Consider a deferred MBA!

Deferred MBA programs allow students to secure admission to an MBA program several years in advance. After graduating from college, deferred MBA students will go on to work for a few years before sliding into a reserved seat at top business schools such as Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, Darden, Yale, and more!

If that sounds intriguing, read on! Today we’re going over all the basics for deferred MBA programs: what it is, pros and cons, and everything you need to do to get started. Feel free to bookmark this page for reference as you navigate your application journey!

In this post, we’ll cover:

• What is a deferred MBA?

• Pros & Cons of applying to dMBA

• Deferred vs. regular admissions

• Application requirements

• Application Timeline / Deadlines

What is a deferred MBA?

A deferred MBA program allows current undergraduate or graduate students to secure pre-admission to business school in their final year of studies. Upon acceptance, candidates typically work for two to five years before enrolling in the MBA program.

Deferred MBA programs are sometimes referred to as 2+2 programs. This is a term popularized by Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program, which was one of the first deferred enrollment MBA programs to launch in 2008.

The actual experience of attending business school with a deferred MBA is the same as with any regular MBA—the difference is solely the means by which one applies.

Why should I get a deferred MBA?

Apart from the typical reasons to get an MBA, applying during the deferred MBA cycle comes with several benefits:

Career Security

Simply put, getting into a deferred MBA program is like buying insurance for your career: it allows you to have some wiggle room in the early years of your career before going back to school.

Waived or discounted application fees

Most programs offer discounts for deferred MBA applications. Several schools, such as Northwestern Kellogg, MIT Sloan, and Columbia Business School, waive application fees entirely!

No negative effect on future application

Typically, MBA applications will include a question asking if you’ve applied to the program before. Some schools, such as Columbia Business School, do not require you to declare yourself as a “reapplicant” if you apply again in the future.

Early access to MBA resources

Upon acceptance, most deferred MBA programs will share exclusive access to MBA events and communications. For example, Kellogg Future Leaders are invited to join the Kellogg Slack and LinkedIn groups to connect with future classmates.

Are there any potential drawbacks to applying to a deferred MBA program?

Let me be clear: my job is not to sell a business degree to you. Before you get started, make sure to consider the potential risks of committing to a deferred MBA program:

Time Commitment

If you’re looking to lighten up your workload during your final year of college, deferred MBA applications may get in the way. Applying to business school is very similar to applying to college: while it is incredibly rewarding and exciting, it is also very time-consuming and stressful. Be prepared to commit to a challenge when applying to deferred MBAs.

Financial Requirements

Upon accepting a deferred MBA offer, most schools require you to pay a yearly deposit to secure your seat, usually summing up to a few hundred dollars per year. If you decide not to attend, or choose to apply and accept admission at a different school, you must forfeit your investment. It’ll be up to you to decide whether this investment is worth the financial risk!

Interested in more FREE deferred MBA resources?

Subscribe to this Substack, MBAxcel! Every Monday, I send a weekly check-in email, which includes some of the most exciting upcoming admissions events and my tip of the week. If you’re looking to apply to a deferred MBA program, watch this space! It’s completely free to subscribe.

Join the MBAxcel Club on Discord and LinkedIn!

Join fellow deferred MBA applicants on Discord and LinkedIn to discuss admissions tips, share feedback, and navigate the world of dMBA programs together.

In our Discord, you’ll find…

• School-specific forums

• Channels for specific application requirements (GMAT, GRE, essays, interviews, etc.)

• Voice channels/study lounges

• Live webinars

• And more!

MBAxcel Club on Discord

MBAxcel Club LinkedIn Group

How are deferred MBA applications different from regular MBA applications?

Logistically, there are a few differences between a deferred MBA application and any other MBA application:

Deadlines

Deferred MBA deadlines tend to be much later than the normal MBA application cycle. While most MBA programs have deadlines during the fall or winter of the application year, deferred MBA applications are typically due in the late spring.

Reduced or waived fees

Most (if not all) deferred MBA submission fees are either severely discounted or completely free!

Different essay and interview questions

Because deferred MBA programs are looking for your potential to perform, rather than your breadth of business experience, you’ll find that many essay and interview questions reflect that focus.

What do I need to apply to a deferred MBA?

Prerequisites

Before we get to the application requirements, it’s worth checking your applicant eligibility. Most deferred MBA requirements will accept applications from:

• Undergraduate students in their final year of school with any major

• Master’s program students, who went directly to grad school from undergrad, in their final year of school with any major

• Domestic and international students

• Must have no prior full-time career work experience

NOTE: This list may be limited. Make sure to check the admissions sites of the program or programs which you are interested in!

Submission Requirements

Most deferred MBA programs require some or all of the following:

• Unofficial transcript

• Resume with internship(s), part-time role(s), and future full-time role(s)

• GMAT or GRE exam score

• Letter(s) of recommendation

• TOEFL/IELTS exam score for ESL students

• Admissions essay(s)

• Interview(s) (by invitation)

• Application fee (or waiver)

NOTE: This list may not fully cover all requirements. Again, make sure to check the admissions sites of the program or programs which you are interested in!

As you may expect, standards are high across the board. While you don’t need to be perfect in every aspect, it’s a good idea to get familiar with yourself. Where are your strengths? Where are your weaknesses?

Perhaps your college GPA is not great, but you’ve got a great GMAT score. Maybe you don’t have much experience on your resume, but you’ve got an incredible story to tell in your personal statements. Differentiate yourself!

By the time you’re applying to deferred MBA programs, most of these aspects will be static—there’s not a lot you can do at this point to boost your GPA or add to your professional experience. What’s done is done. Focus on what you can optimize now: prioritize writing great admissions essays, securing solid standardized exam scores, and enhancing the diction in your resume. The story you tell is in your hands.

Is it harder to get into a deferred MBA?

Business schools are quite secretive when it comes to deferred MBA admission rates and class profiles. However, it is worth considering that some schools tend to favor applicants from non-traditional academic and industry backgrounds—in other words, non-business majors.

There’s a common misconception that deferred MBA programs only seek undergraduate business students. In reality, that’s not the case! For example, Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program indicates that “some preference will be given to applicants who are on paths less established in leading to business school,” including first-generation students, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and students who plan to work in underrepresented industries and functions.

On the other hand, programs such as Columbia Business School’s Deferred Enrollment Program do not indicate a preference for specific majors.

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• Offline Essay Review | $45

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• 30-Minute Essay/Resume Review Session | $65

• 30-Minute 1:1 Mock Interview | $75

• 60-Minute 1:1 Mock Interview | $125

• 60-Minute Application Strategy Consultation | $90

• 30-Minute GMAT/GRE Test Strategy Consultation | $45

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For a full list of offerings, check out our coaching page:

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Send me a message about what you’re looking for and we’ll get the ball rolling!

What is the timeline for deferred MBA admissions?

Applications Open

Most deferred MBA applications open sometime in the fall. For example, Columbia Business School’s Deferred Enrollment Program application opens in November.

Deadlines

Applications tend to be due in April. Below are the deadlines for the top deferred MBA programs for the 2025-2026 application cycle:

• Anderson (UCLA): Deferred Enrollment Program: April 25, 2026

• Booth (University of Chicago): Booth Scholars Program: April 2, 2026

• Columbia Business School: Deferred Enrollment Program: April 15, 2026

• Darden (University of Virginia): Future Year Scholars Program

  • Round 1: April 22, 2026

  • Round 2: July 15, 2026

• Haas (UC Berkeley) Accelerated Access: April 16, 2026

• Harvard Business School: 2+2 Program: April 22, 2026

• Kellogg (Northwestern University): Kellogg Future Leaders: April 22, 2026

• Sloan (MIT): Deferred Admission: April 17, 2026

• Stanford GSB: Deferred Enrollment: April 7, 2026 (Round 3)

• Tepper (Carnegie Mellon University): Future Business Leaders: March 31, 2026

• Wharton (University of Pennsylvania): Moelis Advance Access Program: April 22, 2026

• Yale SOM: Silver Scholars: April 14, 2026 (Round 3)

Interview Invitations

A few weeks after the application deadlines, schools will begin sending interview invitations to candidates whom they would like to move forward with. Typically, interviews occur within the next two weeks after the invitation date.

Decisions

Decision dates vary between programs. Some deferred MBA programs do not publish a decision date ahead of time, but here are the dates for the programs that do:

• Anderson (UCLA): Deferred Enrollment Program: June 20, 2026

• Booth (University of Chicago): Booth Scholars Program: June 25, 2026

• Columbia Business School: Deferred Enrollment Program: Late June 2026

• Darden (University of Virginia): Future Year Scholars Program

  • Round 1: June 17, 2026

  • Round 2: August 12, 2026

• Haas (UC Berkeley) Accelerated Access: June 25, 2026

• Harvard Business School: 2+2 Program: June 25, 2026

• Kellogg (Northwestern University): Kellogg Future Leaders: June 24, 2026

• Sloan (MIT): Deferred Admission: June 11, 2026

• Stanford GSB: Deferred Enrollment: May 28, 2026

• Tepper (Carnegie Mellon University): Future Business Leaders: May 29, 2026

• Wharton (University of Pennsylvania): Moelis Advance Access Program: July 1, 2026

• Yale SOM: Silver Scholars: May 14, 2026

Commitment

Deferred MBA programs will require you to accept or reject their decision by a certain date. You’ll find that enrolling in multiple deferred MBA programs is prohibited. If you’ve made it to this stage, you’ve got a big decision to make!

Upon making a decision, you will need to submit a deposit to confirm your commitment.

Schools will usually give you at least a few weeks to think over your decision, with final commitment deadlines typically around late July or early August.

I’m ready to get started. What next?

If you haven’t already, subscribe to the MBAxcel newsletter!

MBAxcel is the premier newsletter for all things Deferred MBA. If you are in the market for a dMBA, subscribe (for free!) to receive tips and insights in your inbox every week!

Here’s what you can expect:

• Weekly Check-Ins, with upcoming events and opportunities, as well as my tip of the week

• Resources, such as calendars and lists, which you can bookmark and refer to on your dMBA journey

• Special Features, including interviews, stories, and explainers, to keep you motivated

Subscribe now

Additionally, make sure to join the MBAxcel Club on LinkedIn and Discord to discuss admissions tips, share feedback, and navigate the world of dMBA programs together.

In our Discord, you’ll find…

• School-specific forums

• Channels for specific application requirements (GMAT, GRE, essays, interviews, etc.)

• Voice channels/study lounges

• Live webinars

• And more!

MBAxcel Club on Discord

MBAxcel LinkedIn Group

Postscript

As a former deferred MBA applicant myself, I know the process can be incredibly overwhelming. But it’s also so, so rewarding! Take things one at a time and the pieces will fall into place.

Have a question?

Leave it in the comments below, or send me a message on the MBAxcel Club Discord or on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to chat with you and provide some more guidance for your personal deferred MBA journey. Schedule a free 30-minute chat with me anytime!

About me:

Hey! I’m Justin Tang. As a 2023 deferred MBA applicant, I was admitted to Kellogg Future Leaders, Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access, and Columbia Deferred Enrollment Program. I ultimately decided to join Kellogg, where I’m excited to enroll within the next 2-3 years.

I created MBAxcel as a resource that I would have wanted as a deferred MBA applicant. My mission is to build a community here of eager, like-minded students on a collective journey to achieve the coveted goal of deferred MBA admissions! Come along as we debunk deferred MBA myths, crack the GMAT, and find the best program for you. There’s a ton to talk about, so subscribe and get these posts in your inbox!

Deferred MBA 2026

Are you a current university student? Have you dreamed about going to business school in the future?

Consider a deferred MBA!

Deferred MBA programs allow students to secure admission to an MBA program several years in advance. After graduating from college, deferred MBA students will go on to work for a few years before sliding into a reserved seat at top business schools such as Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, Darden, Yale, and more!

If that sounds intriguing, read on! Today we’re going over all the basics for deferred MBA programs: what it is, pros and cons, and everything you need to do to get started. Feel free to bookmark this page for reference as you navigate your application journey!

In this post, we’ll cover:

• What is a deferred MBA?

• Pros & Cons of applying to dMBA

• Deferred vs. regular admissions

• Application requirements

• Application Timeline / Deadlines

What is a deferred MBA?

A deferred MBA program allows current undergraduate or graduate students to secure pre-admission to business school in their final year of studies. Upon acceptance, candidates typically work for two to five years before enrolling in the MBA program.

Deferred MBA programs are sometimes referred to as 2+2 programs. This is a term popularized by Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program, which was one of the first deferred enrollment MBA programs to launch in 2008.

The actual experience of attending business school with a deferred MBA is the same as with any regular MBA—the difference is solely the means by which one applies.

Why should I get a deferred MBA?

Apart from the typical reasons to get an MBA, applying during the deferred MBA cycle comes with several benefits:

Career Security

Simply put, getting into a deferred MBA program is like buying insurance for your career: it allows you to have some wiggle room in the early years of your career before going back to school.

Waived or discounted application fees

Most programs offer discounts for deferred MBA applications. Several schools, such as Northwestern Kellogg, MIT Sloan, and Columbia Business School, waive application fees entirely!

No negative effect on future application

Typically, MBA applications will include a question asking if you’ve applied to the program before. Some schools, such as Columbia Business School, do not require you to declare yourself as a “reapplicant” if you apply again in the future.

Early access to MBA resources

Upon acceptance, most deferred MBA programs will share exclusive access to MBA events and communications. For example, Kellogg Future Leaders are invited to join the Kellogg Slack and LinkedIn groups to connect with future classmates.

Are there any potential drawbacks to applying to a deferred MBA program?

Let me be clear: my job is not to sell a business degree to you. Before you get started, make sure to consider the potential risks of committing to a deferred MBA program:

Time Commitment

If you’re looking to lighten up your workload during your final year of college, deferred MBA applications may get in the way. Applying to business school is very similar to applying to college: while it is incredibly rewarding and exciting, it is also very time-consuming and stressful. Be prepared to commit to a challenge when applying to deferred MBAs.

Financial Requirements

Upon accepting a deferred MBA offer, most schools require you to pay a yearly deposit to secure your seat, usually summing up to a few hundred dollars per year. If you decide not to attend, or choose to apply and accept admission at a different school, you must forfeit your investment. It’ll be up to you to decide whether this investment is worth the financial risk!

Interested in more FREE deferred MBA resources?

Subscribe to this substack, MBAxcel! Every Monday, I send a weekly check-in email, which includes some of the most exciting upcoming admissions events and my tip of the week. If you’re looking to apply to a deferred MBA program, watch this space! It’s completely free to subscribe.

Join the MBAxcel Club on Discord and LinkedIn!

Join fellow deferred MBA applicants on Discord and LinkedIn to discuss admissions tips, share feedback, and navigate the world of dMBA programs together.

In our Discord, you’ll find…

• School-specific forums

• Channels for specific application requirements (GMAT, GRE, essays, interviews, etc.)

• Voice channels/study lounges

• Live webinars

• And more!

MBAxcel Club on Discord

MBAxcel Club LinkedIn Group

How are deferred MBA applications different from regular MBA applications?

Logistically, there are a few differences between a deferred MBA application and any other MBA application:

Deadlines

Deferred MBA deadlines tend to be much later than the normal MBA application cycle. While most MBA programs have deadlines during the fall or winter of the application year, deferred MBA applications are typically due in the late spring.

Reduced or waived fees

Most (if not all) deferred MBA submission fees are either severely discounted or completely free!

Different essay and interview questions

Because deferred MBA programs are looking for your potential to perform, rather than your breadth of business experience, you’ll find that many essay and interview questions reflect that focus.

What do I need to apply to a deferred MBA?

Prerequisites

Before we get to the application requirements, it’s worth checking your applicant eligibility. Most deferred MBA requirements will accept applications from:

• Undergraduate students in their final year of school with any major

• Master’s program students, who went directly to grad school from undergrad, in their final year of school with any major

• Domestic and international students

• Must have no prior full-time career work experience

NOTE: This list may be limited. Make sure to check the admissions sites of the program or programs which you are interested in!

Submission Requirements

Most deferred MBA programs require some or all of the following:

• Unofficial transcript

• Resume with internship(s), part-time role(s), and future full-time role(s)

• GMAT or GRE exam score

• Letter(s) of recommendation

• TOEFL/IELTS exam score for ESL students

• Admissions essay(s)

• Interview(s) (by invitation)

• Application fee (or waiver)

NOTE: This list may not fully cover all requirements. Again, make sure to check the admissions sites of the program or programs which you are interested in!

As you may expect, standards are high across the board. While you don’t need to be perfect in every aspect, it’s a good idea to get familiar with yourself. Where are your strengths? Where are your weaknesses?

Perhaps your college GPA is not great, but you’ve got a great GMAT score. Maybe you don’t have much experience on your resume, but you’ve got an incredible story to tell in your personal statements. Differentiate yourself!

By the time you’re applying to deferred MBA programs, most of these aspects will be static—there’s not a lot you can do at this point to boost your GPA or add to your professional experience. What’s done is done. Focus on what you can optimize now: prioritize writing great admissions essays, securing solid standardized exam scores, and enhancing the diction in your resume. The story you tell is in your hands.

Is it harder to get into a deferred MBA?

Business schools are quite secretive when it comes to deferred MBA admission rates and class profiles. However, it is worth considering that some schools tend to favor applicants from non-traditional academic and industry backgrounds—in other words, non-business majors.

There’s a common misconception that deferred MBA programs only seek undergraduate business students. In reality, that’s not the case! For example, Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program indicates that “some preference will be given to applicants who are on paths less established in leading to business school,” including first-generation students, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and students who plan to work in underrepresented industries and functions.

On the other hand, programs such as Columbia Business School’s Deferred Enrollment Program do not indicate a preference for specific majors.

What is the timeline for deferred MBA admissions?

Applications Open

Most deferred MBA applications open sometime in the fall. For example, Columbia Business School’s Deferred Enrollment Program application opens in November.

Deadlines

Applications tend to be due in April. Below are the deadlines for the top deferred MBA programs for the 2024–2025 application cycle:

• Anderson (UCLA): Deferred Enrollment Program: April 25, 2025

• Booth (University of Chicago): Booth Scholars Program: April 29, 2025

• Columbia Business School: Deferred Enrollment Program: April 15, 2025

• Darden (University of Virginia): Future Year Scholars Program

  • Round 1: April 7, 2025

  • Round 2: August 4, 2025

• Haas (UC Berkeley) Accelerated Access: April 24, 2025

• Harvard Business School: 2+2 Program: April 23, 2025

• Kellogg (Northwestern University): Kellogg Future Leaders: April 23, 2025

• Sloan (MIT): Deferred Admission: April 18, 2025

• Stanford GSB: Deferred Enrollment: April 8, 2025 (Round 3)

• Tepper (Carnegie Mellon University): Future Business Leaders: March 31, 2025

• Wharton (University of Pennsylvania): Moelis Advance Access Program: April 23, 2025

• Yale SOM: Silver Scholars: April 8, 2025 (Round 3)

Interview Invitations

A few weeks after the application deadlines, schools will begin sending interview invitations to candidates whom they would like to move forward with. Typically, interviews occur within the next two weeks after the invitation date.

Decisions

Decision dates vary between programs. Some deferred MBA programs do not publish a decision date ahead of time, but here are the dates for the programs that do:

• Anderson (UCLA): Deferred Enrollment Program: June 20, 2025

• Booth (University of Chicago): Booth Scholars Program: July 1, 2025

• Columbia Business School: Deferred Enrollment Program: Late June 2025

• Darden (University of Virginia): Future Year Scholars Program

  • Round 1: June 12, 2025

  • Round 2: September 1, 2025

• Haas (UC Berkeley) Accelerated Access: June 26, 2025

• Harvard Business School: 2+2 Program: N/A

• Kellogg (Northwestern University): Kellogg Future Leaders: June 25, 2025

• Sloan (MIT): Deferred Admission: June 13, 2025

• Stanford GSB: Deferred Enrollment: May 29, 2025

• Tepper (Carnegie Mellon University): Future Business Leaders: June 4, 2025

• Wharton (University of Pennsylvania): Moelis Advance Access Program: July 1, 2025

• Yale SOM: Silver Scholars: May 15, 2025

Commitment

Deferred MBA programs will require you to accept or reject their decision by a certain date. You’ll find that enrolling in multiple deferred MBA programs is prohibited. If you’ve made it to this stage, you’ve got a big decision to make!

Upon making a decision, you will need to submit a deposit to confirm your commitment.

Schools will usually give you at least a few weeks to think over your decision, with final commitment deadlines typically around late July or early August.

I’m ready to get started. What next?

If you haven’t already, subscribe to the MBAxcel newsletter!

MBAxcel is the premier newsletter for all things Deferred MBA. If you are in the market for a dMBA, subscribe (for free!) to receive tips and insights in your inbox every week!

Here’s what you can expect:

• Weekly Check-Ins, with upcoming events and opportunities, as well as my tip of the week

• Resources, such as calendars and lists, which you can bookmark and refer to on your dMBA journey

• Special Features, including interviews, stories, and explainers, to keep you motivated

Subscribe now

Additionally, make sure to join the MBAxcel Club on LinkedIn and Discord to discuss admissions tips, share feedback, and navigate the world of dMBA programs together.

In our Discord, you’ll find…

• School-specific forums

• Channels for specific application requirements (GMAT, GRE, essays, interviews, etc.)

• Voice channels/study lounges

• Live webinars

• And more!

MBAxcel Club on Discord

MBAxcel LinkedIn Group

Postscript

As a former deferred MBA applicant myself, I know the process can be incredibly overwhelming. But it’s also so, so rewarding! Take things one at a time and the pieces will fall into place.

Have a question?

Leave it in the comments below, or send me a message on the MBAxcel Club Discord or on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to chat with you and provide some more guidance for your personal deferred MBA journey. Schedule a free 30-minute chat with me anytime!

About me:

Hey! I’m Justin Tang. As a 2023 deferred MBA applicant, I was admitted to Kellogg Future Leaders, Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access, and Columbia Deferred Enrollment Program. I ultimately decided to join Kellogg, where I’m excited to enroll within the next 3 to 4 years.

I created MBAxcel as a resource that I would have wanted as a deferred MBA applicant. My mission is to build a community here of eager, like-minded students on a collective journey to achieve the coveted goal of deferred MBA admissions! Come along as we debunk deferred MBA myths, crack the GMAT, and find the best program for you. There’s a ton to talk about, so subscribe and get these posts in your inbox!

But a new challenge has risen: it’s time to choose which deferred MBA program to commit to!

This is not a bad challenge to have — if you’ve made it this far, you should be incredibly proud of yourself.

At the same time, choosing between top deferred MBA programs can be incredibly stressful — after all, there’s no wrong decisions here, right?

If you’re feeling paralyzed in your decision process between a few schools, here are three tips (plus a bonus tip) to make the process feel a little less intimidating.

If you’re new here, hey!

I’m Justin Tang, founder of MBAxcel, the premier resource for all things deferred MBA. As a 2023 deferred admit to Northwestern Kellogg, Columbia Business School, and UC Berkeley Haas, I know how it feels to be stuck choosing between schools. But I’ve got your back.

If you’re looking for dMBA advice, subscribe (for free!) to receive tips and insights in your inbox!

Here’s what you can expect:

• Weekly Check-Ins during peak application season, with upcoming events and opportunities, as well as my tip of the week

• Resources, such as calendars and lists, which you can bookmark and refer to on your dMBA journey

• Special Features, including interviews, stories, and explainers, to keep you motivated

Subscribe now

Tip #1: Read employment reports to understand potential outcomes.

Committing to graduate school is one thing, but committing to an MBA program 2 to 5 years in advance requires even more consideration.

Loads of questions are probably swarming your brain right now, depending on your choices. Do I really see myself living in Chicago after MBA? What’s living in New York really like? Can I get a job in tech from a consulting-dominated school?

While you may not know exactly what you want to do post-MBA, it’s a good idea to choose a dMBA program based on its potential outcomes. Perhaps you have an idea of what city or country you want to be in after business school. You may also want to pursue a specific industry (e.g., consulting, investment banking, private equity).

Enter: the employment outcome report.

Every top MBA program will publish a report annually detailing where their recent graduates are going post-grad. Take a look at Columbia’s report from 2023 as an example:

CBS 2023 Employment Report

These reports are a gold mine for answering questions, such as:

• How much can I get paid post-grad?

• How likely am I to receive a job offer within 3 months of graduation?

• Where are the most alums located?

• How satisfied are alums with their internships?

• What companies do students end up working for (and how many students are hired from specific companies)?

• Will there be a pipeline for me to enter my industry of choice?

You don’t have to know exactly which company you want to work for post-grad by any means. However, reading employment reports can tell you a lot about a school’s strengths and weaknesses.

By reading Columbia’s report, you can see that 41.5% of 2023 graduates went on to work in consulting, and 34.8% pursued careers in finance. If you’re looking to do consulting or finance after business school, these numbers show that Columbia’s network has strong ties to these types of companies. But if you’re looking to pursue marketing, you’ll see that only 11% of Columbia students end up in these roles, and perhaps another school on your list may have better resources for a student like you.

Now, use these insights and compare them with employment reports at the other school or schools on your acceptance list. This may not give you a 100% surefire answer as to which school is better, but at least you’ll now have the numbers to accurately weigh the pros and cons of each program.

Tip #2: Speak with students and alums to get a feel for culture fit.

You’ve heard it time and time again. Business school is all about the people you meet. As a result, you might as well choose to go to a school where you enjoy speaking with your peers, right?

While no single individual can be an accurate representation of the entire student body of a business school, speaking with students and alums can provide crucial insight into the amount of social value you gain from your two years in MBA.

Don’t know anyone at the schools you’re considering? There’s always LinkedIn! Don’t be afraid to send messages to people you don’t know. Perhaps a friend of a friend goes to HBS, or your cousin’s neighbor’s mother’s college roommate is a Kellogg alum — use your network and ask for just 15 or 30 minutes of their time.

Here are some questions I asked current students when I was deciding between schools:

• Why did you decide to pursue an MBA? And why specifically at [insert school]?

• What types of careers are you seeing your peers pursuing? Are any specific industries especially predominant, and what are the resources like for these industries?

• Are most of your classmates going to be based in [insert city/region of school] after grad?

• What are some factors you wish you considered before committing to business school?

• Is there anything that caught you by surprise upon beginning your MBA journey at [insert school]?

  • This one’s especially interesting because you can gauge whether or not they like their program!

• How would you describe the culture at [insert school]? What are the pros and cons of this culture?

• How have you utilized the alumni network? Have you found the network to be helpful?

And here’s an additional question I asked alums:

• Have you continued to be a part of the alumni network at [insert school]? How and why/why not?

Here’s the kicker: it’s not always about what they say, but rather how they say it.

You can tell a lot about someone based on how they speak to you. Are they self aggrandizing? Do they treat you with respect? Are they transparent and honest with you, or do they give you roundabout answers to your simplest questions?

Again, while a single person may not be indicative of the school they represent, speaking to a few or several individuals from the programs you’re considering can help you get a sense of what the vibe is.

One of the reasons I ended up choosing to commit to Northwestern’s Kellogg Future Leaders (KFL) program was a recurring theme I found myself resonating with in all of the conversations I had with students and alums: Kellogg “leaders” (as they call themselves) are high achieving but low ego. Everyone I spoke to told me about just how willing their peers were to help each other prepare for interviews and collaborate on assignments.

Every school’s admissions website will give you a canned, PR-approved answer about their culture. The best way to fully understand a school’s culture is to experience the culture for yourself. Make time to chat with students to get the full picture.

Tip #3: At the end of the day, go with your gut.

The decision may not be obvious, but eventually, after considering all of the details from Tips 1 and 2, you will find yourself leaning toward one program.

Maybe it’s the fact that HBS has an unbeatable case study program. Perhaps it’s because MIT is in close proximity to some of the largest biotech companies in the world. Hell, maybe it’s because Stanford is in sunny California. Whatever the reasons, your gut instinct is valid and should not be ignored.

Of course, now is not the time to be impulsive. Take as much time as you need to carefully evaluate the decision at hand. While, again, there is no wrong answer here, as any deferred MBA program provides incredible value, choosing the right school for you can affect the next several years of your adult life.

No pressure or anything.

Bonus Tip: Don’t worry too much about cost (for now).

One key consideration for most MBA applicants is cost, but with deferred MBA programs, cost is incredibly hard to predict for a multitude of reasons.

While most people are notified of an exact amount of merit-based financial aid (scholarships, grants, etc.) at the time of acceptance, deferred MBA programs withhold that information. It makes sense — the schools don’t even know which exact year you’ll be attending, much less who will be in your class in a few years.

However, this doesn’t invalidate the frustration and cluelessness you may be feeling about the big question: how the hell am I going to pay for this?

There’s no hiding the fact that business school is EXPENSIVE. A full-time two-year MBA program can cost upwards of $200K when you factor in housing, food, and especially the inevitable social gatherings and travel.

But, considering you don’t know your financial aid situation, the extent of tuition increases over the next few years, and what student loan interest rates will be by the time you step on campus, it’s simply too difficult to make a decision here based on cost.

This is one of the main drawbacks of applying deferred: you’re locking yourself in (with a deposit every year) before you know all of the financial details. It’s a blessing and a curse.

At the end of the day, going to business school is an investment. Considering that the median base salary at top business schools can be upwards of $170K (and will probably be even higher by the time you graduate from MBA), with careful financial planning, an MBA can set you up to be able to pay off your debt relatively quickly.

*Disclaimer: this is not financial advice

My Decision Journey: How I picked Kellogg.

Choosing which deferred MBA program to commit to was one of the toughest decisions I’ve made in my life, not because the outcomes were bad, but because every possible outcome was great in their own way.

Out of the six schools I applied to (Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford, Wharton), I had the privilege of receiving acceptances from three dMBAs: Northwestern Kellogg’s Kellogg Future Leaders (KFL) Program, Columbia Business School’s Deferred Enrollment Program (DEP), and UC Berkeley Haas’s Accelerated Access (AA) Program.

These decision letters didn’t come in all at once. I received my Columbia acceptance in May, then didn’t hear back from any of the other schools for several weeks. As a result, I was pretty much set on committing to Columbia.

Then I got a call from Haas, and then an email from Kellogg a couple of weeks later. At this point, I realized it was time to consider my decision more carefully.

Would you be surprised if I told you that Kellogg was originally not at the top of my list?

At first, Columbia and Haas caught my attention the most because of where they were located. Growing up 30 minutes from UC Berkeley, and then moving to the northeast for undergrad at Boston University, both of these schools were in familiar areas for me. I loved the idea of either heading back to the San Francisco Bay Area or moving to New York City for graduate school.

Northwestern is right in the middle. I pretty much don’t have any close connections in the Chicago area. Moving to the Midwest would mean starting from scratch socially. I wasn’t too keen on the weather, either — Boston winters are brutal, but they’re nothing compared to the Windy City.

Then, I took a step back and reassessed my options.

In a much more disorganized fashion than what I’ve written on this page, I started to review employment reports, read feedback online, and connect with students and alums at each of the schools I was accepted to.

After two weeks of waking up every day feeling differently about where I wanted to commit to, all signs started pointing toward Kellogg.

In no particular order, here were my priorities in choosing a business school:

• Location: preferrably on west or east coast; alumni body spread around the country/globally and not just majority in the school’s city

• Post-grad industry: Strong program in entrepreneurship, technology, and/or consulting

• Culture: Hard to describe, but essentially just not toxic

• Ranking (to an extent)

• Student body/alumni body size: prefer a larger group

Attending a Kellogg event in Boston definitely swung the needle for me.

In late July, a couple of weeks before the decision deadline, I decided to attend a Kellogg admissions event being held at a fancy hotel downtown. The admissions team sent an email inviting KFL admits to attend and meet them, as well as participate in a mock lecture from an Professor Mitchell Petersen.

When I tell you this was the best lecture I’ve ever attended, I’m not exaggerating. Sure, I may never have the opportunity to take a class with Professor Petersen, but his passion and humor radiated in this huge hotel ballroom, even for a lecture he was doing for free for over 100 students he would likely never meet again.

After chatting with members of the admission staff and a KFL admit from the prior year who also attended, my excitement was through the roof. I remember calling my mother while walking back to the subway.

“I think I’ve decided,” I told her.

While neither Columbia, nor Haas, nor even Kellogg were an exact 100% fit for me, I found myself choosing Kellogg for these main reasons:

1. Culture. I was fascinated and motivated to see just how strong the culture at Kellogg is. As I wrote earlier in this page, Kellogg’s “high achievement, low ego” culture was something I was immediately drawn to.

2. Student and alumni involvement: Similar to point #1. Not only is Kellogg’s class size relatively large (500+), its alumni network of over 60,000 is incredibly passionate and helpful, at least from anecdotal evidence (i.e. me speaking to many alums and hearing about how they continue to be involved).

3. Balanced industry mix: I wasn’t entirely sure of what career I wanted to pursue post-grad yet, but Columbia felt very geared toward finance and consulting, while Berkeley was highly tech-focused (see their employment reports for exact breakdowns). Kellogg felt like a good balance of the industries I was interested in.

4. Gut instinct. As silly as this may sound, I felt like I could truly feel myself fitting into the Kellogg community and benefitting from this environment.

Postscript.

Thanks for reading to the end! I hope this was helpful. If you’re feeling conflicted in this process, feel free to message me! I’d be more than happy to chat with you about your decision and help guide you to the best program for you.

If you’re an MBAxcel subscriber, welcome back! It’s been a few months since I last wrote to you on here, but I’ve got exciting plans for what’s coming up next. Whether you’ve finalized your deferred MBA plans already or you are looking to apply this year, I hope you’ll stick around.

Thanks and see you soon!

Enter the deferred MBA.

Deferred MBA programs allow students to secure admission to an MBA program several years in advance. After graduating from college, deferred MBA students will go on to work for a few years before sliding into a reserved seat at top business schools such as Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, Darden, Yale, and more!

If that sounds intriguing, read on! Today we’re going over all the basics for deferred MBA programs: what it is, pros and cons, and everything you need to do to get started.

What is a deferred MBA program?

A deferred MBA program allows current undergraduate or graduate students to secure pre-admission to business school in their final year of studies. Upon acceptance, candidates typically work for two to five years before enrolling in the MBA program.

Deferred MBA programs are sometimes referred to as 2+2 programs. This is a term popularized by Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program, which was one of the first deferred enrollment MBA programs to launch in 2008.

The actual experience of attending business school with a deferred MBA is the same as with any regular MBA—the difference is solely the means by which one applies.

Why should I get a deferred MBA?

Apart from the typical reasons to get an MBA, applying during the deferred MBA cycle comes with several benefits:

Career Security

Simply put, getting into a deferred MBA program is like buying insurance for your career: it allows you to have some wiggle room in the early years of your career before going back to school. 

Waived or discounted application fees

Most programs offer discounts for deferred MBA applications. Several schools, such as Northwestern Kellogg, MIT Sloan, and Columbia Business School, waive application fees entirely! 

No negative effect on future application

Typically, MBA applications will include a question asking if you’ve applied to the program before. Some schools, such as Columbia Business School, do not require you to declare yourself as a “reapplicant” if you apply again in the future.

Early access to MBA resources

Upon acceptance, most deferred MBA programs will share exclusive access to MBA events and communications. For example, Kellogg Future Leaders are invited to join the Kellogg Slack and LinkedIn groups to connect with future classmates.

Want to learn more about deferred MBAs?

Subscribe to this substack, MBAxcel! Every Monday, I send a weekly check-in email, which includes some of the most exciting upcoming admissions events and my tip of the week. If you’re looking to apply to a deferred MBA program, watch this space! It’s completely free to subscribe.

Subscribe now

Are there any potential drawbacks to applying to a deferred MBA program?

Let me be clear: my job is not to sell a business degree to you. Before you get started, make sure to consider the potential risks of committing to a deferred MBA program:

Time Commitment

If you’re looking to lighten up your workload during your final year of college, deferred MBA applications may get in the way. Applying to business school is very similar to applying to college: while it is incredibly rewarding and exciting, it is also very time-consuming and stressful. Be prepared to commit to a challenge when applying to deferred MBAs.

Potential Financial Loss

Upon accepting a deferred MBA offer, most schools require you to pay a yearly deposit to secure your seat, usually summing up to a few hundred dollars per year. If you decide not to attend, or choose to apply and accept admission at a different school, you must forfeit your investment. It’ll be up to you to decide whether this investment is worth the financial risk!

What do I need to apply to a deferred MBA?

Applicant Requirements

Before we get to the application requirements, it’s worth checking your applicant eligibility. Most deferred MBA requirements will accept applications from:

• Undergraduate students in their final year of school with any major

• Master’s program students, who went directly to grad school from undergrad, in their final year of school with any major

• Domestic and international students

• Must have no prior full-time career work experience

NOTE: This list may be limited. Make sure to check the admissions sites of the program or programs which you are interested in!

Submission Requirements

Most deferred MBA programs require some or all of the following:

• Unofficial transcript

• Resume with internship(s), part-time role(s), and future full-time role(s)

• GMAT or GRE exam score

• Letter(s) of recommendation

• TOEFL/IELTS exam score for ESL students

• Admissions essay(s)

• Interview(s) (by invitation)

• Application fee (or waiver)

NOTE: This list may not fully cover all requirements. Again, make sure to check the admissions sites of the program or programs which you are interested in!

As you may expect, standards are high across the board. While you don’t need to be perfect in every aspect, it’s a good idea to get familiar with yourself. Where are your strengths? Where are your weaknesses?

Perhaps your college GPA is not great, but you’ve got a great GMAT score. Maybe you don’t have much experience on your resume, but you’ve got an incredible story to tell in your personal statements. Differentiate yourself!

By the time you’re applying to deferred MBA programs, most of these aspects will be static—there’s not a lot you can do at this point to boost your GPA or add to your professional experience. What’s done is done. Focus on what you can optimize now: prioritize writing great admissions essays, securing solid standardized exam scores, and enhancing the diction in your resume.

Is it harder to get into a deferred MBA?

Business schools are quite secretive when it comes to deferred MBA admission rates and class profiles. However, it is worth considering that some schools tend to favor applicants from non-traditional academic and industry backgrounds—in other words, non-business majors.

There’s a common misconception that deferred MBA programs seek undergraduate business students. In reality, that’s not the case! For example, Harvard Business School’s 2+2 Program indicates that “some preference will be given to applicants who are on paths less established in leading to business school,” including first-generation students, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and students who plan to work in underrepresented industries and functions.

On the other hand, programs such as Columbia Business School’s Deferred Enrollment Program do not indicate a preference for specific groups.

What is the general timeline for deferred MBA admissions?

Applications Open

Most deferred MBA applications open sometime in the fall. For example, Columbia Business School’s Deferred Enrollment Program application opens in November.

Deadlines

Deadlines tend to be in April. Below are some deadlines for the 2023–2024 application cycle:

• Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access:  April 25, 2024

• Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program: April 15, 2024

• Harvard Business School 2+2 Program: April 25, 2024

• MIT Sloan Deferred Admission: April 19, 2024

• Northwestern Kellogg Future Leaders: April 24, 2024

Wharton Deferred Admission Moelis Advance Access Program: April 24, 2024

Interview Invitations

A few weeks after the application deadlines, schools will start to send interview invitations to the candidates whom they would like to move forward with.

Here are some interview invitation dates for the 2023–2024 application cycle:

• Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program: May 15, 2024

• Wharton Deferred Admission Moelis Advance Access Program: May 28, 2024

Typically, interviews will occur within the next two weeks after the invitation date.

Decisions

Decision dates vary between programs. Some deferred MBA programs do not post a decision date at all. Here are some decision dates for the 2023–2024 application cycle:

• Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access: June 20, 2024

• Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program: Rolling basis, within two weeks of interview date

• MIT Sloan Deferred Admission: June 13, 2024

• Northwestern Kellogg Future Leaders: June 26, 2024

• Wharton Deferred Admission Moelis Advance Access Program: June 27, 2024

Commitment

Deferred MBA programs will require you to accept or reject their decision by a certain date. You’ll find that enrolling in multiple deferred MBA programs is prohibited. If you’ve made it to this stage, you’ve got a big decision to make!

Upon making a decision, you will need to submit a deposit to confirm your commitment.

Schools will usually give you at least a few weeks to think over your decision. Here are some deferred MBA commitment dates for the 2023–2024 application cycle:

• Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program: August 1, 2024

• Wharton Deferred Admission Moelis Advance Access Program: August 1, 2024

Admissions Events

Are you interested in learning more about a specific program? Consider attending some of their events!

I compiled a list of deferred MBA program calendars for you. Make sure to bookmark that page so you can refer to it throughout your application cycle!

Access here!

How are deferred MBA applications different from regular MBA applications?

Logistically, there are a few differences between a deferred MBA application and any other MBA application:

Deadlines

Deferred MBA deadlines tend to be much later than the normal MBA application cycle. While most MBA programs have deadlines during the fall or winter of the application year, deferred MBA applications are typically due in the late spring.

Reduced or waived fees

Most (if not all) deferred MBA submission fees are either severely discounted or completely free!

Different essay and interview questions

Because deferred MBA programs are looking for your potential to perform, rather than your breadth of business experience, you’ll find that many essay and interview questions reflect that focus.

I’m ready to get started. What next?

If you haven’t already, subscribe to MBAxcel!

MBAxcel is the premier newsletter for all things Deferred MBA. If you are in the market for a dMBA, subscribe (for free!) to receive tips and insights in your inbox every week!

Here’s what you can expect:

• Weekly Check-Ins, with upcoming events and opportunities, as well as my tip of the week

• Resources, such as calendars and lists, which you can bookmark and refer to on your dMBA journey

• Special Features, including interviews, stories, and explainers, to keep you motivated

Subscribe now

Postscript.

I hope this was helpful! As a former deferred MBA applicant myself, I know the process can be incredibly overwhelming. But it’s also so rewarding! Take things one at a time and the pieces will fall into place.

Have a question?

Leave it in the comments below! I’d love to chat with you and provide some more context and clarity to the deferred MBA process.

About me:

Hey! I’m Justin Tang, a Boston-based consultant and a recent graduate of Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. As a 2023 deferred MBA applicant, I was admitted to Kellogg Future Leaders, Berkeley Haas Accelerated Access, and Columbia Deferred Enrollment Program. I ultimately decided to join Kellogg, where I’m excited to enroll in the next few years!

I created MBAxcel as a resource that I would have wanted as a deferred MBA applicant. My mission is to build a community here of eager, like-minded students on a collective journey to achieve the coveted goal of deferred MBA admissions! Come along as we debunk deferred MBA myths, crack the GMAT, and find the best program for you. There’s a ton to talk about, so subscribe and get these posts in your inbox!

I had no idea that these somewhat misguided and pessimistic presumptions would be the catalyst in one of the most meaningful experiences of my professional life: applying to a deferred MBA program.

Whether you’re not quite convinced that a deferred MBA program is right for you, or you’re fully grinding away at your personal statements at this very moment, I hope that my own dMBA journey may inspire or motivate you to pursue your MBA dreams.

This is MBAxcel: The Deferred MBA Newsletter.

I’m Justin Tang. Perhaps my story may resonate with you.

My goal with this endeavor is to serve as a resource to anyone who is pursuing a dMBA program. While I’m sure you’re aware that there is a plethora of MBA admissions content out on the internet, you may also have found that not a lot of these materials are directed toward you, specifically: a current student aiming to secure future enrollment at a top business school.

I hope to build a community here of eager, like-minded students on a collective journey to achieve the coveted goal of deferred MBA admissions.

Come along as we debunk deferred MBA myths, crack the GMAT, and find the best program for you. There’s a ton to talk about, so subscribe and get these posts in your inbox!

Here’s what you can expect:

Weekly Check-Ins: Every Monday, expect an email from me in your inbox with some exciting dMBA admissions events and opportunities, as well as my tip of the week. I may also include some interesting reads and other exclusive content.

Resources: I hope that this Substack can become a one-stop shop for you in your research. I’ll be compiling useful links and documents on the Resources tab of this website.

Special Features: Every now and then, I’ll share stories and insights from top dMBA admits, business school admissions directors, and myself. I hope these features can help inspire and motivate you as you aim for success.

MBA applications are a grind, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone! I hope I can join you on your deferred MBA adventure.