The Executive MBA application will remain open through 15 July and our team will continue accepting applications for the Class of 2026, which begins classes this August.
Our admissions team will evaluate applications on a rolling basis until our class fills, so we highly encourage applicants to submit their application as soon as they can.
Applicants can expect a decision within roughly a week from application submission, and admitted students will have about a week to finalize their decision. If you will be joining us at Darden in August, we want you to have as much time as possible to prepare for the start of school.
We’re Here to Help!
Whether you already have an application started or you want to start one now, an easy next step is to schedule a conversation with a member of our team. We offer 1:1 conversations frequently each week, and a conversation is the best way to ensure you have the information you need before taking the next step.
Next Tuesday (9 July) at noon ET, Managing Director of Admissions Brett Twitty will host an Executive MBA Application Hotline webinar. During this session, Brett will share tips and insights for Executive MBA applicants applying during the rolling period. Register for the webinar.
Practical Tips for Starting an Executive MBA Application in July
We have plenty of great resources to help you sharpen your application, including application tips blog posts.
On a more tactical level, here are a few other tips to keep in mind:
- Visit our Application Process web page for a step-by-step guide to our Executive MBA application and a sense of the materials you will need to apply.
- We require unofficial transcripts for all degree-related coursework. An unofficial transcript can be a photo, pdf or screenshot (just make sure it’s readable!) and you will upload transcripts when completing the Education History section of the application.
- Only one recommendation is required, and the recommendation process is entirely electronic. Once you enter your recommender’s information into your application, your recommender will receive an email with a link to our recommendation materials. Most recommenders are deadline oriented, so be sure to confirm they received our materials, and know we are considering applications on a rolling basis.
- The essay questions tend to be the most “overthought” part of our application. There is no “right” answer to any of our questions. Write responses that feel authentic to you and share them with a someone who knows you well to another perspective. After all, every writer needs a good editor.
- Applicants have a choice of submitting a standardized test score or submitting a standardized test waiver request with their application. We accept a number of standardized tests, and the Executive Assessment (EA) is currently the most popular test with our Executive MBA applicants. We also offer test waivers for those candidates who feel they can make a strong case for their academic readiness on the basis of their existing academic and professional experience.
