How to Apply

The Vanderbilt Evening MBA application is hosted online. To begin, you will be asked to provide basic information such as demographic and contact information, areas of interest, activities and education, and work history. Applications are considered complete when each component has been received and processed by our team. You can check your application status at any time by accessing the application checklist. 

All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the deadline date. 

Our Evening MBA program is test optional, and a standardized test is not required for the application. An essay describing your academic readiness is a required component of the application allowing candidates the opportunity to provide insight into their quantitative and analytical exposure through both education and work experience.

Vanderbilt requires graduate students to have a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, or its equivalent. An unofficial academic transcript from every college or university you attended is required as part of the application. 

Legible, unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application submission and should include your full name, the name of the institution, all courses with grades received, grade point average, grading scale, and conferred degree with date (if applicable). If your conferred degree with date is not included on your transcript, upload a copy of your diploma along with your transcript. 

If your transcript is not in English, include your translated academic records along with your originals. 

Official Transcripts 

Official academic records are required for admitted students prior to enrollment. Final official academic records must be sent directly from the issuing institution/agency to Vanderbilt University. 

Information on the prior degree verification process, including how to submit official academic records, can be found on the Vanderbilt University Registrar’s website. 

Your written statements give us great insight into your unique qualities and goals. We have two required written statements. Additionally, you have the opportunity to provide an essay to clarify and explain anything you feel is important for the Admissions Committee to know. 

Career Essay (500-word limit): Explain your post-degree short-term and long-term career plans as specifically as possible. When combined with your studies at Owen, how will your background, experiences, interests and personal attributes enable you to pursue these goals successfully?  

Statement of Academic Readiness: Write a statement addressing your academic preparation for the Evening MBA Program, including specific examples of how you've engaged with complex business concepts, demonstrated analytical thinking, and pursued continuous learning in your career. Explain what you will uniquely contribute to the learning environment. 

Only one letter of recommendation is required for the Vanderbilt Evening MBA application and recommendations are due on the application deadline date. 

Select your recommender and enter their contact information within the application early to ensure your application will not be delayed. Instructions on submitting the Vanderbilt recommendation form will be emailed directly to your recommender. 

We encourage you to choose a professional recommender familiar with your work, such as a direct supervisor, client, or project manager. 

Your resume is an opportunity to tell your story on paper and should highlight your educational background, work experience, and any other activities or interests that are significant to you. You may use the detailed work history section in the online application to provide additional information.

Built for the mid-career working professional, the ideal candidate has at least two years of full-time work experience.

The video response is a chance for you to provide a glimpse of your authentic self, speaking without a script. The video questions are designed to be easy to answer, “small talk” questions to help us to get to know you. You will have time to prepare your response and the application will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to record your answers.

Interviews are an essential component of the application and are conducted by members of our team. Evaluative interviews are offered by invitation to applicants who have submitted a complete application. 

Interview invitations are sent on a rolling basis and conducted virtually and on campus. Interviews are behavioral-based, and candidates should be prepared to share information about their background, experiences, and interest in the Vanderbilt Evening MBA program.