Fisher College of Business Admissions

Alison Merzel, Director of MBA Admissions at Fisher College of Business, recently took time to answer a few questions about MBA admissions at Fisher College of Business. If you are getting ready to apply to Fisher, you don’t want to miss out on this insider advice.

Can you provide a general overview of the Fisher MBA admissions process?
At Fisher, we review applications on a rolling basis. This means that we review applications and make decisions throughout the application cycle. We begin to accept applications in September, accepting international applications until May 30 and domestic applications until July 15. Once we receive an application form with all required supplemental materials (transcripts, resume, essays, GMAT score, two letters of recommendation, and TOEFL, if applicable), we review the application. After an initial review to determine the strength of the application against others received, we have three options: 1) deny admission, 2) place the candidate on our waitlist for further review after more applications are received, or 3)advance the candidate toward admission by arranging an interview with a staff member or Student Ambassador. Interviews are offered by invitation only and may be done by phone, via Skype, or in-person. In-person interviews are preferable, as they provide a wonderful opportunity to meet with members of the admissions staff, connect with current students, get a tour of Fisher's campus, sit in on a class, and generally get a sense of the Fisher culture. When an applicant signs up for an on-campus interview, it also communicates to the Admissions Committee that he or she is seriously considering our program. That being said, we do understand that it is not always feasible for candidates to visit campus, so selecting the phone or Skype option will not adversely affect the admissions outcome. Once the interview is completed, applicants can expect to learn the outcome of their application within 2-3 weeks. If an applicant is offered admission to the Fisher MBA program, we automatically evaluate eligibility for competitive merit-based funding awards. Candidates should learn about funding approximately 2-3 weeks after admission.

Is it better to apply early in the process?
We always encourage applicants to apply when they are prepared to submit the most competitive application that they can. Candidates should feel confident that their application offers the strongest possible assessment of their potential for success in the Fisher MBA program. As such, we would much prefer that a candidate applies later in the process with a stronger application, rather than rush to apply early to meet a deadline. Since we do review applications on a rolling basis, candidates have ample opportunity to apply throughout the year. Our deadlines are really used as guidelines for applicants, as we review each individual's qualifications as soon as their application is certified complete. If financial aid is an important consideration, we recommend that candidates submit the application as early in the season as possible, as we award financial as students are admitted. A couple of highly competitive fellowships at the University do have a December 31 deadline for consideration, but plenty of financial aid is still available from Fisher well after December 31. Missing a deadline should never cause a student to fail to apply because they believe funding wouldn't be possible. That just isn't the case.

Who conducts Fisher's admissions interviews?
Our interviews are conducted by members of the Admissions Staff as well as by MBA Student Ambassadors. There is no difference in the interviews that are conducted by staff versus those conducted by students.

Do you have any interview tips for MBA applicants?
All students who are ultimately offered admission to Fisher will have completed an interview for the program. The purpose of the interview is to gather additional information about the applicant to further assess fit for the program and to discuss any factors noted in the initial review of the application, as well as to answer questions the applicant may have about Fisher. The interview is not intended to be a stress interview, but rather a conversation about the applicant's academic background and work history, teamwork and leadership experience, and personal and professional goals. We want applicants to have researched our program and are prepared to discuss how Fisher's program is aligned with the attainment of their goals. The interview is a great opportunity for applicants to express their interest in our program and communicate how they will add meaningful value to the next MBA class. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their resume and to explain any potential weaknesses in their application.

How important is an applicants GMAT score?
We take a very holistic approach in evaluating one's candidacy for our MBA program, as we are seeking to create a diverse class, made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. The undergraduate academic record and the GMAT score are the two quantitative measures that we have to evaluate an applicant's potential to succeed academically in the MBA program. The GMAT score is the one equalizing measure, given that we cannot easily compare academic institutions or majors across institutions. We recognize that many people who are highly successful in their careers are not the best test takers. That being said, we find that the GMAT is a good indicator of one's ability to perform well in the rigorous, quantitative coursework that exists within any good MBA program. We place more emphasis on the importance on the GMAT score if an applicant has a weaker undergraduate academic record, because the GMAT can serve as an additional indicator of academic aptitude. If we evaluate an application and determine that the GMAT is the weakest component, we may suggest that the applicant consider retaking the exam. Not only can a higher score increase chances for admission, but it may also improve the chances of receiving merit-based funding.