Experiential learning remains the corner stone of teaching at this top contender for the school of choice for MBA candidates. Carlson has a thriving relationship with the business community in the region and also an array of Carlson Enterprises where students can get an up close and personal feel of the business scenario in the real world. The Carlson school also scores in the placement scene where it has an enviable record. The MBA essay application process incorporates essay questions that have certain flair and distinction, which makes them interesting to answer. These offer the candidate enough scope to exercise creativity.

Application Deadlines

• Round 1 - November 1, 2015 (decision no later than January 15)
• Round 2 - December 1, 2015 (decision no later than February 15)
• Round 3 - February 1, 2015 (decision no later than April 15)
• Round 4 - April 1, 2015 (domestic candidates only)
  (decision no later than May 15)

Application requirements :

• Application fee : The application fee is $60 (non-refundable) for U.S. citizens; $90 for international applications and U.S. residents with foreign credentials.


• If English is not your first language, you must take the TOEFL, Academic exam. We accept scores from any of these exams, it is not necessary to take more than one. Scores must be less than 2 years old when you apply.
  
  You do not need to take an English language test if :
  
  You have completed your previous education solely in English in a country where English is not an official language. Your transcript must indicate that English was the language of instruction, or you must provide a statement from your university indicating that English was the sole language of instruction in order to be exempt from the testing requirement.
  
  or
  
  If you have completed the last 2 years of a bachelor's degree or 1 year of graduate school (full - time) in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. You are not exempt if you have lived in an English-speaking country for several years but have not completed any prior education in English.


• GMAT or GRE Score
  The GMAT or GRE General Test is required for admission to the Full-Time MBA program and should be less than five years old.
  
  For GMAT, arrange for the testing service to send an official score report to code D2N-VJ-15, Carlson MBA. Results arrive 2-3 weeks after the test. For GRE, arrange for the testing service to send an official score report using institution code 8387. Results take 3-4 weeks to arrive.


• Recommendations : 3 letters of recommendation are required
• Personal statement :
  
  We require a personal statement answering the following three questions :
  • Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA at this time in your career, and what are you hoping to accomplish by doing so?
  • Why are you interested in pursuing an MBA at the Carlson School of Management?
  • What do you feel makes you a strong candidate for the program? How will you contribute to the MBA Program overall?
  
  Current Resume
  
  Submit a current resume (CV) that includes job responsibilities and accomplishments.
  
  Interview
  
  Interviews for the Full-Time MBA program are by invitation only. Candidates will be contacted after the initial review of their application. If you are unable to attend your interview in person, arrangements can be made for a Skype
  
  Class profile :
  
  Class size : 107
  
  Median GMAT : 690
  
  Median GPA : 3.45
  
  Median Age : 28
  
  Median Years of Work Experience : 4.13
  
  % International students : 25%
  
  Estimated tuition fees and other expenses : (International Students)
  
  Tuition : $46,500
  
  Books (estimate) : $3,000
  
  Health insurance : $1,998
  
  Student services fee : $861.02
  
  Collegiate & technology fee : $1,160
  
  International student fees : $318
  
  Approximate Total Annual Cost* : $54,480.74
  
  Sample Essay
  
  Essay 1. Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Why are you choosing to do an MBA at this time in your career? What/who influenced your decision to apply to Carlson? (500 word maximum)
  
  In today’s complex and competitive world, personal entrepreneurship is required to succeed irrespective of the position that you are handling. Just having focused or specialized skill sets though important may not serve the overall purpose in a business environment. At this stage of my career, I aspire to move ahead with my defined goals and imbibe the prerequisite skills necessary to make a difference in the field of management consultancy. An MBA degree from Carlson would be ideal to train .................................
  
  My association with ................................................. gave me a unique vantage point of observing and contributing to Information revolution. My ability to acquire technical skills and adopt to changing expertise requirements was appreciated and provided me with an opportunity to work as a ........................................................ The experience gained in managing enterprise ..............................My exposures to the areas proved my ability to deliver high quality IT products and services within a stipulated timeline. My background adds deep domain knowledge to teams’ expertise and individual perspective of looking at challenges.
  
  From the beginning of my career, I enriched myself with an observance to undertake projects that would strengthen my technical knowledge and highlight my inter-personal skills. The concept of team work, effective coordination, shouldering responsibility to ensure deadlines are met and willingness to adapt have been instrumental in giving reliable results to my endeavors. My work experience has given me deep insights into the technological aspects, the business value drivers, and the crucial challenges facing the industry from its present state of offering a simple voice-based service to a transition into a richer, more enhanced content oriented necessity.
  
  The Carlson curriculum offers .......................................................... I believe that effective team work skills, analytical ability and management of technology will help me estimate my own strength as a professional.