Deferred MBA

Before applying to their flagship MBA programmes, most business schools need at least 2-5 years of work experience. If you are currently in college or graduate school, completing this prerequisite  and then enrolling for an MBA programme would be a challenge.

However, there are a few early-career MBA programmes known as deferred MBA programmes that might assist you in getting beyond this stumbling block. You may apply to some of the best business schools through these programmes even if you have no prior professional experience.  You can apply while you’re still pursuing  your last year of undergraduate or graduate school.

In this  article, we will give you all the details you need about a deferred MBA including giving an insight on what is a deferred MBA program, advantages of a deferred MBA program, eligibility, top MBA schools, application process, and class profile.

What is a Deferred MBA Program?

Deferred MBA programmes are a good alternative for individuals who are keen on  pursuing a career in management and business and hope to hold leadership roles in the future. With top-ranked B-Schools like Harvard, Yale School of Management, and Indian Business School offering a deferred MBA degree, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

The deferred MBA programmes are nearly identical to the traditional MBA programmes, with the exception that students are granted pre-admission to their choice of  business school, generally two years in advance.  This proves excellent for students, whether they’re in college or seeking a full-time Master’s degree.

If accepted, students in this programme will be expected to work full-time for two years, which means you will work for the first two years before enrolling with  a full-time MBA programme for the next two years.

The Advantages of a Deferred MBA Program

Pursuing a deferred MBA programme is beneficial to you in many ways. A few ways it can prove to be beneficial to you is as follows:

1. To begin with it gives you room to  take professional risks at an early stage in your career. 
2. It provides you an opportunity to kickstart your career earlier than intended. 
3. It gives you enough time to build on your resume.
4. It eases the burden of the application process, as you can defer. 

Who is Eligible to Enrol for a Deferred MBA Program?

If you are in the final year of your degree program,  you are eligible to apply for the  delayed MBA programmes during the current application season. The eligibility criteria is as follows: 

1. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree
2. Candidates with a combined bachelor’s/degree master’s
3. Candidates who have not had a full-time job after completing a graduate degree programme
4. Candidates must pursue undergraduate to graduate school without any gap in between,  to be eligible for the 2+2 programme.

Top MBA Schools for Deferred MBA

There are various business schools that offer a deferred MBA program. Here is a list of some of the top business schools that offer a deferred MBA program: 

Business School	Deferred MBA program
Harvard Business School	2 + 2 program
University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School	MBA Advance Access Program
Yale School of Management	Silver Scholars Program
University of Chicago – Booth School of Business	Booth Scholars Program
Darden School of Business	Future Year Admissions
MIT Sloan School of Management	MBA Early Admission Program
Columbia Business School	Deferred Enrollment Program
Indian School of Business	Young Leaders  Program

What Do These Colleges Look for in Candidates?

Candidates are picked based on their ability to combine brilliance with common sense, maturity with curiosity, enthusiasm with compassion.In addition,  every candidate should have gained significant experience in their field of interest. The deferred MBA programs target those they think are potential  young leaders. Additionally, business schools also look for an achievement-driven profile. 

Application Process

The GMAT/GRE score is required for the application procedure. If the student’s first language isn’t English, then you are also required to take up  an IELTS/TOEFL test. Apart from that, institutions  or business schools require the following: 

1. Two letters of recommendation, one from an academic teacher and one from a potential job.
2. An updated resume
3. Statement of Purpose (SOP)

It is important to note that the application process varies for each university or business school. So, make it a point to check each school’s official website for more information on the same.