MIT Sloan School of Management — MBA Program & Application Overview

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management is different from other business schools in that it is not talking about management in the abstract. As part of the world’s leading research institution, the Sloan School of Management brings together today’s brightest minds to solve global complex problems. The students that graduate from the MIT Sloan MBA program launch companies that kick off local economies all over the world. The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice.

Class Profile (MBA Class of 2025)

• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Class Size: 409
• Acceptance Rate: 15%
• Average Work Experience: 5 years
• Average GMAT Score: 700-760
• Average GRE Score: 157-168 Quant, 155-167 Verbal
• Median GPA: 3.61
• Women: 46%
• International: 40%
• Underrepresented Minority: 28%

Application Overview (2023-2024)

Sloan Deadlines

All applications are due by 3:00 PM EST on the respective deadline.

GMAT/GRE

You will submit a self-reported or official GMAT score or GRE score, either the in-person or remote version of the exams. If you have special circumstances preventing you from submitting a test score, you can request a test waiver using the Test Scores section of your application.

MIT Video Statement

There are no essays required for the application. However, you will be required to submit a video statement.

• In this first video, you will introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here's your chance to demonstrate your personality and be open and conversational
• Videos should be no more than one minute in length and consist of a single take (no editing) and you should speak directly to the camera without any background music or subtitles
• Deferred MBA applicants will also be required to submit a second video statement based on a randomly generated, open-ended question. This question is designed to get to know you better, see how you express yourself, and assess your communication style. Note that this video does not require prior preparation

Letter of Recommendation

You are required to submit one letter of recommendation for MIT Sloan by the application deadline. Since the recommendation letter can tell a lot about you, make sure that you select someone qualified to speak about you in professional contexts and your potential as a leader. Ideally, the recommendation should come from a professional contact, preferably a manager or a supervisor. MIT Sloan does not accept recommendations from family members. Your recommender should be able to answer the following questions:

• How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
• How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
• Please give an example of the applicant's impact on a person, group, or organization.
• Please give a representative example of how the applicant interacts with other people.
• Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.
• Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.

Click here for our FREE Recommender Prep Template.

Additional References

In this section, you will provide contact information for two additional professional references. If MIT still has questions after reading your application, they will reach out to one or both of the references you have provided. You do not need to submit this portion if you are applying for the deferred program. Similar to your recommenders, the references should be able to speak about your professional and/or academic background. They should be different from your previously given recommenders.

MIT Sloan Interviews

Interviews are given by invitation only and it is a required step in the process for admitted students. These are conducted virtually and scheduled in Boston time.

• An interview means that your application has reached an advanced stage of consideration; however, it does not guarantee admission
• If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked to respond to several questions prior to the interview. The details will be included in the interview invitation.
• Your interviewer will ask you clarifying questions about your application and behavioral questions, then you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the MIT Sloan MBA program

Other Application Items

Application Fee

There is a nonrefundable $250 application fee that is required upon submission of your application. You may be eligible for a fee waiver if the fee is a significant financial hardship or if you are one of the following:

• Veteran or active duty US military personnel
• Current Teach for America member or alumnus
• Current Peace Corps member
• MLT/Jumpstart MBA Prep Fellow
• Forté MBA Launch Participant
• Participant in eligible MIT sponsored programs, fellowships, events, or conferences (full list on the MIT Sloan School of Management admissions page)

Cover Letter

You will need to submit a cover letter officially stating that you seek a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. The letter should be in standard business correspondence format and include one or more professional examples demonstrating how you will make the most of the opportunities available at MIT; how you will contribute to the incoming MBA class; and qualities such as drive, thoughtful leadership, authenticity, exceptional intellectual abilities, and fearless creativity. Your cover letter should be addressed to the admissions committee and consist of 300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation.

Resume

• You will submit a one-page resume to help the admissions committee easily track your academic and career path
• Make sure to focus on your role and the results, not just on the job title
• For formatting, don’t go over a single page and use Times New Roman size 10. Submit in PDF form
• Write the following in reverse chronological order:
  • Education: Include awards, scholarships, and memberships to professional societies
  • Work Experience: Include company name, title, and bullets that show results and demonstrate your skill set
  • Additional information: Cover extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, special skills/interests, and languages spoken

Organizational Chart

To better understand your current role and the impact you have on your team and department, you will be asked to submit an organizational chart. This is to understand the internal structure, including where you sit and your line of reporting.

• This should not be more than two pages
• When possible, give as many details as you can. It is okay to redact names as well
• Make sure that your position, to whom you report, and who reports to you can be easily identified
• If your recommender or references are part of the organizational chart, please highlight their names

Academic Transcripts

• Scan and upload your transcript(s) from all colleges and universities you have attended or currently attending. If you are currently enrolled, upload your most up-to-date transcript
• Please make sure that your transcripts are legible when uploading them
• All applicants should hold a four-year undergraduate degree or three-year equivalent degree from an accredited university by time of matriculation
• Do not send any hard copies of official academic transcripts
• Upload the original and certified translation of your transcripts if they are not printed in English
• If you are having difficulty uploading your document, make sure it is not “digitally signed” or encrypted. If this happens, print out your transcript, scan it, and upload the PDF
• Once you are admitted to the program, you will be required to submit an official signed and sealed transcript from all the schools you have attended. If there are any discrepancies between the scanned and official transcripts, it may result in the withdrawal of the admission offer

Relevant Coursework and Professional Certifications

All types of undergraduate majors are welcome, there are no academic prerequisites. With that in mind, they want to understand what relevant coursework you have completed to assess how you might handle the core curriculum of the MBA courses. In your application, you will be asked to include which courses (if any) of the following subjects you have taken. The grade for each course should also be included.

• Calculus
• Communications
• Computer Programming
• Linear Algebra
• Microeconomics
• Organizational Behavior
• Probability
• Statistics

Additionally, if you were able to earn special certifications or have some professional development courses, you may include that as well. You may submit professional certifications such as CFA, CPA, ACCA, among others; non-degree coursework such as MITx MicroMasters, CORe, edX, MBA Math; or any other non-degree coursework you have completed.

Optional Short Answer Question

Applicants may choose to submit an additional short answer to expand on their background.

MBA Early Admission Program

This deferred application process is designed for students around the globe who are ambitious and forward-thinking and who want to be able to secure their place in a future MIT Sloan MBA class.

• After admission, you will be able to work for 2-5 years before beginning your MBA program at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
• The following undergraduate students are eligible for the MBA Deferred application:
  • You are in your final year of undergraduate studies
  • You will graduate between August 2023 and September 2024
  • You will not enroll in an MD, JD, or Ph.D. program immediately after graduation
  • You have not had any full-time work experience except internships or co-op experiences
• For graduate students, you can apply if you:
  • Are in your final year of graduate school
  • Will graduate between August 2023 and September 2024
  • Started graduate school immediately after undergraduate studies
  • Have not had any full-time work experience except internships or co-op experiences or are currently enrolled in your final semester in the MIT Sloan MFin or MBAn program
• The application process is the same except for two things:
  • You will be required to submit two letters of recommendation, rather than one, and your recommenders will answer the following questions:
    • How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
    • How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
    • Please give an example of the applicant's impact on a person, group, or organization.
    • Please give a representative example of how the applicant interacts and communicates with others, including peers and superiors.
    • Please give an example of how the applicant has synthesized and executed on an assigned task and/or mastered new material.
    • Which of the applicant's personal or professional characteristics would you change?
    • Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.
  • The application fee is waived for all deferred applicants

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MIT Sloan MBA Program Overview

Curriculum

The two-year, full-time MIT Sloan MBA program offers intellectual discovery and expert faculty from MIT. This is combined with the flexibility to customize your coursework in line with your goals. During the first semester, you will take core courses, after which you will choose your electives and other real-world learning experiences.

Semester 1, Core Classes

During your first semester, which is your core semester, you will be carefully grouped into six cohorts of MBA students with a diverse mix of backgrounds, interests, and experiences. MIT’s tradition is to name the cohorts after an ocean or sea: Atlantic, Baltic, Caribbean, Indian, Mediterranean, and Pacific. The cohort is then divided into smaller teams that move together as a group through the core semester, creating a strong bond that lasts throughout the MBA classroom experience, and even beyond.

Required core classes:

• Leadership Challenges for an Inclusive World
• Economic Analysis for Business Decisions
• Data, Models, and Decisions
• Communication for Leaders
• Organizational Processes
• Financial Accounting

Optional core courses:

• Managerial Finance
• Intro to Operations Management
• Competitive Strategy
• Marketing Innovation

Semesters 2-4, Track

After the core curriculum, you will have three semesters to create the program that’s right for you. In total, you should have 144 units of electives. You may also take up to three approved, graduate-level electives outside of the Sloan School of management at Harvard or MIT. Some students also choose to write a thesis during their second year.

MIT Sloan offers a program called “Tracks,” which is limited to MBA students, as well as “Certificates,” which is open to all MIT graduate students, in order to provide you with a wide range of options from which you can focus your studies and interests.

Tracks

• Finance Track
  • In this track, you will be able to learn about the foundations of FinTech, investment banking, and more.
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation Track
  • If you want to become a founder of a startup, this is the best track for you.
• Enterprise Management Track
  • If you want to be in management after graduation, this track will help you learn the cross-functional skills that you will need to lead small and large organizations.

Certificates

• Analytics
• Product Management
• Enterprise Management
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Finance
• Healthcare
• Sustainability

MIT Culture

MIT’s motto is mens et manus, meaning “mind and hand.” The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is known for its emphasis on experiential learning and the belief that education is for practical application. At MIT Sloan, you will apply your knowledge and skills in a way that will help the world. The Sloan MBA program makes use of hands-on learning experiences throughout the curriculum. Through Action Learning Labs, MIT Sloan Intensive Period, and the MIT Independent Activities Period, you will get to repeatedly practice management skills.

• Action Learning is an experience where students work with a certain organizational profile. This may include startups, domestic companies, multinational corporations, and non-profits in the greater Boston area, across the USA, or around the world.
• The Sloan Intensive Period (SIP) is an important part of the student experience. Classes are paused in the middle of the semester so students can sign up for in-person or online sessions, Action Learning labs, seminars, track hackathons and trips, or study trips that last between three days to two weeks.
• The Independent Activities Period (IAP) is held in January over a four-week period. This is when MIT Sloan MBA students and faculty undergo flexible teaching and learning for independent study and research instead of attending regularly scheduled classes.

MIT Centers and Initiatives

MIT Sloan offers several centers and initiatives that are the hubs for research and innovation that bring faculty, students, and organizations together to collaborate and experiment.

• Behavioral Research Lab
• Center for Collective Intelligence
• Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
• Center for Information Systems Research
• Consumer Finance Initiative
• Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan
• Food Supply Chain Analytics and Sensing Initiative
• Golub Center for Finance & Policy
• Health Systems Initiative
• Initiative on the Digital Economy
• Institute for Work and Employment Research
• Laboratory for Financial Engineering
• Leadership Center
• Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship
• Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
• Operations Research Center (joint with the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing)
• Sustainability Initiative

Joint Degree Programs

MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO)

• Students in this two-year program will earn an MBA and a MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Science and Engineering, or Operations Research.

MIT Sloan and MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning

• This dual-degree program offered by MIT Sloan and the MIT Department of Urban Studies (DUSP) allows students to pursue an MBA and a Master’s degree in city planning. The students must spend one full academic year at each program, then split the third academic year with primary registration in each program for one additional semester.

MIT Sloan and Harvard Kennedy School of Government

• In conjunction with Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, this dual-degree program equips students to receive both an MBA and a Master's in Public Administration or a Master's in Public Policy in three years. This degree is applicable to students who plan to pursue careers in international management, economic development, or government.

MBA Applications Q&A from the Admissions Council

MIT Sloan Campus Tour

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MIT FAQs

What are the admissions criteria for the MIT Sloan MBA program and what do they look for in a candidate?

• Their goal is to create a vibrant learning environment abundant with diverse ideas and life experiences. This is why they welcome applicants from all over the world, and from all areas of study. They look for students whose personal characteristics show that they will make the most of the opportunities presented to them at MIT, both academic and non-academic.

Are there advantages to applying in Round 1?

• There are more available seats in the class during Round 1 and Round 2 so it is better to apply during these rounds. They also admit candidates in Round 3 so you should apply only once you have fully completed your application to the best of your ability.

Can I apply in multiple application rounds?

• You can only apply once per year. The LGO applicants must apply during one of the LGO rounds and they will automatically be considered for both LGO and MBA. If you are not accepted, LGO applicants cannot apply to another MBA round in the same year.

How does the waitlist work at MIT Sloan?

• Once you are waitlisted in a round and accept a place in the waitlist, you will be automatically considered in the next round and will receive another updated decision during that round.

Does MIT offer deferrals?

• It is only approved on a case-by-case basis. All applicants are encouraged to apply only in the year they hope to matriculate, unless you are applying for the MBA Early Admission Program.

What is the format of the interview?

• Once you are invited to interview, you will meet one-on-one with a member of the Admissions Committee. They conduct behavioral interviews where you will be asked to provide specific examples of personal and professional behavior. It will last for 30 minutes.

What is MIT Sloan looking for when interviewing candidates?

• Their goal in the interview is to get to know you better. They look forward to hearing specific examples of your skills in building relationships and leadership. Additionally, they look for professional presentation and communication, as well as English language proficiency.

If I did my undergraduate studies outside of the United States, should I convert my GPA?

• No, conversion is not needed for your online application. The committee is very much familiar with the different grading systems and can evaluate it on their end.

Does MIT require a minimum acceptable GMAT/GRE score?

• There is no minimum test score on either test. You can review the class profile to give you an idea on the average scores of the admitted students.

Do I need a TOEFL/IELTS score to apply to the MBA Program?

• They do not require the TOEFL/IELTS. Your English language ability will be assessed in your interview.

Final Note

Check out these resources for more information as you apply to business school:

• MIT EMBA (Executive MBA) Degree – Program Overview
• MIT Sloan MBA Cost: Tuition & Fees Breakdown
• MIT Sloan Employment Report – Key Insights & Takeaways
• MIT Sloan Values: What Does the School Care About?
• The Complete MBA Application Guide

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