Which Apps are Out? MBA Deadlines & Essays

*Updated August 10, 2020

By now, most of the top MBA programs have released their application deadlines and essay topics for the 2020-2021 season. Below we’ve summarized what’s out so far so you can stay on top of it. 

Remember, when to apply matters. Early action programs tend to have higher acceptance rates but are typically binding commitments. Round 1 is the optimal round for most applicants, especially those with 4+ years of work experience or who are applying from an over-represented background like banking or consulting. But at the end of the day, the most important factor is actually what you submit. So, our advice is typically to weigh the factors but don’t sacrifice quality for speed (see our longer article on Round 1 vs. Round 2 if you’re debating right now).  

	Early Action	Round 1	Round 2	Essays
Chicago Booth		Sept 24	Jan 12	Live!
Columbia	Oct 2	Jan 6 (scholarship)	April 9	Live!
UVA Darden	Sept 2	Oct 5	Jan 4	Live!
Duke Fuqua	Sept 23	Oct 20	Jan 7	Live!
HBS		Sept 8	Jan 5	Live!
INSEAD (Sept entry)		Sept 11	Nov 6, Jan 8	Live!
Kellogg		Sept 16	Jan 6	Live!
Michigan Ross		Sept 14	Jan 4	Live!
Dartmouth Tuck	Sept 1*	Sept 28	Jan 4	Live!
Wharton		Sept 15	Jan 5	Live!
Yale SOM		Sept 15	Jan 7	Live!
Stanford		Sept 15	Jan 6	Live!
MIT Sloan		Oct 1	Jan 19	Live!
Haas		Sept 24	Jan 14	Live!
NYU Stern		Sept 15, Oct 15**	Nov 15 / Jan 15 (R3)	Live!

* Tuck: All applicants who submit a complete application by September 1, 2020 are guaranteed an interview.

** NYU Stern: Fashion & Luxury MBA and Andre Koo Tech MBA round 1 deadline is September 15, 2020. The Full-Time MBA round 1 deadline is October 15, 2020.