Admissions

As part of a highly competitive selection process, the Carlson School carefully considers each applicant's demonstrated and potential abilities as a student, manager and leader.

1. Application

Complete the application online. Once you start an application, under the "Program Selection" section and the "Carlson School of Management Programs" drop-down, please choose "Dual Degree - Masters in Business Administration & Masters of Science in Business Analytics." This will allow you to apply to both programs with one application.

Note: If you are a current MBA student and want to apply to the MSBA program, you will have to complete a new application.

2. Personal Statement

One personal statement is required for the MBA-MSBA dual degree. Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words (2 pages), that addresses the following questions:

  • Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA and an MSBA at this time in your career, and what are you hoping to accomplish by doing so?
  • Why are you interested in pursuing these degrees at the Carlson School of Management?
  • What do you feel makes you a strong candidate for the programs? How will you contribute to the programs overall?

3. MSBA Prerequisites 

Completion of Calculus Course

Completion of at least one-semester college-level calculus course with a grade "C" or better is required at the time of application. The calculus course must be at the level of Calculus I or higher. Upload a course description or syllabus in the first upload on the  "Carlson MS Programs requirements" page of the application for the course that satisfies this requirement.

Applicants who have not yet completed a calculus course should not submit an application to the program until they have completed the course and received a final grade.

Demonstrated Computer Programming Proficiency

Demonstrated proficiency in computer programming is required. The following programming languages satisfy the requirement: Python, R, C, C++, C#, VB, Java, Pascal, and Fortran. Proficiency is required in only one of these languages. Proficiency may be demonstrated one of three ways:

  1. Academic Coursework - University class on transcript showing formal education in and successful completion of programming coursework as an undergraduate or graduate. Upload a course description or syllabus which includes the name of the programming language learned. This course must appear on your transcript (uploaded in the Educational Background section of this application.) Do not re-upload your transcript on the "Carlson MS Programs requirements" page of the application; this upload must be a course description or syllabus indicating the language learned in your programming class.
  2. Professional Experience - Resume indicating specific projects, assignments, or responsibilities with clear details of how computer programming was utilized in a professional, full-time work capacity. Simply listing the programming language you know is not sufficient. You must have bullet points indicating which programming language you use and how you use the programming language to complete your professional work. 
  3. Completion of Online Course - Certificate of completion of online coursework in computer programming. Please upload a certificate of completion on the "Carlson MS Programs requirements" page of the application. If the certificate title does not include the programming language used, please include a course description or syllabus with the upload indicating programming language taught.

Applicants who have not yet satisfied the computer programming requirement should not submit an application to the program until they can demonstrate proficiency in one of the three ways listed above.

4. Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts can be submitted through the online application. You will need to submit a transcript from each college or university where you have completed coursework before your application will be considered complete and reviewed by the admissions committee. Official transcripts will be required if you are admitted to the program.

5. Test Score

The GMAT or GRE General Test is required for admission to the Full-Time MBA program and should be less than five years old.

For GMAT, arrange for the testing service to send an official score report to code D2N-VJ-15, Carlson MBA. Results arrive 2-3 weeks after the test. For GRE, arrange for the testing service to send an official score report using institution code 8387. Results take 3-4 weeks to arrive.

6. English Language Testing Score (if applicable)

The following tests are all accepted:

For further details, visit the International Applicants page.

7. Resume

Upload a current resume that includes a detailed employment history, job responsibilities and accomplishments where prompted for Resume or CV. Please be sure to provide a few bullet points for each position held, as well as dates (month and year) regarding employment and education on the employment information page.

8. Video Essay

  • The video essay is a required component of the application that provides candidates with an opportunity to show the admissions committee the authentic you.  Think of this video essay as if you were answering an interview question with a member of our admissions committee. 
  • You will need to use a computer with a camera and microphone capabilities. You will have the ability to test your technology before starting the video essay and submit a practice video essay. 
  • You can test your technology and run the practice simulation as many times as you wish to be comfortable with the format and technology.  You will be able to review your practice video essay(s) and your recording(s) will not be saved beyond the testing phase and will never be reviewed.
  • You can also practice responding to impromptu questions offline with a friend or colleague before completing the video essay portion of your application.
  • You will be prompted to click "Ready" once you are prepared to submit an official video essay.  You will be asked one impromptu question from a bank of imaginative or behavioral questions selected by our admissions team. 
  • Two minutes (120 seconds) will be provided to prepare an answer and two minutes (120 seconds) to record an answer.   Recording will automatically stop after two minutes.  You are not required to use the full two minutes.  If you have time remaining once complete with your response, click the "Stop Recording" button to end the recording. 
  • You will only be provided one attempt to record your official video essay.

    Video Essay Bank of Questions

    Describe a academic or extra curricular activity that helped you shape your personality. What did you learn? ​
    Describe a situation where you were a team member. How did you decide when to lead and when to follow, and how did the results impact you?
    Describe a time when you showed great resilience and tenacity and it paid off. What were the results?
    Describe your biggest risk you took at work and what was its outcome?
    Explain a situation when you had to change your communication style. What was the outcome and what did you learn?
    Give an example of a situation where you had to change your priorities due to an unexpected task and what was the outcome?
    How would you describe your current thinking about diversity, and how has your thinking changed over time?
    If you had unlimited time, to what would you devote it?
    Imagine you were transported to the year 1900. How would you explain a smartphone (or shared network drive such as google drive) to a person from that era?
    Talk about an activity or extra curricular experience and how it changed your perspective.
    Talk about the time when you made a wrong decision, what was the setback and how did you handle it?
    Tell about a setback you experienced, how you dealt with it, and the results.
    Tell us about a time when you handled a task on which you had zero information. What were the steps you took to begin with, what were the strategies and what were the end results?
    Tell us about a time you encountered an individual who was resistant to change, how did you deal with it and what was the outcome?
    What accomplishment are your really proud of and why?
    What does it mean for you to have a commitment to diversity? How have you demonstrated that commitment, and how would you see yourself demonstrating it here?
    What is the key ingredient for building and maintaining professional relationships? Provide examples.
    What is your definition of diversity and how or why do you think diversity is important?
    What's the best piece of constructive criticism you've received and how has it influenced your work?
    What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone?

    9. Recommendations

    We partner with GMAC for the common letter of recommendation and require two recommenders for your application.  These recommendations can be from any combination of professional and academic recommenders, though we suggest that at least one recommendation come from a supervisor if you have professional experience.

    Your application will not be considered complete until all two letters of recommendation are received. This means all letters must be received before the deadline for which you would like to be considered. 

    10. Application Fee

    The application fee for the dual degree program is $75 (non-refundable) for U.S. citizens; and $95 for international applications and U.S. residents with foreign credentials. The application fee will be waived if the applicant has been on active duty in the U.S. military within three years of submitting an application.

    11. Interview

    Admission interviews are by invitation only. Not all applicants will be interviewed. Interviews may be conducted on campus or via Skype. There is only one interview for the dual degree program and it is approximately 30-45 minutes in length and aimed at better understanding a candidate’s academic and professional background. You should treat the interview as you would a job interview. Appropriate attire is business professional.

    Application Dates - Fall Start

    Round Submission Deadlines Decision Notification
    Round 1 October 1 November 15
    Round 2 December 1 February 1
    Round 3 February 1 March 15
    Round 4  April 1 May 15

    Deadlines that occur on a weekend or holiday are extended through the next business day. 

    We will review applications beyond our final round deadline on a case by case basis

    You are completing three semesters of the MBA program and three semesters of the MSBA program. The below cost will include the tuition for 2019-2020.

    MBA

    The per semester cost is $20,088 for resident and $25,728 for non-resident. To see a full cost breakdown of the MBA program, please visit the tuition page.

    MSBA

    The total tuition for three semesters if $44,550 for resident and $63,450 for non-resident. To see the full cost breakdown of the MSBA program, please visit the tuition page.

     

    The total tuition cost for the MBA-MSBA Dual Degree program is $104,814 for resident and $140,634 for non-resident. Visit the MBA and MSBA website for more information about financial aid and scholarship opportunities for each program. 

     

     

    *Please note that tuition increases for both programs each year. 

    Want to learn more?
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