Get Accepted to the Best Deferred Admission MBA Programs
Deferred admission MBA programs are an attractive option for college seniors or graduate students in their last year of study who know an MBA is a part of their future. These unique application paths offer accepted students a coveted spot in a top MBA program but require that students first gain 2-5 years of work experience before matriculating. During the deferral period, many programs offer access to their career services office and / or student programming like industry conferences. The deadlines for these programs are typically in the spring (March – April).
There are a lot of benefits to applying through the deferred admission path. Most importantly, you have an insurance policy on your early career path, giving you some added comfort as you might decide to take a risk right out of college (such as joining a start-up or pursuing your lifelong dream of working abroad). In addition, although you may feel incredibly busy as a student, that is only likely to intensify as you join the workforce. Balancing test prep (the GMAT or the GRE are the most commonly accepted standardized tests) and application writing might be more achievable in your last semester vs. several years later. And lastly, if you think you might want to go to business school on the early side (i.e. 2-3 years after graduating from college), you may have a more competitive profile as a deferred admissions applicant vs. joining the far larger traditional applicant pool that averages 4-6 years of work experience.
That said, competition is stiff for these top-ranked programs and the class sizes are small. What that means is that differentiation is key and understanding what admissions officers are looking for (and how those criteria differ from the traditional applicant pool) is essential to crafting a successful deferred admission MBA application. That’s where our team comes in.
Why Vantage Point MBA: We Specialize in the Top Deferred Admission MBA Programs
Our team has extensive experience coaching and guiding applicants who have been accepted to the top deferred admissions MBA programs, including HBS 2+2, Stanford Deferred Enrollment, Wharton Deferred Admission Moelis Advance Access MBA, among others. We understand how deferred admission applicants differ from traditional applicants and how they can demonstrate leadership potential through their personal and academic experiences. As coaches, we only work with clients we believe in and take on the role of thought partner, mentor, and adviser as we challenge you to become the best version of yourself. We invest in each client we work with, and nothing makes us happier than seeing you succeed!
If you’d like some help with your deferred admission MBA applications, reach out to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.
Top 10 Deferred Admission MBA Programs
To get you started, we’ve listed the top 10 deferred admission MBA programs along with some basic facts about their class profiles, application requirements, and other nuances to consider.
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HBS 2+2 Deferred Enrollment MBA Program
Deadline: 4/23/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-4 years
Number of Admits in Most Recent Class: 118 (~8% acceptance rate)
GMAT: Not Available
Undergraduate GPA: Not Available
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Stanford Deferred Enrollment MBA Program
Deadline: 4/8/25 (may also apply in Round 1 and Round 2 along with candidates for the traditional MBA program)
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 1-3 years encouraged, 4 years maximum
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: Not Available
GMAT: Not Available
Undergraduate GPA: Not Available
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Wharton Deferred Admission Moelis Advance Access MBA
Deadline: 4/23/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-4 years
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: 118
GMAT: Not Available
Undergraduate GPA: Not Available
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MIT Sloan MBA Early
Deadline: 4/18/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-5 years
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: Not available
GMAT: 750 (median)
Undergraduate GPA: 3.84 (median)
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Chicago Booth Scholars Deferred Enrollment MBA
Deadline: 4/29/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-5 years
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: Not Available
GMAT: Not Available
Undergraduate GPA: Not Available
Program Nuance: Deferred MBAs can enroll in any of Booth’s programs, including the Evening or Weekend MBA programs
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Kellogg Future Leaders Deferred Enrollment MBA
Deadline: 4/23/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-5 years
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: Not Available
GMAT: Not Available
Undergraduate GPA: Not Available
Program Nuance: Deferred MBAs can enroll in any of Kellogg’s programs, including the Part-Time MBA program
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Darden Future Year Scholars Deferred Enrollment MBA
Deadline: 4/7/25 or 8/4/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-5 years
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: 121
GMAT: 726 (average) / 720 (median)
GRE: 320 (average & median)
Undergraduate GPA: 3.75 (average) / 3.8 (median)
Program Nuance: Candidates may also apply using their MCAT, LSAT, SAT or ACT score
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Yale Silver Scholars MBA Program
Deadline: Same as Traditional MBA Program Deadlines, with Round 3 occurring on 4/8/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: None – students matriculate as Silver Scholars directly after college or another master’s program
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: Not Available
GMAT: Not Available
Undergraduate GPA: Not Available
Program Nuance: Silver Scholars is a three-year program – students complete Yale SOM’s Core Curriculum in their first year, complete an extended internship in their second year, and take Yale SOM electives in their third year.
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Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment MBA Program
Deadline: 4/15/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-5 years
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: 232
GMAT: 570-780 (range)
Undergraduate GPA: 3.3-4.0 (range)
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Haas Accelerated Access
Deadline: 4/24/25
Post-College Work Experience Before Matriculation: 2-5 years
Number of Committed Admits in Most Recent Class: Not Available
GMAT: Not Available
Undergraduate GPA: Not Available
Further Resources
What is a Deferred MBA Program and Should I Apply? | Vantage Point MBA
