We will be updating this post regularly, so be sure to check back to stay up to date on the impact the coronavirus is having on MBA admissions.
Major MBA Program Changes
Cornell University Johnson College of Business
Original April Deadlines April 8 Two-Year MBA➤ New June 01 Deadline
Additional Information: Standardized test scores may be submitted up until June 30
Original April 22 deadline ➤ New June 4 Rolling Deadline
New Deadline Option ➤ Rolling Admissions Beyond May 5th Deadline
Additional Information: Applications may be submitted without standardized exam scores but final decisions will not given without one.
UC-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business
New ‘Round 4’ Option ➤ Extended June 1 Deadline
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
New Deadline Option ➤ Rolling June 1 Deadline
Additional Information: GMAT/GRE/TOEFL/IELTS scores are waived for the 3rd round deadline!
MIT Sloan School of Management
Original April 9 deadline ➤ New June 15 Rolling Deadline
Duke University Fuqua School of Business
New ‘Round 4’ Option ➤ May 19th Deadline
Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business
New ‘Extended Rolling Round’ Option ➤ Rolling July 31 Deadline
Additional Information: CMU is allowing applicants with quantitative backgrounds to submit applications without GMAT/GRE scores.
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Original April 16 deadline ➤ New June 1 Rolling Deadline
Additional Information: Applications will be considered before the submission of GMAT/GRE scores but will not be formally accepted without one.
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
New Deadline Option ➤ Rolling June 1 Deadline
Additional Information: While recent GRE/GMAT scores are preferred, expired GMAT/GRE results, EA results, and MCAT and LSAT results will be accepted.
Original April 6 deadline ➤ New July 13 Rolling Deadline
Additional Information: Waivers for the GMAT/GRE are being offered for those with additional standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT etc.). Additionally, all application fees are being waived.
Original March 15 deadline ➤ New May 1 Rolling Deadline
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
New Deadline Option ➤ Rolling May 31 Deadline
Additional Information: Applications may be submitted for initial review without test scores, however final decisions will only be rendered once test scores are submitted, which will be accepted through July 1.
University of Pennsylvania Wharton
Original April 1 deadline ➤ New April 14 Deadline
Additional Information: Applications may be submitted without standardized exam scores but scores must be submitted before arriving on campus August 10 (December 31 for Advanced Access applicants*).
*You must be a current university student to apply to Advanced Access.
Columbia Business School (CBS)
Original Rolling April 10 Deadline ➤ New June 1 Deadline
Additional Information: Applications may be submitted without standardized exam scores but final decisions will not given without one.
January 2021 Intake Changes
Original R2 May 6 Deadline ➤ New May 20 Deadline
Original R3 June 24 Deadline ➤ New July 1 Deadline
Original R4 July 28 Deadline ➤ New August Deadline
Additional Information: Applications may be submitted without standardized exam scores but final decisions will not given without one.
New ‘Round 4’ Option ➤ Rolling Deadline from April 1 to June 1.
Yale School of Management (SOM)
Original April 14 Deadline ➤ New May 27 Deadline
Additional Information: If you choose to submit for the original deadline of April 14th: standardized exam score submissions will be extended to April 24 and decisions will still be issued on May 19.
University of Virginia Darden (UVA)
Original April 6 Deadline ➤ New July 15 Deadline + Rolling Admissions
Additional Information: In lieu of regular standardized examinations, SAT, ACT and country-specific university entrance exam scores are being accepted. Moreover, applicants can submit other proofs of academic capacity, including certifications, such as the CFA.
Original April 3 Deadline ➤ Unchanged
Additional Information: Applications may be submitted without a test score, however applicants should contact oxfordmba@sbs.ox.ac.uk for further information.
University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Original March 30 Deadline ➤ New May 29 Deadline
Additional Information: March 30 will remain a priority deadline, which is especially encouraged for international applicants, however applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until May 29.
University of Washington Foster School of Business
New ‘Round 4’ Option ➤ May 19 Deadline
Emory University Goizueta Business School
Original March 20 Deadline ➤ New April 15 One-Year MBA Deadline; New July 1 Two-Year MBA Deadline
Additional Information: Application fees will be waived.
Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management
New ‘Round 4’ Option ➤ June 4 Rolling Deadline
Additional Information: While the Round 3 deadline remains April 6, application fees will be waived and self-reported scores will be accepted during the submission process.
Original April 2 Deadline ➤ New June 1 Deadline
*You must be a current university student to apply to 2+2.
Original April 6 Deadline ➤ New June 2 Deadline
Additional Information: Applicants unable to secure standardized tests scores should contact earlymbaadmissions.mitsloan@mit.edu to receive a temporary waiver.
*You must be a current university student to apply to Early Admission.
Northwestern University Kellogg Future Leaders*
Original April 2 Deadline ➤ New June 2 Deadline
Additional Information: Applicants unable to secure standardized tests scores should contact MBAadmissions@kellogg.northwestern.edu or 847.491.3308.
*You must be a current university student to apply to Future Leaders.
Major Standardized Testing Changes
ETS has recently rolled out an online option for both the GRE and the TOEFL iBT, now available worldwide. Following suit, GMAC launching the GMAT Online Exam on April 20th and the Executive Assessment (EA) Online on May 5th.
It is possible that these online testing options, especially as they expand, may impact partially or wholly any currently available standardized examination waivers or delay options. For instance, Berkeley Haas, which has recently created a 4th round, is encouraging applicants for round 3 (April 4 deadline) to delay their submissions to the newly-minted final round if they do not have GMAT or GRE results, partially because of the availability of the online GRE and upcoming Interim GMAT.
What does this mean for you?
While a lot is uncertain, it is becoming clear that this is far from a standard admissions cycle, especially when it comes to US MBA applications. Many MBAs are signalling that they are experiencing significant levels of uncertainty when it comes to application numbers for upcoming September intakes. One of the major areas of concern surrounds US VISA services, which have recently been suspended by the Department of State. Directly in response to this suspension, Harvard Business School announced that it would be increasing the number of individuals on its waitlist in order to hedge its bets.
One of the questions that seems to be arising the most is whether it will be easier to apply to an MBA right now, especially for international applicants. While applications to business schools are expected to dramatically rise for those wishing to enter an MBA in 2021, it is not as easy to predict the outcome for September 2020 applicants. In fact, it may even be the case that if enough candidates begin to worry over their immediate employment prospects and increases in MBA applications beginning in September 2020, some schools may receive a larger than average amount of partially-realized applications in these final rounds, leading to lower acceptance chances.
The above-mentioned scenario is not necessarily likely but it is possible; what is much more likely is that a higher proportion of applicants will submit under-prepared applications, assuming that they have significantly higher acceptance chances. Even assuming that average acceptance rates fall for top MBAs, such as Columbia Business School, those ‘increased’ odds will none-the-less lead to a fiercely competitive process. Deciding when to apply still requires a careful analysis of where you stand, personally and professionally, in addition to what your condition and that of MBA programs might be in the future.
If you need help navigating today’s complex admissions environment or you’re just interested in identifying what the best strategy for you might be, connect with Admissions Circle Team for support.
