UVA Darden School Welcomes the Class of 2015

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business welcomed First Year students from all three formats of its degree program — MBA, MBA for Executives (EMBA) and Global MBA for Executives (GEMBA) – to its academic community. The Class of 2015, all 414 of them, boast record-breaking GMAT scores and grade point averages, and they reflect a growing trend — increased interest in mission-driven careers in areas such as energy, education, government and the nonprofit sector. This year’s incoming MBA for Executives students represent Darden’s eighth cohort and the GEMBA program is now in its third year.

Sara Neher, assistant dean of MBA admissions, shared the unique characteristics of the 316 students who comprise the full-time MBA Class of 2015. Their demographics include:

• Percentage of women: 30
• Percentage of those born outside United States: 37
• Percentage of domestic minorities: 16
• Average GMAT score: 706
• Average GPA: 3.5
• Average age: 27

In addition, the incoming MBA students hail from 37 countries, including the U.S., China, India, New Zealand, Argentina and Greece, and come from 30 U.S. states, including Virginia, New York, California and Washington state. They completed their undergraduate degrees at institutions such as UVA, Shanghai’s Fudan University and the University of Pennsylvania, and they majored in areas such as, business, economics, engineering, and the humanities and social sciences.

Darden also introduced FY EMBA and GEMBA students.

Darden’s innovative EMBA enables experienced professionals to earn the Darden MBA while continuing to work full time. Barbara Millar, assistant dean of the MBA for Executives program, provided a snapshot of the newest class:

• Age range: 27-47
• Average years of work experience: 10-13
• Percentage of women: 16
• Percentage of international (born outside U.S.): 15
• Percentage of military experience: 25
• GMAT score (middle 80 percent): 570-710

Darden’s GEMBA offers experienced managers on-the-ground training in five regions around the world while they continue to work full-time. Larry Mueller, assistant dean of the Global MBA for Executives program, presented a look at the GEMBA Class of 2015:

• Age range: 28-53
• Average years of work experience: 10-13
• Percentage of women: 10
• Percentage of international (born outside U.S.): 27
• Percentage of military experience: 33
• GMAT score (middle 80 percent): 570-710

During FY orientation week, international students bonded with classmates at the event called Games People Play, named after the classic book written by psychologist Eric Berne. Students from different countries set up booths featuring games native to their birthplaces such as India’s Hopscotch, Nigeria’s Ayo and Korea’s Alkkagi. The week also included a talk given by Alex Gorsky, CEO of Johnson & Johnson.

The week concluded with an address to all three formats of the MBA from Bob Bruner, dean of the Darden School; Peter Rodriguez, senior associate dean for degree programs and chief diversity officer; and Michael Woodfolk, executive director of Alumni Services. The Darden community capped orientation week with a back-to-school fiesta celebration that also included Second Year students.