Darden welcomed more than 550 First Year MBA students to Grounds in Charlottesville last week. Read the full story on the Darden Report.
The School will begin the new school year with 349 Full-Time MBA students based on Darden Grounds in Charlottesville, and 134 Executive MBA and 68 Part-Time MBA students based at UVA Darden DC Metro in Rosslyn, Virginia. The new class of 59 Master of Science in business analytics students began their studies in Rosslyn on 13 August.
Full-Time MBA
The class set new academic records of excellence, with the highest average GMAT score in school history at 720 and a record number of students — 66 — beginning their Darden careers with an advanced degree. The Class reached new highs in a variety of additional metrics, including 43 percent international students, many dual citizens from top universities around the world. Behind the United States, the top countries of origin for students were India, Nigeria, China and Brazil. The Class includes the most-ever students from Africa in a class, with 22 students.
Back to School!
The Darden Opening Week experience for Full-Time MBA students included a variety of programming intended to acquaint students with life at Darden, including panel discussions, a Career Journey Kickoff and learning team and section introductions, among other events. International students participated in the International Student Orientation Program earlier this month, a specially curated series of programming to help international students acclimate to life in the U.S. and Charlottesville.
Executive MBA
The Class of 2024 includes 134 students from a range of backgrounds, with new students living in 16 different states and working at more than 100 different employers representing 26 industries. Of the 134 new students, 26 are pursuing the Global Executive MBA option.
Students have 12 years of work experience, on average, and 35 percent have advanced degrees. The class includes 33 percent women, and 22 percent are minorities.
Part-Time MBA
The new Part-Time MBA, which can be completed in 28 to 48 months, includes 68 students with five-and-a-half years of work experience, on average, and represent 54 unique employers across 16 industries.
Thirty-two percent of the members in the matriculated cohort have advanced degrees, and the Class includes 40 percent female students and 32 percent minority students.
Back to School!
The students in the Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA started their week-long residency in Charlottesville with community building activities during the opening day. On 16 August, professional degree students dove into their MBA coursework with Darden faculty, with sessions on topics including Leading Digital Disruption, Organizational Change, Strategy and Decision Analysis, among others.
Experience Darden #171: A Historic Opening Week
Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke joined the Experience Darden podcast to reflect on a truly historic opening week for the Darden School of Business.
