Full-Time MBA Requirements & Deadlines

The Full-Time and Management Science MBA program begins in the fall of each year. To apply for the Full-Time or Management Science MBA program, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or a comparable degree from an officially recognized college or university outside of the U.S.

Application deadlines are listed below, but we continue to accept domestic applications after the final deadline on a space-available basis.

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Full-Time MBA Application Deadlines

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

Application Deadlines

  • October 1  
    Decision Notification: November 15
  • December 1  
    Decision Notification: February 1
  • February 1*  
    Decision Notification: March 15
  • April 1#
    Decision Notification: May 15
  • June 1
    Decision Notification: June 15

* International Applications Outside the U.S.
# International Applications Inside the U.S.
 

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What you need to apply to the Full-Time and Managment Science MBA program

The application requirements apply to both the Full-Time MBA and Management Science MBA programs. 

Please note all materials will be required in some form for a Full-Time MBA or Management Science MBA application. If materials are missing, an application will be marked incomplete and will delay an admission decision. Please check your applicant checklist in the application portal to ensure all materials are received. 

Complete the application online.

To be considered for admission, you must have a first university degree that is equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree*. 

Unofficial transcripts must include your name and the name of the institution and can be uploaded in the online application or emailed to [email protected] for attachment to your application file. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcript. 

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. This includes institutions where you have earned credit that transferred towards degree credit at another college/university. Third Party credential evaluation reports and degree planning audit documents are not accepted as equivalent to a transcript.

If you have previously enrolled at any University of Minnesota campus, you can obtain electronic copies of your transcripts from OneStop Services. 

There is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial admissions review. Official transcripts will be required if you are admitted to the program.

The University of Minnesota reserves the right to require the submission of official transcripts or credentials any time during the admission review process.

*If a student holds a 3-year degree from India, they may be considered for admission into the Full-Time MBA or Management Science MBA program. 

International credentials must include both the original language document(s) and an 

English translation. English language translation services in the Twin Cities

Please include copies of the original language diplomas if a degree was conferred, in addition to original language transcripts or mark sheets.

You must submit essay responses to the questions detailed below (approximately 3 pages maximum). You may copy/paste each prompt into your document. The admissions committee will review both the content of your responses and your ability to communicate clearly in writing.

  • Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA at this time in your career? What are you hoping to accomplish by doing so? Briefly describe your short-term (upon graduation from the program) and long-term (5-10 years after the program) career goals. Please be as specific as possible with roles, companies and/or industries.
  • What excites you about being part of the Carlson MBA program? Do you have an enterprise program that you are currently interested in and why?
  • 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?

 

Get tips on crafting your personal statement

All incoming first-year Full-Time MBA and Management Science MBA students are invited to apply to be named fellows for national MBA affinity organizations.

Fellows are campus representatives of these organizations in the Carlson School MBA community. Additionally, named fellows receive a modest stipend to attend the annual conference, typically held in the first fall semester.

You may apply for more than one fellowship position, but you will need to submit a separate essay for each organization. All organizations are open to all candidates. 

National Black MBA Association® (NBMBAA): The mission of the National Black MBA Association is to lead in the creation of educational, wealth-building, and growth opportunities for those historically underrepresented throughout their careers as students, entrepreneurs, and professionals. This organization is open to all. 

Prospanica: Prospanica’s vision is to be the leading catalyst for Hispanic professional achievement, and their mission is to empower and enable Hispanic professionals to achieve their full educational, economic, and social potential. This organization is open to all.

Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA): Reaching Out MBA's mission is to increase the influence of the LGBT+ community in business by educating, inspiring, and connecting MBA students and alumni. This organization is open to all.

Forté Foundation For over twenty years, Forté has expanded access and opportunity to business education and professional development, including launching hundreds of thousands of women into fulfilling careers. We help the talented, qualified members of our community achieve success in their careers - whether that means earning an MBA, discovering career paths in various industries, developing essential business skills, or connecting with recruiters at leading companies. This organization is open to all.

In order to be considered for these fellowships, you will need to upload a one-page essay in your application portal that addresses the following prompt:

How do your personal and professional goals align with the mission of the NBMBAA/Prospanica/ROMBA/Forte organization?

You may apply for more than one fellowship position, but you will need to submit a separate essay for each organization. There will be up to 2 fellows named for National Black MBA Association, Propsancia, and ROMBA. Fellowships for Forte Foundation are limited based on annual funding. 

The David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise (CFE) at the Carlson School of Management is proud to offer a full-tuition scholarship opportunity for one MBA-admitted student who will commit to joining the CFE for two semesters.

When completing your application, upload a one-page statement expressing your interest in Funds Enterprise participation and this scholarship by answering the following question:

  • Why are you interested in the Finance Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship, and how would participation in the David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise help you reach your career goals?

Use this essay to share information that is not presented elsewhere in the application, for example:

  • Explanation of employment gaps or academic weaknesses
  • Quantitative abilities
  • Choice of recommenders
  • For re-applicants, improvements to your candidacy
  • Your statement should be limited to no more than one page
  • The impromptu 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 a live 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

Prepare a current resume that includes a detailed education and employment history in no more than 3 pages. 

Resume guidelines 

  • List both employer and official position held.
  • Specify both month and year for dates of employment in each role.
  • Detail job responsibilities and accomplishments in approximately 3-5 bullet points.
  • For additional guidance, visit our Carlson Business Career Center resume advice webpage, and feel free to use their resume template to simplify the process. 

Upload your completed resume in the online application where prompted for Resume or CV.

We require two professional recommendations to complete the application to the Full-Time MBA or Management Science MBA program. 

Please note that you do not need to solicit letters of recommendation from your recommenders. We partner with GMAC for the Common Letter of Recommendation, so you simply need to provide contact information for your recommenders, and the form will be automatically routed to them via email for completion. The form does include an optional section to attach a letter of recommendation if your recommender chooses to add that component.

We recommend getting started on your application early so you can enter the recommender's contact information right away before continuing to work on your application. Both recommenders must complete the GMAC form before your submitted application is considered complete. This means all recommendations must be received before the deadline for which you would like to be considered.

The GMAT or GRE General Test is required for admission to the Full-Time MBA and Management Science program and should be less than five years old. Waivers are available, see below for information on how to apply.

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.

Please note we don't have a minimum GMAT or GRE required score, but do have average scores in our Full-Time MBA Class Profile.

You may be eligible for a GMAT/GRE waiver if you meet the following minimum academic criteria:

  • Have a four-year undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university in the U.S. or its international equivalent
  • Have a 3.2 GPA or higher (3.0 GPA or higher in STEM majors) in the most recent degree earned

In addition to the above, you must also demonstrate program readiness based on, but not limited to at least one of the following criteria:

  • Progressively responsible professional, full-time work experience
  • Completed graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral)
  • Professional certifications of CPA or CFA
  • U.S. military service of 4 years, full-time 

All test waivers are granted at the admissions committee's discretion based on a holistic review of academic and professional accomplishments at the time of test waiver request submission.

Guide to GRE/GMAT Waiver Request

Students who are applying concurrently for the Full-time MBA/dual degree in which the respective partner program does not require a standardized test this year can apply for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Students should use the established waiver application process through the Full-Time MBA application portal.  Applying for the waiver does not guarantee it will be granted and the Admissions Committee may still require the applicant to complete MBA Math, submit additional materials, or take the GMAT/GRE exam. Receiving a waiver does not guarantee admission.

 

Apply for Test Waiver in the Full-Time MBA Admission Application 

 

Please follow and fully complete the instruction listed in the form. Please note completion of this request is not a guarantee for a waiver. Please note the waiver is only for the consideration of GMAT/GRE portion of the application and cannot be extended to any other requirements of the application. Candidates are responsible for understanding and meeting all other application requirements. The Academic Test Waiver is also to be complete prior to the submission of your Full-Time MBA application.

  • An approved GMAT/GRE/EA waiver does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants should consider a number of factors before submitting a GMAT/GRE waiver request including their overall candidate profile. Submission of a test score is an additional data point considered by the Admissions Committee when determining merit-based scholarships.
  • There are also some employers who may request a GMAT/GRE score as part of their MBA hiring screening process. This is particularly true in industries such as consulting or finance. Candidates are encouraged to consider all factors before submitting a GMAT/GRE test waiver request.

Please direct all questions about the Academic Test Waiver to [email protected].

Proof of English Language Proficiency is required of all applicants and must be demonstrated in one of the following ways. 

  • Completed at least the last 2 years of a bachelor's degree or 1 year of graduate school (full-time) in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Anglophone Africa, or the English-speaking Caribbean and will provide official transcripts.
  • Completed education solely in English in a country where English is not the official language and will provide documented proof (Ex: India).
  • Will provide the official results of an English Language Test taken within the last two years

The following tests are all accepted:

For further details, visit the International Applicants page.

The application fee is $75 (non-refundable) for U.S. citizens, international applications, and U.S. residents with foreign credentials. Your application fee will be waived if you have been on active duty in the U.S. military within three years of submitting your MBA application.

Interviews for the Full-Time MBA and Management Science MBA program are by invitation only. 

Eligible candidates will be contacted via email after the initial review of their application. 

You may select either an on-campus interview or via Zoom. You should treat the interview as if you were a job interview. Appropriate attire is business professional.

Additional Resources

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