MBA Program
MBA Admissions MBA Resources
MBA Admission Requirements and Application Information
Admission to Penn State Behrend's AACSB-accredited MBA program is possible each of the three semesters of the academic year (fall, spring, summer). Please note that if your first semester of enrollment is summer, you will be enrolling in MBA electives. An applicant's baccalaureate degree may be from any field of undergraduate study. All applicants are expected to be proficient in Microsoft Office software and new students are required to attend Graduate Student Orientation.
Admission decisions are based on undergraduate grade point average, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, recommendations, and the degree of correspondence between the applicant's objectives and those of the program.
Admission to the MBA program is granted jointly by The Graduate School of Penn State University and Penn State Behrend's Black School of Business.
Semester Schedule Application Processing Decision Deadlines Contact and Address Information MBA Application Checklist 1. Penn State's Graduate School Online Application and Application Fee 2. Penn State Behrend's Supplemental Application 3. Statement of Purpose 4. Transcripts 5. Recommendations 6. GMAT Requirement 7. TOEFL Requirement 8. Application for Visa and Financial Certification Information for International StudentsThe summer semesters are 7 weeks in length and therefore, courses are held 2 evenings per week. Classes meet in the evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Daytime classes meet one day a week from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. during the fall and spring semesters. MBA Course ScheduleSummer I 2008: May 12 - June 26, 2008 Summer II 2008: June 30 - August 14, 2008 Fall 2008: August 25 - Dec. 19, 2008 Spring 2009: January 12 - May 8, 2009
- Applications are typically processed on a rolling basis; early decisions allow new students the best opportunity to schedule courses.
- International applicants, who require a student visa, should allow four to six months for complete processing of admission decision, student visa and financial clearance. International applicants who are currently in the US on a work visa can follow the same deadline dates as domestic applicants.
A complete application must be submitted, by domestic applicants, by or before the final deadline dates. Applications are being processed now for fall 2008 and spring 2009 semesters.
Fall 2008 deadline............................................July 7, 2008Spring 2009 deadline ...........................November 19, 2008
- Take the GMAT by or before July 6, 2008.
Summer 2009 Sessions I and II deadline........ April 8, 2009
- Take the GMAT by or before November 18, 2008.
- Take the GMAT by or before ....April 7, 2009
Applications may be processed after these dates if there is sufficient space available in the course(s) that you will need. Please contact Ann Burbules in the Graduate Admissions Office to determine if your application can be processed - 814-898-7255.
Contact and Address Information
Dr. Al Warner, MBA Director, 814-898-6509Penn State Behrend
228 Research and Economic Development Center (REDC)
5101 Jordan Road
Erie, PA 16563
Ann M. Burbules, Graduate Admissions Counselor, 814-898-7255
Penn State Behrend
Graduate Admissions Office Glenhill Farmhouse, 2nd Floor 4701 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563Toll free Telephone -866-374-3378
Graduate Admissions Fax Number - 814-898-6044
MBA Application Checklist... see below for details regarding each requirement
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Penn State's Graduate School Online Application and Application Fee
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Statement of Purpose
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Two Official transcripts from all institutions attended
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Three Recommendations using the Black School of Business form
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Official GMAT score report indicating an admissible score
International applicants must also submit:
- TOEFL score report indicating an admissible score, if applicable
- University-attested copies of Transcripts or Marksheets in native language
for each semester/year of enrollment
- Penn State's Graduate School does not accept notarized copies and/or consolidated transcripts.
- University-attested copies of Transcripts or Marksheets translated to English, if applicable
- University-attested copy of diploma in native language and an
English translation, if applicable
- Attested copies must be attested by the university, only.
- Application for Visa and Financial Certification, required for individuals who will need a student visa
International students, who are already in the US on a work visa, will need to provide their original passport, visa, and I-94 to the Graduate Admissions Counselor. Copies will be forwarded to the International Student Services staff located at Penn State University Park.
All documents, except the TOEFL, should be sent to:Penn State Behrend1. Penn State's Graduate School Online Application and Application Fee If you have read the specific requirements for the Penn State Behrend MBA program, then you may -
Graduate Admissions Office
4701 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
Applications without the application fee are not processed; this fee is not refundable for any reason.
2. Penn State Behrend's online Supplemental ApplicationPlease make note of the mandatory orientation dates for new MBA students. If you cannot attend, your admission will be deferred to a future semester.3. Statement of Purpose The statement of purpose, written in narrative format, is typically one to two pages in length. Please submit via postal mail to Behrend's Graduate Admissions Office or email (as a Word document or pdf) to PSBehrendMBA@psu.edu. Please include your name on the document. The statement should address the following:
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Why have you chosen to pursue the Penn State Behrend MBA?
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How will these studies help you attain your personal and professional goals?
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How will your participation contribute to the Penn State Behrend MBA program?
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If you are currently employed, indicate your work responsibilities.
4. Transcripts
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Two official transcripts are required from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended; they should be sent directly from the institution(s) Registrar's Office to Penn State Behrend. They should include an explanation of the grading system.
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Penn State alumni do not need to provide their Penn State transcript(s).
Individuals with foreign credentials:
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International students applying for admission to the Penn State Behrend MBA program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited United States college or university, or its equivalent from a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. This will be determined by Graduate Enrollment Services located at the Penn State University Park campus.
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University-attested copies of transcripts/marksheets, in the native language, are required from each institution attended (undergraduate and graduate). If possible, transcripts should be sent directly from the institution(s) attended to Penn State Behrend; they should include an explanation of the grading system. These must be attested by the university, only.
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University- attested copy of the diploma indicating both the date the degree was conferred and the name of the academic program.
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If the institution(s) attended were not English-speaking, applicants must submit one certified English translation of all academic records with their application. Transcripts should include an explanation of the grading system. Translations to English are typically provided by the "home" institution.
For convenience, provide stamped, addressed envelopes to your recommenders. Address envelopes to:
Penn State Behrend Graduate Admissions Office 4701 College Drive Erie, PA 16563
International applicants can have their recommenders return the forms to them, in sealed envelopes, and then include these with the complete application and supporting documents. Mail documents to Penn State Behrend.
6. GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) Requirement
Download the GMAT Quick Facts for specific details about test preparation. GMAT scores are required of all applicants and must have been taken within the last five years of application to the MBA program. Please note that as demand for the program continues, applicants may be rank-ordered so those applicants with the highest GPA/GMAT combination will be priority candidates. We anticipate Fall semester admission to be very competitive. Typically, our applicants average a Total GMAT Score of 510.Because the GMAT requirement is based on an individual’s undergraduate GPA, each applicant will have a different Total Score requirement that must be obtained to be considered for admission to the MBA program. Any applicant whose GPA is 3.0 or greater (cumulative or last 60 credits), will need to obtain a minimum of 450 on the GMAT Total Score; this number represents the absolute minimum that we will accept for admission consideration.
If your GPA is less than 3.0, you can determine your GMAT minimum requirement using the formula below. Using this formula, MBA applicants are required to obtain a score of 1050 to be considered for admission to the program.
To determine the minimum Total GMAT Score that you need, take your undergraduate GPA (cumulative or last 60 credits, whichever is higher) multiply it by 200 then subtract 1050. The remaining number, rounded to the next highest tenth, is the minimum score that you are required to obtain, to be considered for the MBA program.
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Ex. 3.0 x 200 - 1050 = 450
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Ex. 2.9 x 200 - 1050 = 470
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Ex. 2.8 x 200 - 1050 = 490
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Ex. 2.7 x 200 - 1050 = 510
MBA applicants must satisfy the Writing requirement by obtaining either a 4.0 on the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment or having obtained a B or better grade in an undergraduate English Composition course.
On the day of testing, individuals should:1. Select Pennsylvania State University- Erie as a Score Recipient; after 20 days, the Official School Copy will be accessed by Graduate Admissions 2. Print an unofficial score report - by faxing the unofficial score report to the Graduate Admissions Office, your application will continue to be processed for admission - 814-898-6044.
Test registration and information on preparing for the GMAT is available at www.mba.com/mba
Applicants must schedule the exam via the mba.com web site. Local applicants can take the exam at Pearson Professional Centers; the office is located in the Edgewood Plaza, 3123 West 12 St., Suite D. The cost of the exam is $250 (US). Appointments are very limited; arrangements should be made 4 to 6 weeks in advance of taking the exam.
To request that a previous GMAT score be sent to Penn State Behrend's Graduate Admissions Office, go to www.mba.com/mba. Scores can be requested via phone, fax, or electronically.
The TOEFL, Test of English as a Foreign Language, must be taken by applicants for whom English is not their first language. The TOEFL is not required of students who have a baccalaureate or master's degree from an institution in an English speaking country or a regionally accredited American four-year institution.
On the date of testing, individuals should request that Penn State receive the official score report by providing the following information:
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Penn State's Institution Code: 2660 (all Penn State locations)
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Department Code: 02.
The Graduate School at University Park receives score reports monthly.
Applicants must demonstrate a score of 80 (iBT exam), 550 (paper-based exam), or 213 (computer-based exam) on the TOEFL exam to be admissible to the program. A minimum of 20 is required on the Speaking Skills section of the Internet based exam.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the TOEFL exam. Arrangements for taking this test can be made directly with ETS. You may obtain information about the TOEFL by writing to TOEFL/TSE Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151 or by calling 609-771-7760.
8. Application for Visa and Financial Certification
- Submit these documents with your application portfolio, to Penn State Behrend.
Information for International Students
Information for International Students outlines information about Penn State Behrend and the local community. Information is also provided on the resident MBA programs at Penn State Great Valley, Penn State Harrisburg, and Penn State University Park.
The International Programs Web site has additional information for international students. Please note that this office is located at the Penn State University Park campus which is four hours from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
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