Santa Clara University

Admissions

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for admission to the MBA and MSIS programs must have a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or its foreign equivalent before registering in the Leavey School of Business. See the MBA Curriculum section for a description of required preprogram competencies. See the Master of Science in Information Systems section regarding the MSIS admission requirements.

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE THROUGH DIVERSITY

The Leavey School of Business actively shares the University’s commitment to excellence through diversity. SCU is dedicated to increasing the ethnic and cultural diversity of the student and faculty community, and to activities and actions that will lead to a more just and humane society. SCU strongly encourages applications from students with nontraditional backgrounds who have high potential and aptitude. SCU strives to find the financial resources needed to attract and retain students who demonstrate its commitment to diversity.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applicants for the Evening MBA program may apply to begin study in the fall or spring quarters. Weekend Accelerated MBA (WAMBA) and Executive MBA (EMBA) applicants may apply to begin in the fall quarter only. MBA program brochures and additional details are available from the Graduate Business Programs Admissions office, www.scu.edu/business/graduates/admissions or 408-554-4539.

Applicants must complete and submit the following items before the Admissions Committee will render an admissions decision:

1. Application form and essay responses (completed online)
2. Two completed confidential Letter of Recommendation forms
3. Two official transcripts from all institutions attended
4. Résumé
5. Admissions interview (EMBA and WAMBA applicants only)
6. Official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score
7. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, if required
8. Application fee of $75 ($100 for international student applicants requiring a student visa)

The online application fee must be paid by credit card and submitted electronically.

GMAT applications are available from the business school or the Graduate Management Admission Council, www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT. Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum score of 250 on the TOEFL. This requirement may be met by scoring at or above the 50th percentile on the verbal portion of the GMAT.

Foreign-born applicants requesting student visas must submit a current financial statement (no more than 90 days old) showing adequate funds for tuition, fees, and living expenses for the first year of study, and they must be enrolled in at least 9 units each quarter. Santa Clara University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.

Applicants are responsible for the appropriate submission of all application materials:

• Application form, fee, and essay responses submitted online: www.scu.edu/apply/business
• Recommendation letters, résumé, and transcripts submitted in hard copy to the admissions office: Graduate Business Programs Admissions Committee, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif., 95053-0410
• GMAT and TOEFL scores sent directly from the test center to the Graduate Business Admissions Committee

Applications will not be reviewed by the Admissions Committee until all materials have been received.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

The complete application package should be sent as early as possible. For deadlines, access the online application or www.scu.edu/business/graduates/admissions.

ADMISSIONS DECISIONS

Admissions decisions are made throughout the year. Applicants are admitted on the basis of academic ability indicated by college records and GMAT scores, demonstrated management potential (including work experience and recommendations), and motivation to complete a demanding academic program. Once accepted, a nonrefundable tuition deposit is required prior to registration. The deposit is applied towards the student's first-term tuition.

DEFERMENT

Candidates admitted to the MBA and MSIS programs may request admission deferment to a subsequent term. Acceptance of the deferment request is at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

If a deferment request is honored, candidates may be given a deferment of up to two quarters (including summer) beyond that for which they were originally accepted. Otherwise, they must formally reapply. Official transcripts of course work taken in the interim must be submitted for review prior to the first quarter of enrollment.

The candidate must meet the requirements of the curriculum in effect at the time of first enrollment, not that of the admitted quarter. Candidates admitted to the Weekend Accelerated MBA program may not defer into the next WAMBA program but may defer into the Evening program.

Admitted students who have not satisfied the algebra pre-program competency must defer enrollment until this requirement is met.

RECONSIDERATION

Applicants who previously applied to the program and were not accepted may reapply to a future quarter up to one year after the original application. For reconsideration, applicants must submit an updated application form, reconsideration fee of $50, and new information (i.e., new GMAT score, additional course work, etc.). Reconsideration applications without additional information will not be considered.

Applicants may apply for reconsideration one time only. A meeting with an admissions counselor is strongly recommended prior to applying for reconsideration. Decisions of the Admissions Committee are final.

REAPPLICATION

Students admitted to the program who cease registering for classes and do not apply for a leave of absence, or who never register, must formally reapply. If the original application is on file, reapplication requires only a completed application form and $75 application fee. If the original application is no longer on file, essay responses, recommendation letters, official GMAT score, and updated transcripts must also be resubmitted.

Readmission is not guaranteed. Applicants readmitted must meet the requirements of the curriculum in effect at the time of readmission, and must enroll for the respective quarter. Credit is not guaranteed for previous course work completed. Deferrals are not permitted.

REQUEST FOR COURTESY STUDENT STATUS

Students currently enrolled in an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)-accredited MBA program at another institution and who want to enroll at SCU may apply for courtesy student status. Application must include a completed application form, $75 application fee, MBA transcript, and a letter from the current MBA program clearly stating the specific courses the student will be permitted to complete at SCU. Registration is on a space-available basis and occurs after the registration period for matriculated students. Refer to Section 14 for course descriptions.