Deferred Entry MBA

You must complete the online application. You will need your username and password each time you save and wish to resume your online application.

Unofficial transcripts of your Bachelor's degree may be submitted in your application, even if your last semester grades and degree conferral (graduation) are not final. However, once all grades are recorded and your degree has been conferred, you must submit the final transcript, as soon as possible, to be included in your application. 

MBA Admissions and Recruiting
Carlson School of Management
321 Nineteenth Avenue South, Suite 1-110
Minneapolis, MN 55455

An official GMAT or GRE score no older than five years old is required for admission to the MBA program. Please arrange for the testing service to send an official score report to the Carlson MBA Program Office: GMAT code: D2N-VJ-15; GRE code: 8387. Results normally arrive 2-3 weeks after the test. A competitive GMAT score for admission to the Deferred MBA program is around 690, which is equivalent to a 324 GRE score.

We require a personal statement of your career goals and objectives in pursuing an MBA degree. Details about the personal statement can be found within the online application.

• Why are you choosing to pursue a deferred Carlson Full Time MBA? What are you hoping to accomplish by doing so?  What features of the program excite you the most? Please be as specific as possible with professional goals, curriculum, experiential learning, etc.
• In the time between graduating with your bachelor’s degree and hopefully matriculating in the Full Time MBA program at Minnesota Carlson, what skills, experiences, or professional development opportunities do you plan to pursue to prepare yourself for graduate study?
• Carlson MBA programs are looking for diverse voices and experiences to add to classroom discussions. Can you tell us about how you have participated in and/or advocated for building more inclusive communities in your career or your collegiate experience? 

Learn how to prepare your personal statement

• 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 camera and microphone capabilities. You will also need a strong internet connection for uploading the video. 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.  The 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.
• You will need a strong internet connection to upload the video.

Video Essay Walkthrough Guide

View more application tips & resources
 

You will be required to upload a current resume to the online application. The resume should include job responsibilities, internship, accomplishments, and student involvement.

If you have accepted a full time role following your graduation, you are invited to upload a copy of your offer letter or similar documentation confirming your post-school employment plans.

Admissions interviews are by invitation only. Deferred Entry MBA program applicants must first complete their application to be considered for an interview.

We require two recommendations for application to the Deferred Entry MBA program. These recommendations can be from any combination of professional and academic recommenders, though we strongly prefer that at least one recommendation come from a supervisor or current employer if you have professional/internship experience. You may consider your academic advisor or career counselor for these recommendations.

The Deferred Entry MBA program is a selective, deferred admissions program designed specifically for domestic students - U.S. Citizens or permanent residents in their senior year of college.

Yes, you must be a domestic student/U.S. resident to qualify for this program. Unfortunately, this program is not open to international students.

You are not required to have an undergraduate degree, coursework or work experience in business. Minnesota Carlson recruits and admits students from a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds. About one-third of our students come from a traditional business undergraduate or professional background, another third of our students have a background in technology or engineering, and the last third have a background in a wide variety of disciplines and functional areas (such as non-profit, education, visual and performing arts, etc.).

Applications are reviewed as a whole and candidates are admitted into the program based on academic credentials and general fit for the program. The admissions committee will consider your academic performance (official transcripts for any post-secondary coursework and GPA), GMAT test scores, admissions interview, work experience, student involvement and achievements, personal statement, and professional/academic references.

Admissions interviews are by invite only; only selective Deferred Entry MBA applicants will be invited to interview. After you have submitted your complete application, you will be considered for an admissions interview.

Yes! Admitted students are guaranteed minimum $25,000 per year scholarship to the Full-time or STEMBA program so long as conditional admission requirements are met.

There is no preference. We encourage you to take the exam you are most comfortable with.

Yes. If you take the GMAT or GRE more than once, the admissions committee will consider your highest score.

Candidates must submit their complete application by July 1. We welcome seniors who will be finishing their undergraduate degrees in the preceding academic year (December, May) through those who anticipate their degree being awarded in summer (August). 

Conditional admissions decisions for the Deferred Entry MBA program will be provided to applicants by August 15.

Undergraduate college students apply during their senior year or right after graduating and receive a decision in the months following graduation. If admitted, candidates would enter the Carlson MBA Full-Time program after completing two years of professional work experience.

For example, if you will be graduating May of 2025 and are admitted to the program, you will begin the Full-Time MBA program in fall of 2027. December graduates interested in the Full-Time MBA would start in the fall 2.5 years after graduating.

Deferred Entry MBA students participate in career coaching, professional development, and mentorships with the support of the Carlson Business Career Center and student clubs and organizations. These opportunities are available to Deferred MBA students even before they start the full-time MBA program.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 612-625-5555.