UVA Darden Launches Application for Admission to the Full-Time MBA Class of 2022

New Program Innovations Position Students for Academic and Career Success

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business announced today that its application for the full-time MBA Class of 2022 is now live.

It also announced this year’s short essay questions, key application deadline dates and innovations at the School ahead of the 2019–20 academic year, including new tools for admitted students that will set them up for a successful transition from the working world to Darden, and from Darden to a purpose-driven career.

The new tools include complimentary MBA-level math courses, reduced-price English language programs and innovations from Darden’s Career Development Center intended to jumpstart a student’s career journey. Recent Darden classes have broken records on a variety of career metrics, including earning some of the highest salaries among all business school graduates.

“We’re thrilled to formally launch the application for admission to the Class of 2022,” said Executive Director of Admissions Dawna Clarke. “It’s a time of incredible momentum for the Darden School, and we look forward to introducing the transformational 21-month MBA program to the next generation of lifelong learners and leaders.”

Named the world’s best education experience by The Economist eight years in a row, Darden offers MBA students unparalleled preparation for a lifetime of meaningful work. Taught by the best professors in graduate business education, all students take the same First Year core curriculum, providing a strong foundation in primary business topics. In the Second Year, students customize their Darden experience, choosing from more than 100 elective courses and concentrations in areas ranging from sustainability to asset management.

New Application Deadlines

Darden offers four application rounds, including an Early Action round.

The Early Action round is designed for candidates who know Darden is their school of choice and is not binding. Candidates who apply early action have the opportunity to schedule their interview on their own timeline and do not need to wait for an invitation. Once open interview slots are filled, interviews are by invitation.

Early Action: Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Round 1: Friday, 4 October 2019

Round 2: Monday, 6 January 2020

Round 3: Monday, 6 April 2020

New Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship opportunities at the Darden School have increased dramatically in recent years, and the School offers more than 150 merit-based scholarships, most of which do not require an additional application for consideration.

Recently announced new scholarships for future classes include the Lemuel E. Lewis Bicentennial Award for Global Leadership, awarded to a student who has improved the community by demonstrating a commitment to increase inclusiveness among various economic, political, religious and social groups; the Coogan Family Bicentennial Scholarship; and the McGowan Fellowship, a full-tuition scholarship for a future leader in the areas of education, human services, health care and medical research.

Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will continue to offer the competitive Batten Scholars Program, offering full and partial tuition scholarships to top students interested in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology.

All full-time Darden MBA students automatically receive a scholarship to take a Darden Worldwide Course at no additional charge through the Batten Foundation Darden Worldwide Scholarship program.

New STEM-Designated Specialization in Management Science

While Darden offers multiple career track and theme track concentrations, future Darden classes will have the opportunity to earn a specialization in management science, which builds on the required MBA core curriculum.

The new specialization is STEM designated, which has added relevance for international students who want authorization to work in the U.S., as it may allow them to qualify for a STEM OPT extension of an additional 24 months to obtain an employer-sponsored visa.

New Tools to Prepare Students for Academic, Career Success

In addition to offering the Darden Before Darden program to incoming students who may benefit from brief, intensive instruction prior to the start of the academic year, Darden now offers complimentary access to the math preparation resource MBA Math to all admitted students, and the online English language coaching program B-Speak! at a reduced fee.

The Darden Career Development Center (CDC) has also launched a new prematriculation program titled Career Development WhyFinding (CDWhy). The tool will help students find their “why,” or their mission or personal challenge, and help them find an internship or job that plays to their strengths and offers the pathway to a lifetime of meaningful work.

This self-directed, free and online program will kick-start students’ personalized preparation for the recruiting season. During CDWhy, students will watch instructional videos led by the CDC’s team of experts, learn valuable recruiting advice from Darden students and alumni, and engage with interactive activities and resources.

By the end of the CDWhy program, students will have learned how to articulate their purpose, explore MBA career pathways and understand how to build a robust recruiting presence.

“As Darden graduates continue to see unprecedented demand for their talents in a variety of sought-after sectors, we are thrilled to now offer CDWhy to Darden students so they can gain a head-start in the competitive MBA recruiting process,” said Assistant Dean of Career Development Jeff McNish.