Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program (FYSP) is an incredible opportunity for students in the final year of their undergraduate program interested in an MBA from the University of Virginia.
Are you dreaming of earning your MBA at a world-class business school, but also excited to dive into the professional world? If so, Darden’s FYSP might be the perfect fit for you. 
Timing
FYSP candidates cannot enter Darden’s Full-Time MBA program immediately following undergraduate graduation. It is crucial for prospective MBA candidates to have two to five years of work experience before entering the program to ensure rigorous participation in Case Method classroom discussions and to become competitive for MBA recruiting. However, undergraduate students who know they want to come to Darden in the future can apply for the FYSP. That way you can be assured that you will have a spot in a future class and take more risks early in your career, like working for a start-up or exploring a non-traditional business industry.
Eligibility
First things first: There are two groups of students eligible to apply for the FYSP — students in their final year of their undergraduate program and any full-time master’s student who has not held a full-time work position. Applicants in 2024 should graduate any time between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024. If you do not fit into either of these categories and would like to pursue a Darden MBA, check out our Full-Time, Part-Time, or Executive MBA programs.
Here’s what makes you a strong candidate:
- Academic Excellence: You’ve excelled in your undergraduate studies and are ready to tackle the challenges of a top-ranked MBA program.
- Ambitious Drive: You have a clear vision for your future and see an MBA as a springboard to success.
- Open to Exploration: You’re excited to gain real-world experience before entering the Darden community.
When we asked FYSP alumni about qualities that make for a good program candidate, there were a few themes. The program is great for candidates who know they want to go to business school eventually, so don’t worry about having everything figured out when you apply.
Zak DePasquale (MBA ’22) shares, “My advice is to stay open-minded — everyone will adjust their career path at one point or another and having the core business skills through an education like Darden, and specifically at an age where you might be coming in earlier in your career than other applicants, will enable you to do anything in the business world.”
Brooke DeMaio (MBA ’23) advises applicants to lean on what makes you, you. “If you have something unique, don’t feel like you have to conform and fit this very specific mold. Stay true to who you are and build where you have gaps.”
Common adjectives we would use to describe FYSP students are industrious, diligent and self-motivated. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply to the FYSP program by 1 August, our final deadline of 2024!
