Updated April 2020: The Best MBA Deferred Admissions Programs (to apply to when still in college)

While most business schools require you to have between 2-5 years of work experience before you can apply to their flagship MBA programs, more and more business schools are offering deferred early admissions programs for college seniors. College is a great time to apply to business school. Applying now gives you another opportunity for admission, a potentially less competitive peer group to compete against, and much greater flexibility on when to attend. An offer of admission from a top program also enhances your resume prestige and hedges your career risk. There really is no downside. Offers of deferred admission usually give students a guaranteed spot in a future MBA class provided they spend two or more years getting business experience (which you will need anyways to get the most out of business school). Here are the top programs that offer such deferred enrollment options: 

Harvard Business School HBS

Harvard Business School 2+2

Perhaps the most famous of the deferred admission MBA programs is Harvard’s 2+2, established by its famous former director Lee Leopold. While college seniors from any academic background are eligible to apply, some preference will be given to high potential individuals on paths that aren't as well established in leading to graduate business school, including applicants:

  1. Planning to work in an operating company (tech, manufacturing, consumer goods, retail, industrials, etc.)

  2. From a lower socio-economic background (first generation in college, lower-income family background, less family exposure to graduate school)

  3. Going into a technically demanding role

  4. Pursuing entrepreneurship

Students in college or graduate programs (attended directly after college, but not PhD programs, law school or medical school) can apply and defer attending the 2-year MBA program for between 2 and 4 years. To be considered for admission to the 2+2 Program Class of 2024 (entering fall 2022), you must graduate from your program between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. 2+2 applicants pay $100 on the application fee compared to $250 for regular applicants. 2+2 applications have only one deadline: June 1, 2020.

Stanford GSB

Stanford GSB Deferred Enrollment

An excellent way into the US business school with the lowest acceptance rate. Stanford actually offers direct enrollment opportunities for college students, however in almost every case this deferred enrollment option is more advisable. Deferred enrollment is open to those who are in your final year of a bachelor degree or a joint bachelor/graduate program, and your degree will be conferred between October 1 last year and September 1 this year OR you are currently enrolled in a graduate program, which you began immediately following an undergraduate or undergraduate/graduate program.

In most cases the deferral requested by GSB for the student is 2 years. Candidates for this program can apply in any round, though Round 3 is slightly preferred, and the reduced application fee is $100.

Stanford intimates that this enrollment option is aimed at college seniors who seek to work in post-MBA industries that either require work experience (consulting) or previous work experience in that same field (private equity, biotechnology).

Wharton

Wharton Moelis Advance Access Program

This deferred admissions fellowship program is only open to undergraduate students studying at the University of Pennsylvania. The Moelis Advance Access Program is a deferred admission program that gives Penn undergraduates a guaranteed pathway to the Wharton MBA after pursuing 2-4 years of work experience. The program focuses on Penn seniors whose academic and career interests expand traditional notions of business education.

Moelis Fellows access the Wharton network and resources during their deferment period and will receive a $10,000 yearly fellowship (or more based on merit) during the 2-year full-time MBA program. Applications open in March with Round 3 and the application fee is waived.

University of Chicago Booth

Chicago Booth Scholars Program

The Chicago Booth Scholars Program accepts applications from any current undergraduate student in their final year of study from all undergraduate institutions. The program allows you to complete the MBA application process while still at your undergraduate institution, then start at Chicago Booth after a conditional 2-4 year deferment period for professional experience. During the deferment period, Booth Scholars are expected to seek substantive work experience that will position them to succeed at Chicago Booth and beyond. Booth Scholars represent diverse interests and backgrounds, and are not limited to STEM or non-traditional applicants.

MIT Sloan

MIT Sloan MBA Early Admission

MIT Sloan MBA Early Admission is currently open to all enrolled full-time students who are:

  • graduating or have graduated from an undergraduate degree program during the current academic year

  • graduating from or currently attending a graduate degree program they entered immediately upon completing their undergraduate degree without full-time work experience

If admitted, successful candidates are expected to seek full-time work experience between two to five years. MIT Sloan welcomes applications from all areas of undergraduate concentration, including the humanities, the social and physical sciences, business, and engineering. Applications are typically due in June and there is no application fee for the MIT Sloan MBA Early Admission process.

Yale SOM

Yale SOM Silver Scholars Program

Truly unique among the “deferred admission” programs is Yale’s Silver Scholars, which is an opportunity for college senior to pursue a Yale MBA degree immediately after graduation and begin an accelerated career path in any industry. Yale is looking for college seniors who will be future leaders in business, government, and nonprofit endeavors.

A three-year program, Silver Scholars spend the first year completing the core curriculum at Yale, the second year in an extended full-time internship, and third year taking elective coursework back at Yale before graduation. Extended internship placements include start-ups, government education departments, general management roles in large corporations, and investment firms. Though the Silver Scholar is different in character than the traditional MBA programs, it offers students a “first class ticket” at this prestigious business school that is rocketing up the rankings.

Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program

The Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to gain a few years of work experience with a guarantee of admission to Columbia's highly selective MBA program, and the flexibility to begin the full-time program 2-5 years after college graduation. The program accepts applications from students of all academic and personal backgrounds. Students who are graduating during the current academic year from a bachelor's degree program and students completing a graduate degree program (candidates must have started the graduate degree program directly after completing their undergraduate degree) are eligible to apply. Students enrolled in Ph.D. programs, law school, or medical school are not eligible. There is no application fee and applications are usually due in June.

Kellogg

Kellogg Future Leaders

College seniors and Master’s students who went directly into a graduate program from undergrad are eligible to apply to the Kellogg Future Leaders program. There is no preference for majors in any particular discipline. Once admitted, Kellogg will hold your spot for 2-5 years while you gain work experience. There is no application fee to apply, and applications are typically due in June.

Haas.jpg

Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access

This year Berkeley Haas is piloting a brand-new deferred admissions program. In the 2020 pilot cycle, the Accelerated Access program is exclusively available to UC Berkeley undergraduate seniors and graduate students in their final year of study who enrolled in their graduate program immediately after completing undergrad, without gaining full-time work experience. The program allows you to complete the MBA application process while in your final year of study, gain conditional admission, and then start your study at Berkeley Haas after a 2-5 year deferment period for professional experience. Students from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. There is no application fee. There are two application deadlines: Round 1 deadline in early April and Round 2 deadline in early June.

Darden

Darden Future Year Scholars Program

College students in their final year of study and fifth-year master’s students can apply to Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program. Admitted scholars may choose to begin their MBA after gaining 2-4 years of work experience. This program is a little unusual in that there are 4 deadlines – January, April, June, and August. There is no advantage to applying in an earlier deadline. Darden is not looking for students from a specific academic background. Admitted scholars will be considered for merit-based award at the time of admission (and will be considered for additional scholarships at the time of matriculation) and will receive a personal Darden mentor. There is no application fee to apply.

Waitlist Success Stories, Part 2: "Getting to Yes" at their Dream Schools

Wharton School Admit

Lisa was a great resource as I navigated the waitlist and always provided sound and timely feedback in what otherwise would have been a stressful process.

- Caucasian male, Non-traditional

Purchased: Conquer the Waitlist


Berkeley Haas Admit

Having almost a decade and a half years of international experience with large consulting firms, I decided to pursue EMBA from Berkeley Haas. Berkeley waitlisted my round-2 application. After searching for strategies to get off the waitlist, I came across a very thought-provoking blog on GMAT club website by Ivy group. I immediately decided to work with the Ivy team, and the result was phenomenal.

I got off the Berkeley EMBA round-2 waitlist and got admitted for the class of 2020 because of the help I received from Anna. She is very professional and pushed me to critically think about my story which enabled me to tell my narrative in a different light. The Self, Us, Now framework that she shared with me was a game changer for me, and it helped me to connect the dots more succinctly.

Regardless of the outcome, I would highly recommend Roanna and team to anyone who wants to put the best foot forward in their MBA journey. You will be working with the best in the admissions consulting industry.

- Tech Consulting

Purchased: Conquer the Waitlist


Dartmouth Tuck Admit

Nate was very straightforward and honest in terms of his feedback, which helped me quickly and effectively correct my issues with my story and how I was phrasing it. He also had a clear plan and timeline in place on how I would stay in contact with admissions that ultimately paid off.

- Finance, male, Fitness, Asian

Purchased: Conquer the Waitlist

Round 2/3 Testimonials: Monster Scholarships from Duke, Texas, and MIT

UVA Darden Admit

“I chose to work with Nate, Anna, and the team at Ivy because they clearly stood out from the competition. The team is small, the consultants are deeply focused on the client as an individual, and the narrative approach is unlike anything you will find elsewhere. I was very skeptical about the possibility that I'd be able to generate a cohesive story about my career, which has included three seemingly unrelated jobs. Through the Narrative Bootcamp process, Nate demonstrated an uncanny ability to draw connections between my past experiences. He helped me pinpoint genuine threads of similarity that I would not have identified on my own. Nate and Anna were extremely professional and responsive, and they were a pleasure to work with. Most importantly, they helped me prepare my best possible application, which means I can look back on the whole process with no regrets.”

- White, Male, Top-25 US University, Asset Management

Purchased: Complete School Package


DukeAdmit110.JPG

Duke Fuqua & Texas McCombs Admit

Ivy Admissions made all the difference. My consultants were there to support me throughout the entire process from getting my GMAT up into the 99% range to deciding between offers. I truly appreciated their professional and friendly approach. I felt comfortable with them instantly, and they proved to be an invaluable resource to me during this process. I would not have gotten the scholarships offers that I did if they had not been there to refine my story and push me.

- Engineering/Consulting, White, Female

Purchased: Complete School Package

TexasAdmit110.JPG

MIT Sloan & Berkeley Haas Admit

My work with Nate and Anna was super helpful. The industry I work in tends to be a bit insulated, and it was nice to have my story gutted from the outside. The feedback I received in the hourly service, pushes on my personal narrative, and the reflections I received on my interview answers were applicable across the schools I applied. Their support helped me present a balanced application to secure admission to my first-choice school with a named fellowship and some $$.

- Non-Profit, Small Private Uni, Black, Male

Purchased: Hourly Help, Essay Editing