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Coronavirus and Business School Admissions: Updates in the Application Cycle

We’re almost a month into life as we know it experiencing drastic changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With offices and firms going virtual, you’re working remotely while trying to figure out whether to apply to business school in the fall. Or, you’re a Round 3 candidate, who is confused how to move forward with your application due to disruptions in test sessions and campus visits.

As a prospective student, you may be wondering how things will shape up as Round 3 deadlines approach and if an MBA is the right call right now. To help guide you through what’s going on with the Coronavirus and business school admissions, I’ve outlined the current changes in the MBA landscape, talked about how programs are reacting in terms of the current application cycle, and discussed whether admissions committees will take measures due to the changes caused by the pandemic.

Impact of the Coronavirus with Ongoing MBA Education

Before we get into how different schools are reacting to the situation from an admissions perspective, I’m going to unpack what is happening in the broader business school community.

• College and Work Operations: If you’ve got your eyes on the Coronavirus and business school admissions, chances are you’re a part of the workforce. Since most MBA applicants take a few years to build their resumé before applying, it’s likely that the majority of candidates have been working remotely and attending work meetings through Zoom. If you’re someone planning to apply to early admissions MBA programs, you might still be in college. In that scenario, your classes have moved online and may have even implemented pass/fail grading protocols. If that is the case, explain your situation to business schools when you fill out your application. The pandemic is a global crisis, so admissions committees will understand your circumstances. 
• Business school closures: All MBA programs have made the transition to online operations and students are completing assignments remotely. Due to the severe cases in New York City, Columbia’s MBA students started online classes as early as March 11. For Stanford GSB students, spring quarter classes began remotely on April 6, a week later than originally scheduled to allow students time to settle down. Instead of the usual traditional exam period, Stanford GSB instructors will be using students’ performance in quizzes and assignments to assess them.
• Business school visits and events: Even though campuses are no longer open for visits, institutions are still catering to prospective students, particularly when it comes to discussing how the Coronavirus has impacted different sectors of society. For example, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School recently hosted a panel featuring their faculty members analyzing how COVID-19 has affected the global economy. Berkeley Haas professors have started an online video series offering their expertise about how Coronavirus affects fields such as psychology, sociology, economics, and neuroscience for anyone interested.

Changes in GMAT and GRE Dates

• GMAT: Due to the Coronavirus, administration has been suspended across GMAT test centers across the world. The GMAC has developed an online test and this test goes live starting April 20. This temporary GMAT test will be similar to the original structure, including the same number of items for the Quant, Verbal, and IR sections, as well as the same time for completion. The online version will not feature an Analytical Writing Assessment section.
• GRE: Many students may prefer the GRE over GMAT, as MBA programs accept both. ETS, the organization behind the GRE, has introduced a take-at-home version of the GRE general test for students during COVID-19, using an online proctor. The exam is now available for students, and has been accessible since March 27th. 

Updates at Individual Business Schools

The MBA application scene is slightly different from other admissions landscapes, as schools are still in the midst of the admissions process. There are several changes to note for candidates looking at Round 3 dates due to the disruption in tests and classes. The table below includes updates to Round 3 applications as announced by some of the top 30 MBA programs:

As you can tell, there are different updates you should note for various programs. Some have changed the dates and policies for test score submissions, a couple have added a fourth round or implemented rolling admissions, while others have only extended deadlines for their early admissions programs. Institutions such as Stanford, Cornell, and UCLA haven’t made any changes to their process or timeline. Many schools such as Rice, Notre Dame, Emory and Carnegie Mellon are waiving application fees for upcoming candidates.

Impact on the Business School Admissions Process Moving Forward

Business schools are still planning to admit students from across the globe for both the ongoing and the next application cycles. Harvard Business School, for example, has assured applicants that it will continue accepting qualified candidates regardless of citizenship. 

If you’re not applying this spring but instead in the fall, the updates on the Coronavirus and business school admissions may still concern you. At this point, it’s not certain what the conditions will look like around September, when most Round 1 applications are due. But, the pandemic may still affect your preparation. If the current response is any indication, programs are well aware that COVID-19 has interrupted students’ lives and will make necessary adjustments when it comes to deadlines and testing policies.

However, if you’re debating between applying during Round 3 or a deferred round in the spring versus applying during Round 1 in the fall, it may be better to take the plunge now. Round 1 in 2020 is likely to be one of the most competitive admissions cycles in years, due to the state of the economy. The current Round 3 or an added Round 4 may be more attainable because of the COVID-19 circumstances.

The actual process of how admissions committees make their decisions isn’t likely to be significantly different. Since you have to apply through individual online portals for each MBA program on your list, the entire system is already designed to operate online. If the pandemic continues through September, admissions officers can hold committee meetings over Zoom if necessary. So, there shouldn’t be any major changes in how you apply or how admissions officers read the applications — the way your documents are delivered, actually processed, and then evaluated will not change.

If you’re someone concerned about the Coronavirus and business school admissions, remember that MBA programs themselves have also been affected by the situation and are taking measures accordingly. The upcoming years are crucial times for MBA students, as firms will likely experience a whirlwind of challenges due to the pandemic. This could be a great time to enroll in an MBA program and learn more about the way businesses will operate in a post COVID-19 world. As you continue preparing your profile, we hope you stay safe and wish you the best with applications.