The application is live! Begin your MBA journey with Darden by beginning your application for the class enrolling in August 2026.
We are thrilled to welcome another strong Executive MBA cohort on Grounds. Here is what you need to know when starting your application to join the next cohort.
Application Process
The Darden application is all about crafting your narrative. There are three key dimensions to any strong MBA application – personal, academic and professional. Our Admissions team wants to get to know you, and we encourage you to connect with us as you consider your options and learn more about Darden.
Choose Your Deadline
Our Executive MBA program has a variety of deadlines. Choose the timing that works best for you to present your strongest application. Applicants can expect to receive a decision within about three weeks of their application deadline.
Standardized Tests
A standardized test score is NOT required to apply.
However, applicants can choose to provide a test score to strengthen their application if they wish. We accept several standardized tests – Executive Assessment, GMAT Focus, GMAT, GRE, MCAT and LSAT – and we view these tests equivalently. We will even accept older or expired scores for any of these tests, but candidates who wish to submit an expired score will need to have access to their full score breakdown.
Learn more on our Application Process page.
Recommendation
Applicants are only required to submit one recommendation with their application. Candidates may submit a second recommendation if they feel like this could offer a different or complementary perspective.
Interview
In our Executive MBA application process, interviews are by invitation only. Candidates are invited to interview after submitting their application, and an interview is necessary to receive an offer of admission.
At Darden, our interviews are conversational, and they are also anonymous. Your interviewer will not have read your application in preparation for the interview, and they will also not have a copy of your resume in front of them. We feel this approach allows the interviewer to come to the interaction without formed ideas about who the applicant is or their strength as a candidate.
