If you are a recent graduate without work experience, deferred MBA is one of the early entry options you must realize your MBA dreams. Deferred MBA programs were far and few between a few decades. However, these programs have gained popularity in the past few decades. Even the top-most business schools in the world offer deferred MBA programs now.
So, what is a deferred MBA program?
A deferred MBA program is a sort of pre-booking for your regular MBA program. Recent graduates can apply for this program and after acquiring an admission the applicants need to work for 2 years on an average before they can start regular MBA classes.
Here is the list of top 9 Deferred MBA programs in the world:
Harvard 2+2 program:
Harvard’s 2+2 deferred MBA program allows students to apply for the MBA even before they got any work experience. After securing a deferred MBA admission students need to get a 2 year full time work experience. Candidates need not only be recent graduates to apply for the deferred MBA program, anyone who hasn’t held a full time job position after graduation would be eligible to apply for the program.
ISB YLP:
Indian School of Business is a very reputed business school in India. The deferred program offered by ISB is known as ISB YLP. This program is very similar to the Harvard 2+2 program where students get an admission to the MBA program right after their graduation and need to gain 2 years work experience before they start their regular MBA classes. Students are mentored throughout the 2 years’ work experience period before they join the MBA program.
Stanford GSB:
Stanford Graduate School of Business allows students to apply for the deferred MBA program with little work experience ranging from one to three years. However, Stanford reserves the right to place the students in a program which they would see as fit for the student’s skills set.
Yale School of Management:
The deferred MBA program of Yale school of management is known as Yale Silver Scholars Program. This deferred MBA program is different from deferred MBA programs of other schools. The Silver Scholar program allows recent graduates to start off with MBA classes right after their graduation.
The duration of Yale Silver Scholar program is 3 years. Students get to start their MBA classes in the first year which would have a rigorous curriculum which includes core management concepts. In the second year of the program, students do a yearlong internship to gain experience to compensate for their lack of work experience. In the third year, students select electives to study.
The following are few more Deferred MBA programs offered by international Business schools.
| Schools Name | Country | Deferred MBA program names |
| IESE School of Management | France | The IESE YTP |
| Kelley School of Business | US | Indiana University |
| McCombs School of Business | US | TEXAS McCombs |
| MIT Sloan | US | MBA Sloan |
| NYU Stern | US | NYU Stern MBA |
| Penn Wharton | US | Wharton MBA Program |
| Purdue University | US | Purdue Krannert Master’s Programs |
| Rollins Crummer Graduate Schools of Business | US | The Rollins Early Advantage MBA |
| Rutegers Business Schools | US | The Rutgers Future Leaders 2+2 program |
| Rutgers Business School | US | Rutgers Future Leaders 2+2 |
| The University of Buffalo | US | The University of Buffalo 2+2 |
| University of Booth Chicago School of Business | US | Booth Scholars Program |
You might think why do need to apply for a deferred MBA program when you can gain a few years of work experience then apply for MBA programs. Well, deferred MBA programs have their share of advantages over regular MBA programs. Let’s look a few benefits of the deferred MBA programs:
- Though students would only get to join the MBA program after a few years of work experience. Business schools provide regular mentorship programs for the admitted students throughout these years before they join the classes. Hence, deferred MBA students would have the advantage of getting mentored by some of the most intelligent people in the sector for an extended period of time so soon in their careers.
- A deferred MBA admission may have a positive effect on your student’s job opportunities even before they join the course. An admission in a reputed deferred program is a great way to prove capability and attract top-tier employers.
- A deferred MBA program will allow candidates to secure an MBA seat right after their graduation. Hence, for students with the long-cherished dream of a top business school MBA, with this out of the way, students get to focus on their career completely. This also saves a lot of time in the future over the admission preparation.