Applying for Deferred MBA Programs

Late March to April is the ideal time to complete applications for deferred-enrollment MBA programs, which admit applicants still in school so they gain two to five years of full-time work experience before starting their MBA programs. 

In 2001, Yale Silver Scholar’s program became the first deferred-MBA institution, and Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB followed with their own deferred programs several years later.

Given the target population—students still in college or in master’s programs directly after college—deferred-enrollment applicants have little professional experience and therefore are judged more heavily on their test (GMAT / GRE) scores, GPA, rigor of their undergraduate studies, and extracurricular leadership and collegiate internship experiences. Moreover, deferred-enrollment MBA programs typically look for students in these core groups: 1) students on clear, high-potential paths who are ‘over-achieving’ relative to typical undergraduate and graduate-school students, 2) students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, 3) students from STEM backgrounds or heading into operating or technical roles, and 4) students starting a business or joining a startup.

Here’s a quick summary of the eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application fees for the leading deferred-enrollment MBA programs:

• Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access Program
  • Eligibility: last year of undergrad or in a graduate program right out of undergrad
  • Application Deadline: April 20, 2023
  • Application Fee: No fee

• Chicago Booth Scholars Deferred MBA Program
  • Eligibility: final year of undergraduate work (including joint bachelor’s/master’s degree programs)
  • Application Deadline: April 11, 2023
  • Application Fee: No fee

• Columbia Deferred Enrollment Program
  • Eligibility: last year of undergrad or in a graduate program right out of undergrad
  • Application Deadline: April 15, 2023
  • Application Fee: No fee

• Harvard Business School 2+2 Program
  • Eligibility: bachelor’s student, master’s student, joint bachelor’s/master’s student, or master’s student in a graduate program right out of undergrad
  • Application Deadline: April 27, 2023
  • Application Fee: $100

• Kellogg Future Leaders Deferred MBA Program
  • Eligibility: last year of undergrad or in a graduate program right out of undergrad
  • Application Deadline: April 26, 2023
  • Application Fee: No fee

• MIT Sloan Early Admission Program
  • Eligibility: last year of undergrad or in a graduate program right out of undergrad Application Deadline: April 19, 2023
  • Application Fee: No fee

• NYU x NYU / Stern Program
  • Eligibility: NYU undergrads only
  • Application Deadline: June 15, 2023
  • Application Fee: No fee

• Stanford GSB Deferred Enrollment Program
  • Eligibility: last year of undergrad or in a graduate program right out of undergrad
  • Application Deadline: typically R3 April 11, 2023
  • Application Fee: $100

• UVA Darden Future Year Scholars Program
  • Eligibility: last year of undergrad or in a graduate program right out of undergrad
  • Application Deadline: R1 April 11, 2023; R2 August 1, 2023
  • Application Fee: No fee

• Wharton Moelis Advance Access Program
  • Eligibility: final year of your undergraduate or full-time graduate degree program
  • Application Deadline: April 26, 2023
  • Application Fee: $100

• Yale Silver Scholars Program
  • Eligibility: current college senior
  • Application Deadline: typically R3 April 11, 2023
  • Application Fee: Variable

If you are interested in applying to Deferred MBA programs, contact us now and speak with one of our Expert Coaches!