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.

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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.

The interview questions Northwestern's Kellogg is asking this year

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is one of the couple business schools in that it requests all applicants to schedule an interview. On-campus interviews will be conducted by an admissions officer or a current student, while off-campus interviews are usually conducted by alumni. For all interviews, the interviewer will have only read the resume submitted upon registration. Expect the interview to last 30-45 minutes.

The Chicago Skyline minutes away from Kellogg’s Campus

The Chicago Skyline minutes away from Kellogg’s Campus

Both on- and off-campus interviewers at Kellogg are not given a predetermined script, so applicants should be ready for a variety of questions to be asked. The level of rigor and engagement can also vary widely depending on who ends up conducting the interview. However, applicants should expect the interview to have a conversational feel, with the goal of getting to know the applicant more intimately.

Analysis of the questions this year:

Our analysis of the questions our clients have been asked by Kellogg indicate that in addition to the typical career transitions, Kellogg is very interested in understanding the specific leadership style of each candidate and what experiences have informed the formation of that style. Additionally, Kellogg is placing a greater emphasis on diversity and experience in leadership of diverse teams and wants to see a certain baseline of that experience in its applicants.

The specific questions Kellogg has already asked this year:

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  • Walk me through your resume.

  • Why did you choose your undergrad? Your major?

  • Tell me about which experience in your career you had the most impact.

  • Tell me about a time where you dealt with a team with a lot of diversity. What did you gain/learn? What challenges did you face.

  • How did you manage your junior team members? What did you learn as a manager?

  • What does leadership mean to you?

  • What are the specific traits that define a leader?

  • What are your strengths?

  • What are your long and short term goals?

  • Why MBA? Why Kellogg? Why now?

  • Tell me about your biggest concern or challenge you expect to face at Kellogg.

  • Kellogg is a diverse school. When have you interacted with people differently than you?

  • What is your leadership style? Why is it the way it is?

  • What role do you play within a team?

  • What specially do you hope to gain with your time at Kellogg?

  • Any questions for me?

List of Best Joint/Dual/Concurrent Degree MBA Programs

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While a 2-year MBA program is the desire and envy of many a business school applicant, an increasing number of MBA students are now completing their studies as part of a "joint" or "dual" degree program. As far as semantics go, "joint" programs integrate two different degrees into a unified course of study, often housed within the same university, while "dual" degrees often span two different universities and are pieced together by the student.

Kellogg at Northwestern is pretty restrictive, offering only a 2-year dual masters program in Design Innovation, and its 3-year JD/MBA with their Law School. HBS is more open but still pretty restrictive, offering only joint degrees and only with Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical/Dental School, and (most recently)  Harvard School of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Stanford GSB is more open, offering concurrent degree options with Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Princeton Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Yale Law School, Yale Medical School, and any of Stanford's other graduate programs from Education to Electrical Engineering.

Top Concurrent MBA Degree Programs