The Master of Business Administration (MBA) originated in the US and has more than 100 years of history. There are about 100,000 students completing MBA courses each year in the US, accounting for more than half of the total number in the world. Since the formal establishment of the Harvard Business School in 1908, the number of MBA graduates in the United States has exceeded 1 million. MBA graduates are active in all fields, including finance, entrepreneurship, technology, production, politics and more – playing important roles on the US and global world stage.

Application requirements for U.S. MBA program:

  • GMAT test scores

    • For the top MBA programs, chances for admission are higher if the score is 750+. There are still many great schools available for a score of 700+. The writing score shall not be less than 4 points. This test aims to examine your academic and critical thinking capabilities​

  • TOEFL test scores​

    • The TOEFL is required of international students who did not attend an English-speaking undergraduate college. The purpose of TOEFL is different from that of GMAT. TOEFL is aimed at non-native English speakers and to test the English proficiency of applicants​

  • Grade Point Average (GPA)

    • As one of the main standards for measuring the applicant performance in undergraduate study, the GPA is a very important metric. First-class U.S. business schools generally set the minimum score of GPA for applicants at 3.0 with preferably more than 3.5 for the top 10 business schools​

  • Essay

    • The personal essay is the most important creative, and consequently often the hardest document to complete, in the MBA application. From the end of August to the beginning of September each year, U.S. business schools will publish the application materials for next year’s class of incoming 1st years – this will include the required topics for the essay portion of the application. Generally, U.S. business schools expect to learn the qualification and motivation of the applicants through the essay, including personal background, leadership skills, ability to handle complex issues, team spirit, good moral character and what you hope to gain from an MBA​

  • 2-3 Recommendation Letters

    • In addition to all the forms and essays you fill out about yourself, the school needs to know how your managers and/or workmates evaluate you. Unlike the application for undergraduate or other graduate schools, recommendation letters for MBA programs should be completed by professionals who have had a working relationship with the applicant. Professors from college may not be the suitable referrals

  • The most obvious difference between the applications for MBA and general postgraduate schools is that U.S. business schools often require MBA applicants to have at least two years of full-time working experience​

    • The Harvard Business School classes in recent years have an average of more than three years of working experiences and following MBA completion, they are generally promoted to more important management positions in the enterprise thanks to their pre-existing practical management experiences​

Recommended elite US MBA programs:

  • Harvard Business School of Harvard University​
  • Graduate School of Business of Stanford University
  • Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania
  • Sloan School of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Kellogg School of Northwestern University
  • Stern School of New York University

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