Stanford MBA Essays and Application Deadlines

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Average GMAT Score for Stanford737GMAT Range610-790
Total Applicants8,166Acceptance Rate5
Class Size833Average Work Experience48 Months
Applicant Deadlines for StanfordR1 – 12 Sep, 2023
R2 – 04 Jan, 2024
R3 – 09 Apr, 2024
Decision DatesR1 – 08 Dec 2023
R2 – 30 Mar 2024
R3 – 25 May 2024
Length of Program21 MonthsPlacement Information 

Stanford MBA Interview Preparation

Stanford GSB offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, the MSx Program (which is a full-time twelve-month MS in Management for mid-career executives) and a Ph.D. program, along with a number of joint degrees with other schools at Stanford University including Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law and Medicine. It is tied for the number 1 rank with the Wharton School and the Harvard Business School in the United States MBA ranking by U.S. News & World Report. Among American MBA programs, Stanford has the lowest acceptance rate of 6.8%. For preparing below set of essay questions you may also refer Stanford Sample Essay.

Key points for Stanford business school:

  • Stanford Business School is located in California, the most crowded state in US. And, founded by Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of US.
  • Stanford has an excellent campus called Knight Management center, gifted by Phil Knight, the gift went towards the construction of $375 million.
  • The average GMAT score for Stanford business schools is 732, which is the highest of any business school in the United States.
  • Stanford three faculty members received Nobel prizes, namely Robert Laughlin‘s, Steven Chu‘s, and Douglas Osheroff‘s.
  • It’s mission is to create ideas and develop innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change the world.

Stanford MBA Essays for the Class of 2023-2024:

Essay A

What matters most to you, and why? (650 words – suggested)

Essay B

Why Stanford? (400 words – suggested)

Optional Short Questions

Question 1: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? You are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example).

Question 2: We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. Please feel free to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices- (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words).

Optional Essay

Through all of the elements of your application, we believe that we get to know you well. Only complete this section if you have critical information you could not convey elsewhere on your application (e.g., extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance). Do not include essays, and please, be brief.

Stanford’s instructions: Remember, there are real people reading your essays. Please follow these guidelines.

– Double-spaced. Indicate the essay question you are answering at the beginning of each essay. The question does not count against your 1,150 word limit. Upload both essays as one document. Number all pages. Please preview the uploaded document to ensure that the formatting is true to the original. Save a copy of your essays.

Stanford MBA Essays for the Class of 2022-2023:

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives? (Max. 650 words)

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs. (Max. 400 words)

Optional Stanford MBA Essays Short-Answer Questions

In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. If you would like to go beyond your resume to discuss some of your contributions more fully, you are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example).

Optional Question 1: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

Optional Question 2: We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. We are interested in how your background may have influenced your life experiences. In answering this question, consider how your background, such as your work, education, skills, interests, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, where/how you grew up, and/or other factors had an impact on your recent actions and choices (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words).

Question: Tell us about a time within the last three years when your background influenced your participation in a situation, interaction, or project.

Both essays (1 and 2) combined may not exceed 1,150 words. We recommend up to 750 words for Essay 1 and up to 400 words for Essay 2. We often find effective essays written in far fewer words.

Optional Short-Answer Question:

Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? You are welcome to share up to three examples. (Up to 1500 characters, approximately 250 words, for each example)
For Stanford Sample Essays visit here.

If you need help with the Essay Writing or Interview Process, please fill up Quick Inquiry form (on right).


Stanford MBA: FAQs

How long is Stanford MBA program?

The Stanford MBA Program is a two-year, full-time, residential course of study that leads to a general management degree while helping you develop your vision and the skills to achieve it.

What GMAT score do you need to get into Stanford?

The average GMAT score for Class of 2020 was 732 with the range from 600-790.

What GPA do you need to get into Stanford?

Average GPA for Class of 2020 was 3.73.  Ideally you need a 3.5+ GPA to be considered for Stanford.

How to prepare for Stanford MBA Interview?

General Education consulting panel of top Global B-School Alumni and Admission Experts can help evaluate your profile and prepare you for the Stanford MBA Interview. Visit our page now for tips and suggestion on Stanford Interview Preparation: https://www.genedmba.com/stanford-mba-interview-experience/

Who can help Stanford MBA Essays?

General Education (www.genedmba.com) consulting panel of top Global B-School Alumni and Admission Experts can help evaluate your profile and address your application and essays in a way which highlight your strengths and overcome your shortcomings. With 12 years of experience in admission consulting, you can’t go wrong with us.

How much does Stanford MBA cost?

Below is the cost of attendance, including tuition and other expenses, for a first-year MBA student for the academic year (13 Sep 2019 – 12 Jun 2020).

What Stanford GSB looks for in MBA Aspirants?

Stanford reviews applications holistically, focusing on academic excellence, intellectual vitality, extracurricular impact, and personal context.

What is an acceptance rate in Stanford MBA?

7797 students applied for the Stanford MBA Class of 2020. Out of this, only 419 students were admitted. That is an acceptance rate of 5.37%.