Admissions FAQs

Yes! In fact, reviewing these FAQs is a great place to start. Below are a few additional resources that can help you build your best application:

• Review the application checklist. It is important to submit the required information and materials in order for your application to be considered “complete” and sent to the Admissions Committee for review.
• Listen to previously recorded webinars to get insight into why you should choose Simon and how to successfully complete the application, among other topics.
• Stay up to date with the Simon Admissions Blog. We offer application tips, but it's also a great way to stay up to date on what's going on at Simon, “meet” current students, staff, and alumni, and more. 

If you're looking for feedback on your candidacy before you apply, we encourage you to “Check Your Eligibility.” Fill out this form and we’ll respond with personalized feedback about your candidacy, which will be particularly helpful if you’re planning to start business school this year.

No. Applications may be submitted to only one program in an academic year.

No. We do not have prerequisites or minimum score requirements, 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 Full-Time MBA program.

For applicants applying with a Higher National Diploma (HND) and/or National Diploma (ND) a WES Evaluation or other official credential evaluation will be required at the time of application to show that your HND and/or ND are equivalent to a US Bachelor’s degree. If a credential evaluation is not uploaded along with your transcript(s) at the time of application, your application will be incomplete. Applicants that are admitted and who included a WES evaluation (or other credential evaluation) to support their application will be required to have their official credential evaluation sent to our office in a sealed envelope to complete enrollment requirements. 

The non-refundable application fee is $90 US dollars and can be paid by credit card within the online application. MBA 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.

Please note: 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 MBA application and notify our office, or you will need to retake the exam.

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.

No, we do not. 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 beforehand. 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 Full-Time MBA 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. 
• When your recording is stopped you may review it. 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 until you reach three attempts.

For additional information, download a step-by-step guide with visual aids.

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.
• 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 and you will forfeit your previous recording. You will be asked to confirm its deletion before attempting a new recording.
• 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.
• Note: All recording attempts must occur in the same session—once you exit the session by leaving the video essay page, you forfeit any remaining attempts. For example, you cannot record two of your three attempts and then log back in the following day to record the third.

All applicants are required to submit a new application. 

If you already applied to Simon in a previous cycle, please log in to your existing account (with the email address you used for your previous application) and begin a new application. Your transcripts and test scores (if still valid) will carry over, however you may need to reupload your test taker score report again. You will be prompted to complete new essays and several other areas of your application before submitting.

If you forgot your password, please follow the instructions located on the Application Login Page to reset it.

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 Simon address.

Unfortunately, updates are not allowed after a Full-Time MBA application is completed and sent to the Simon 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 Simon MBA deadline you choose—those who apply for an early deadline with a completed application are guaranteed to receive their decision sooner.

Visit the Admissions Overview page to review the application and decision notification deadlines for the Full-Time MBA program.

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 (if you're submitting with a test 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 email to the 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 your email address current. Any changes can be made from within the applicant status portal.

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: WX9-8R-10

Full-Time MS in Accountancy: WX9-8R-12
Full-Time MS in Business Analytics: WX9-8R-77
Full-Time MS in Finance: WX9-8R-36
Full-Time MS in Marketing Analytics: WX9-8R-61

If you haven’t selected which program you’d like to pursue, send your score to any of the program codes above, and we’ll receive it.

GRE Code

All Programs: 2972

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 offers the option to apply without a GMAT/GRE/EA score! We share the same goal: for you to submit a standout application—but we know figuring out how best to proceed based on your individual candidacy can raise some questions. Check out our standardized test score page for more information and answers to common questions to aid in your decision making.

For our MBA application, Simon Business School accepts the in-person or online versions of the following exams:

• The GMAT™ Exam
• The GMAT™ Focus Edition
• GRE® General Test
• Executive Assessment
• IELTS™
• IELTS™ Indicator
• TOEFL iBT^®
• TOEFL iBT^® Special Home Edition
• TOEFL^® Essentials™
• Duolingo English Test

If you're choosing to submit your application with a GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment score, or if you need to take an English Language Proficiency exam, we welcome you to choose the format (online/home/testing center) that works best for you. 

Each candidate receives a holistic evaluation of all aspects of the application. Simon Business School 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 for the Full-Time MBA program. 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)
• 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 full-time MBA study (if any of your exam results will expire before then, you should provide your official scores to us at the time you submit your MBA application and notify our office, 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 and do not plan to submit a score, please indicate this in the international section of your application. You will be required to upload supporting documentation stating your request to waive the English Language Proficiency Exam requirement and your reason(s) for qualifying.

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. Find more information on sharing your Duolingo English Test scores.

Applicants who choose to submit a Duolingo English Test score will be required to share their official score with Simon at the time of MBA application submission.

The Simon Admissions Committee only accepts 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 Full-Time MBA application must be submitted prior to the test score expiration date. If your score will expire before the start date of the program to which you are applying, you must provide your official scores to us at the time you submit your MBA application and notify our office, or you will need to retake the exam. ETS, IELTS, and Duolingo will not send an official score report after expiration.

Standardized test sections of your MBA application must have one of the following to be considered complete:

• A verified (official) score;
• A required test score report attached (for Duolingo English Test, enter scores on the Test Score screen*); or
• Uploaded verification of waiver eligibility (language scores) or confirmation you are submitting your application for consideration without a GMAT/GRE/EA score.

Full-Time MBA 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 Simon 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, 2022, are reportable through July 2, 2027.

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 MBA application.

No. Applicants are not required to submit a WES Evaluation (or other credential evaluation). However, some applicants may choose to submit. 

Please note enrolling students who included a WES Evaluation (or other credential evaluation) with their application materials will be required to have their official credential evaluation(s) sent to our office in a sealed envelope to complete enrollment requirements.

No. Screenshots of transcripts are not accepted as supporting documentation. We require a scanned copy of your official transcript, issued by the institution attended. We cannot accept a copy of your online academic record.

Instructions for uploading transcripts: 

• Upload your school-issued transcript or marksheets, including proof of degree conferral (e.g., degree awarded listed on transcript, diploma, or graduation certificate) and grading scale for each institution attended.
• We will not accept or review online screenshots or online transcripts of your academic record. 
• Your name, the institution’s name, all course names, grades, conferral date (e.g. graduation date), and GPA scale should be legible.
• If your transcripts are not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation. 
• When scanning, scan both front and back pages of all documents; use gray scale if possible, otherwise use black and white.

If your degree conferral (e.g., degree awarded listed on transcript, diploma, or graduation certificate) is not listed on your transcript, 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, do not upload these documents in the Academic History section of your application. While we do not require these types of documents as part of the application process, if you feel these materials positively support your application for full-time MBA study, we encourage you to include non-academic certifications and professional designations on the Professional Experience page under Certifications & Professional Designations.

You do not need to submit new grades. The Simon 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.