes students who have pursued incomparable opportunities. This doesn't mean that something remarkable (either positive or negative) must have happened to you to be a strong candidate. In fact, most Stanford MBA students have excelled by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. It is what you make of an experience that matters to us, not simply the experience itself.