Spring Semester 2021 FAQs:
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Full-Time MBA Admissions FAQs
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions.
If you still have questions after reviewing our FAQs, please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@simon.rochester.edu or (585) 275-3533.
Select a topic below to get started.
Important Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs »
Yes. Below are a few tips for submitting a competitive application:
- Read all application instructions and refer to the FAQs often
- Review application deadlines and allow yourself ample time to prepare your application
- Familiarize yourself with our standardized testing policies, and schedule any required tests in advance of your desired deadline
- Use your full legal name (as it appears on your passport) when filling out your application and registering for standardized tests
- Check your online application shortly after submission to confirm the status is "complete"
Check out our webinar archive for additional application tips from members of our Admissions Committee.
No. Applications may be submitted to only one program in an academic year.
No. We do not have minimum score requirements or prerequisites, and we accept applications from anyone with an undergraduate degree achieved in three or more years. There are also no prerequisites needed to pursue the STEM-designated MBA option.
If you participated in a three-year bachelor’s program (e.g., BCOM), this will satisfy the education requirement for our program.
The non-refundable application fee is $90 US dollars and can be paid by credit card within the online application. Applications are incomplete until payment is received. Some applicants may qualify for an application fee waiver—review our fee waiver requirements to determine if you are eligible.
No, please do not send us any official documents at the time you apply. We do not have the capacity to store paper items and will not open, process, or review any hard copy materials sent to us.
Should an offer of admission be extended and then accepted, we will request official documents identified as part of your application at that time.
We suggest limiting your current résumé to two pages. Please include your employment, academic, and extracurricular history. For those without full-time work experience, internships should be included.
We do not accept letters of recommendation. As part of the online application process, you will be asked to supply contact information for two references. If the Admissions Committee decides to contact either of your references during the application review process, you will be notified. We strongly suggest listing references who are familiar with you in a professional capacity.
No, the video essay is optional. The video essay can add a unique dimension to your application that otherwise is not available, as it allows the Admissions Committee to watch you respond to an interview question.
If you do opt to include a video essay, your video essay link will appear in your checklist on your applicant portal. You have 24 hours to complete your video essay after submitting your application and paying your application fee. If you do not complete your video essay within 24 hours, it will no longer be considered as part of your application. Even if you indicated you would complete the video essay in your application, you will not be penalized if you do not submit one.
First, be sure you have a secure internet connection, computer with a webcam and microphone, and an updated version of Adobe Flash—all are necessary to complete the video essay. In addition, you will need to use either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your browser.
Instructions for recording your video essay:
- To begin press the red [Start Test] button. You will start by testing your equipment (video and sound) with a 10 second practice session.
- Once you have thoroughly tested your equipment and acknowledge that it is working, you will be prompted to record your video essay.
- The system will display a question for you to answer. This is a random question assigned specifically to each candidate. You will have 30 seconds to collect your thoughts and prepare your answer. A visual timer countdown will appear on the screen.
- You will have up to 90 seconds to respond with your answer to the video essay. You may use the entire 90 seconds or stop the recording when you have sufficiently answered the question. A visual timer countdown will appear on the screen.
- When your recording is stopped you may review your recording. If you are satisfied with your video essay recording, you may submit it. If you would like to record the video essay again, you will have the opportunity to do so.
- The system will allow you three chances to record your video essay. Each time you redo the video essay, you will be given a different question.
- After three attempts at recording you will not be given the opportunity to record again—it will automatically submit the third attempt and you will not be able to retract the submission.
- You will see a message that reads “We have successfully received your video submission” after you have recorded your video essay.
Reminders:
- You have three attempts to record your video essay—each attempt will present a different question.
- You have 30 seconds to prepare your answer.
- You have up to 90 seconds to respond.
- After three attempts, your final video will automatically submit and you will not have the option to retract it.
Additional information:
All applicants are required to submit a new application. Please note, Simon has recently launched a new application system and does not have access to previously submitted materials.
If you forgot your password, please follow the instructions located on the Application Login Page to reset.
If you forgot the email associated with your application and/or are still having trouble logging in, please contact Simon Admissions at admissions@simon.rochester.edu.
Emailed updates will be sent to the email account associated with your application and will originate from admissions@simon.rochester.edu. Check your email settings to allow emails from our address.
Unfortunately, updates are not allowed after an application is completed and sent to the Admissions Committee for review.
Yes. Once your application is processed, you will be able to see whether or not we have received your materials and if they are under review on your status page. To access your status page, please log in to your application and you will be redirected to your Applicant Status Page. Please wait at least 15 business days after submitting your application to allow for sufficient processing time. If you have questions or suspect an error in the processing of your materials, email us at admissions@simon.rochester.edu.
Keep in mind that the timing for you to hear a decision from us varies depending on which deadline you choose—those who apply for an early deadline with a completed application are guaranteed to receive their decision sooner.
Application and decision notification deadlines for our Full-Time MBA program are available here.
First and foremost, do not rush to submit your application just to hit the earlier deadlines. We would rather see your most competitive application—including retaking the GMAT for a more competitive score or waiting until an anticipated promotion goes into effect to strengthen your résumé—even if this means that you wait to submit your application for a later deadline. Simon uses a waitlist to ensure that we can make admission offers across every application deadline. We do not have a specific number of available offers for any given application deadline; each year our offers vary depending on the quality and size of the applicant pool.
Second, review our deadlines and take into consideration all that will need to be done to submit your application by your targeted deadline, including receiving your copies of test scores and transcripts. Keep in mind that the timing for you to hear a decision from us varies depending on which deadline you choose—those who apply for an early deadline with a complete application are guaranteed to receive their decision sooner.
Third, merit-based scholarship consideration is available throughout all application rounds. As the application cycle progresses, available scholarship funds diminish; however, there will always be scholarship funds for highly qualified and competitive applicants.
We process and review applications the moment they are received by our office. We never hold applications, which means that if you apply earlier in an application window, there's a strong likelihood you will receive your decision sooner than the “guaranteed by” decision date for that round.
No. Fall is the only entry term for our full-time MBA and MS programs.
Official notification that a decision has been made is delivered by phone and/or email to the number/email address on file in your application. Decisions are made and communicated by the notification date corresponding to the round in which your application was submitted and are accessible via the status page. It is important to keep both your email address and phone number current. Any changes to either can be made from within your online application.
All admission decisions are final. However, we welcome your application for next year. We encourage you to visit our online selection criteria and class profile so that you may compare your candidacy to those who have already enrolled at Simon. To improve your candidacy for next year, we recommend relevant work experience (including internships as well as part-time and full-time experience), a competitive academic profile, strong communication skills, and a demonstrated potential for leadership.
If on the day of your exam you are given the option to provide your results to Simon free of charge, you may use the below codes to do so. We will only access your results if you are a confirmed student for the purpose of marking your scores “received official” in your application.
GMAT Codes
- Full-Time Two-Year MBA Program: WX9-8-R-10
- Full-Time MS Program: WX9-8-R-13
GRE Code
- All Programs: 2972
Executive Assessment Codes
- During the exam, select: University of Rochester - Simon Business School
TOEFL Code
- All Programs: 7260
IELTS Code
- During the exam, choose from the pull-down menu: University of Rochester - Simon Business School
- After you have taken the exam, contact the test center and file a request.
Duolingo English Test
- There is no code to submit your Duolingo English Test scores. Please enter your scores on the Test Score screen, and send us your certified test results.
Simon Business School encourages submission of a GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment to support your application for MBA study and to provide an assessment of verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills. If you are unable or prefer not to submit a standardized test score, please note that you may waive this requirement if you meet one of the following criteria:
- GPA of 3.2 or higher on a scale of 4.0 or 4.3
- GPA of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.5
- GPA of 7.5 or higher on a scale of 10
- GPA of 82% or higher (out of 100%)
- “First Class with Distinction” division
- “First Class” division
We encourage candidates who attended institutions that are outside the US and are not on a 4.0 grading scale to submit a WES or Josef Silny educational credential evaluation to support eligibility for a test score waiver, as this will expedite our assessment of your application materials.
Regardless of your cumulative GPA and eligibility for a test score waiver, if you have limited or weak performance in math or business courses, we recommend either taking non-matriculated courses or submitting a standardized test score to demonstrate your capabilities.
Please contact admissions@simon.rochester.edu with questions.
We accept the following exams:
- GRE General Test at Home
- IELTS Indicator
- TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
- TOEFL IPT Plus for China
- Duolingo English Test
If you are able to take advantage of any of these options, we suggest you register for and complete your exam as soon as possible.
Each candidate receives a holistic evaluation of all aspects of the application. Simon values diversity in our student body, and the Admissions Committee actively seeks candidates who can make unique contributions during and after their study. While we do not have any test score minimums, admission is competitive. We encourage you to review the selection criteria and class profile for the program you’re interested in to learn more about our currently enrolled students.
All scores are submitted electronically through the online application.
- GMAT scores, use the "Official Test Taker Copy" (instructions, view an example)
- GRE scores, use the "Test Taker Score Report" (instructions, view an example)
- Executive Assessment scores, use the "Official Test Taker Copy"
- TOEFL scores, use the "Examinee Score Report"
- IELTS scores, use the "Test Report Form"
- Duolingo English Test scores, enter your scores on the Test Score screen, and send us your certified test results; please note: you will not need to upload a Score Report; however, you will be asked to confirm you have sent your scores to Simon Business School within the application
Official exam results only need to be provided to us if you are offered admission or if your scores will expire prior to the start of your program. If any of your exam results will expire before the start date of the program to which you are applying, you should provide your official scores to us at the time you submit your application, or you will need to retake the exam.
An English proficiency exam is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. Simon Business School accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test. This requirement is waived for applicants who meet the following conditions prior to matriculation at Simon:
Attended 3 or more academic years (at least 6 semesters/9 quarters/9 trimesters, not including summers) of post-secondary education taught solely in English and received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a college or university where English was the language of instruction.
If you qualify for the waiver, please indicate that in your application. You will be required to upload supporting documentation stating “I meet the English Language Proficiency waiver requirements.”
Yes! Simon Business School accepts the Duolingo English Test in addition to the TOEFL and IELTS exams. The Duolingo English Test is taken via a computer with a camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample, which are shared with Simon Business School when you send your results. Certified results are available within 48 hours of your test session and can be sent to schools for free.
You may find more information on sharing your Duolingo English Test scores here.
Applicants who choose to submit a Duolingo English Test score will be required to share their score with Simon at the time of submission.
We only accept TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date; however, if you would like to provide us with your MyBest score in addition to your TOEFL iBT score, we will consider it as part of our review process.
TOEFL: Screenshots of TOEFL scores will be accepted as appropriate supporting documentation. Upload a full screenshot (including name and address in English) or scanned copy of your online TOEFL score report into the application.
IELTS: Screenshots are not accepted. Upload the scanned copy of your score report with the Test Report Form Number visible.
TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test scores expire two years from the test date. Your application must be submitted prior to the test score expiration date. If your score will expire shortly after your submission date, have an official score report sent to yourself and our office before the expiration date. ETS, IELTS, and Duolingo will not send an official score report after expiration.
Standardized test sections of your application must have one of the following to be considered complete:
- A required test score report attached (for Duolingo English Test, enter scores on the Test Score screen*), or
- Uploaded verification of waiver eligibility
Applications missing this information will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Ensure that all proper support documentation has been successfully uploaded to your application before submitting.
The Admissions Committee will only consider documents that are included in your online application. We do not accept official paper test score reports at the time of applying and will not be checking for receipt of your official scores until after an offer of admission has been made.
*Please note: if you took the Duolingo English Test, be sure to send Simon Business School your certified score before submitting your application.
- For individuals testing on or after July 1, 2016, GRE test scores are valid for five years after your test administration date. For example, scores for a test taken on July 3, 2016, are reportable through July 2, 2021.
- For individuals who tested between August 1, 2011, and June 30, 2016, GRE test scores are valid for five years after the testing year in which you tested (as indicated in the GRE® Information and Registration Bulletin from that testing year). For example, scores for a test taken on May 15, 2016, are reportable through June 30, 2021.
Transcripts must be in English or translated to English. The translated version should be certified and notarized or otherwise authenticated. Both the original and translated transcript should be uploaded to your application.
No. Screenshots of transcripts are not accepted as supporting documentation. We require a scanned copy of your transcript, issued by the institution attended. We cannot accept a copy of your online academic record.
In addition to uploading a scanned copy of your official transcript to the online application, you should also upload your diploma, making sure it includes your degree and the date of conferral.
No. It is not necessary and is not required as part of the application process. If you feel these materials positively support your application, we suggest mentioning these accomplishments in your optional essay.
You do not need to submit new grades. The Admissions Committee will contact you for an updated transcript if one is needed. If you receive an invitation to interview, you are welcome to share new grades at that time.
Detailed information about educational benefit options is available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The University of Rochester also offers one of the strongest financial aid programs in the country, including UR Yellow Ribbon, which covers 100% of your remaining tuition costs after the post-9/11 GI Bill. You can find more on the University of Rochester Veteran & Military Family Services page.
- Apply for educational benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by completing your Certificate of Eligibility.
- Notify your Simon Business School Admissions contact and the University of Rochester’s Financial Aid Office that you are eligible and applying for veteran’s educational benefits.
- Your parent transfers a portion—or all—of the benefit to you through Transfer of Entitlement.
- After the transfer is approved, you apply for the educational benefit.
- You then notify the Financial Aid Office that you are eligible and applying for veteran’s educational benefits.
Veteran: Photocopy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility
Dependent of veteran:
- Photocopy of approved Transfer of Educational Benefit (TEB)
- Photocopy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility
Call +1 (888) 442-4551 to speak with an educational case manager at the VA.
For an overview of the program, please visit the Yellow Ribbon Program page.
You or your parent must qualify for 100% of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program and UR Yellow Ribbon, which will cover all of your remaining tuition costs.
The River Campus (where Simon is located) and the Eastman Campus are participants.
The following are just a few of the many resources available to veterans: College Center for Academic Support, University Counseling Center, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Disability Services, and Office for Residential Life and Housing Services.
Amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), our thoughts immediately turn to our prospective student and applicant communities in the areas most impacted. The Simon Admissions Team has care and concern for you, your family and friends, and all those affected—please accept our very best wishes for your health and safety.
As this situation evolves, we are committed to supporting our applicants who are based in affected regions during this challenging time. As a result of COVID-19, we have made adjustments and provided clarification on certain application requirements. Please note that the applicant qualities that indicate success in our MBA program are the same as they have always been—we are simply offering some flexibility on the methods for assessment of those qualities in response to this unprecedented global health crisis.
Below please find answers to our most commonly asked COVID-19 related application questions from prospective students and applicants:
There are a few possibilities:
1.) We encourage you to explore if you qualify for a standardized test waiver.
2.) If you’re looking to satisfy the English proficiency exam requirement, we now accept the Duolingo English Test, which can be taken online worldwide. Learn more below.
3.) The GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, and TOEFL iBT are temporarily being offered from home in certain locations, and the TOEFL ITP Plus for China is now available in mainland China. If you are able to take advantage of any of these options, we suggest you register for and complete your exam as soon as possible.
We know you want to submit the strongest application possible, and we want to see your best application! If you’re unhappy with your current standardized test scores, there are a few options. First, you can determine whether you are able to complete a test at home (see previous question). If not, you may explore your eligibility for a test waiver.
Yes! Simon Business School accepts the Duolingo English Test, in addition to the TOEFL and IELTS exams. The Duolingo English Test is taken via a computer with a camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample, which are shared with Simon Business School when you send your results. Certified results are available within 48 hours of your test session and can be sent to schools for free.
You may find more information on sharing your Duolingo English Test scores here.
We will allow any student based in an affected region to submit an application without copies of official transcripts—we will accept online transcripts and course grades from online student accounts for applications to be submitted and reviewed by the Admissions Committee. To submit an application, please follow these steps:
- Enter all college/university information
- Upload your year three or in-progress course information, including online grades if you can obtain them OR
- Upload a Word document explaining your situation—including why you are unable to request or obtain a current transcript or electronic academic record (courses/grades)
Please note: at the time of enrollment, all admitted students are required to submit official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor’s degree.
If you have additional questions about the application process, please reach out to us at admissions@simon.rochester.edu.
For the latest on the University of Rochester’s guidelines regarding COVID-19, visit the University’s dedicated website.
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