How to Apply for MBA in USA 2024 - Step By Step Process

The USA is one of the most preferred countries to do an MBA and the primary reason is the quality of MBA in USA universities. In the top 18 of the 100 business schools ranked across the world, 13 of them are from the US and this includes names such as Columbia business school, Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, Haas, Kellogg and others.

However, one of the biggest hurdles that an aspirant faces is how to apply for an MBA in the USA. They are confronted with questions like when does the application process start, what are the requirements of the business schools, whether the GMAT score is enough for qualification or how much weightage is given to SOP, LOR and the rest of the application package.

Read the article to understand the entire process of "how to apply for MBA in USA?" and other requirements for university admissions and eligibility.

How to apply for MBA in USA?

There are plenty of steps that one needs to be aware if before starting with the application process of applying for MBA universities in US. We have mentioned all the important points that one should keep in mind for pursuing MBA in USA as international students.

Top management schools in the USA

The first thing to consider before applying for an MBA in the USA is to check the top business schools in the USA and their admission requirements. This is the list of the top business schools in the US based on the QS Global MBA Rankings for 2024.

MBA in USA: Top Business School in USA

MBA in USA Deadlines for International Students

Universities in the US do not have a common deadline for all business courses. Also, most MBA colleges have more than one round of deadlines.

The general practice is that universities in the US usually recommend international students to apply in the first or second round itself so that they have enough time for visa application. Below are the deadlines of some of the business schools.

MBA in USA Application Deadlines

MBA Requirements in USA

• International students who wish to do an MBA in the US must meet the following eligibility criteria.

• Students must have a good GPA score in the qualifying study program

• They must have completed 16 years of education or must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree.

• They must have the required scores in any of the following English language proficiency tests-IELTS, PTE or TOEFL.

• They must have the required work experience as mandated by the business school.

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.

• Required GRE or GMAT scores based on requirements of the business school.

Required exams to apply for MBA in the USA

GMAT and GRE are two predominant exams that aspirants need to undertake to pursue management studies in the USA.

One should, ideally, register for tests at least 3 months prior to the application deadline so that test scores are ready at the time of submitting the application

GMAT: One of the most important elements of the application package for admission to an MBA in the USA is the GMAT score. The GMAT is a standardised test which evaluates a candidate on four yardsticks -Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal. The GMAT test score is valid for up to 5 years and is held around the year at numerous test centres spread across the world.

GMAT Score Requirement for Top Universities in the USA

Here are the details of the GMAT score requirements of top universities in the US that offer MBA programme.

Eligibility for MBA in US: GMAT Score

GRE: GRE was first accepted for admission to a management course by Stanford in 2005. Since then, most of the institutions like Harvard, Wharton, UC Berkeley, Duke, MIT, NYU, and Yale have started accepting GRE scores for admission. At present, more than 1,000 business schools in the US accept GRE scores from applicants as part of their selection process.

Work experience to apply for MBA in the USA

Most US universities require work experience for entry into their MBA programmes. While some business schools do admit students without experience, a majority of them require work experience ranging between 2- 10 years, depending on the kind of programme one wants to pursue.

Below is the list of top universities to pursue an MBA in the USA with average required work experience and GMAT scores.

MBA requirements in USA for International Students

Documents Required for MBA in the US

• Recommendation letters: Letters of recommendation are statements that reflect the candidate's potential from the point of view of a third person. Most universities require at least two to three recommendation letters.

• SOP: A statement of purpose or SOP has to be written by the candidate and should reflect his life goals as well as his reasons for wanting to join the institution. Most universities require a statement of purpose within the limit of 500 words.

• Resume: Some universities require the candidate to submit a CV along with the application. It should contain basic information like date of birth, academic qualifications and achievements.

• GRE/TOEFL/GMAT/IELTS score proofs besides reporting the test scores officially.

• Academic Transcripts for the qualifications listed in the application form.

• Work experience certificates, if applicable

• Essays: Some business schools might ask the candidate to write essays. The length of the MBA essay depends on the university's requirements. While some universities may give a candidate a topic to write on, other universities may give an option to the candidate to write on a relevant topic of his interest. Generally, the candidate is asked to submit 2-3 essays.
• Offer letters: The business schools usually take a few weeks to respond to applications. Most applicants receive their acceptance or rejection letter between February and April for the September intake.

Cost of Studying MBA in USA

The cost of an MBA in the United States for international students depends on the type of MBA program chosen. The average cost of a full-time MBA is USD 60,000 per year. Most US MBA programme are of two years, but some accelerated MBA programs are of one-year duration. The table below shows the cost of MBA programs at top US universities. MBA tuition fees are also quoted in Indian Rupees.

MBA tuition fee at top US universities:

Scholarships to study MBA in the USA

There are various MBA scholarships for Indian students in the USA. that candidates can apply for in order to pursue MBA in the USA. These scholarships greatly help to reduce the cost of pursuing an MBA in the USA and some of them are fully funded scholarships as well.

• Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai fellowship

• The India Trust Fellowship

• Akhtarali H. Tobaccowala Fellowship

• McComb’s Scholarships and Fellowships

• HBS Fellowship Programs

• McKinsey Award

• McGowan Fellows Program

• Meyer Feldberg Distinguished Fellowship Program

The process to apply for an MBA in the USA will not be complicated provided students have knowledge of the steps involved in the application process.