I have never studied business or economics. What are my chances for getting admitted?
We consider applicants with academic backgrounds from virtually all areas of study, including liberal arts, physical sciences, social sciences, engineering and law. Prior coursework in business, management or economics is not required for admission to the AUA MBA Program.
The student diversity that emerges from such an admission policy adds valuable insight to the classroom as students also learn from peers who represent diverse professional and academic backgrounds and share their specific experiences and perspectives.
AUA requires three letters of recommendation. Does the MBA Program have any preferences concerning the referees?
AUA requires that each applicant submits three letters of recommendation. the Admissions Committee of the MBA Program prefers that, when possible, at least one letter to be from a college or university instructor under whom the applicant has studied and at least one from a current or former employer. Letters from friends, classmates, or family members are not acceptable.
May I waive the GMAT exam?
No. All MBA applicants are required to take the GMAT or GRE exam. We use the GMAT or GRE quantitative score as one of the predictors of academic performance in the MBA program. The program requires a minimum score of 60 percent on GMAT or GRE quantitative section.
How can I make sure AUA receives my GMAT or GRE score report on time?
When making your score report request, please make sure to use the AUA Institutional Code (0284) for GMAT or (0676) for GRE to have the test report sent directly to AUA. You are responsible for the timely payment of the exam fee, the proper registration for the exam, and the timely receipt of the results by the application deadline.
It usually takes 2-4 weeks to get the official score report. Therefore, it is important to register and take the test as soon as possible. If you are taking the test sometime near the application deadline, please make sure to include a photocopy of the unofficial report that you will receive at the end of the GMAT exam in your application package.
How do you use the GMAT/GRE and TOEFL scores?
When assessing the GMAT/GRE and TOEFL scores, we consider the scores together with other pertinent data such as the applicant’s academic background and professional history. Meeting the minimum GMAT/GRE and TOEFL requirements does not guarantee that an offer will be made. If we determine that there is not an appropriate fit between the applicant and the program goals and objective, we reserve the right to withhold offering a place to the applicant on the MBA Program.
When assessing the GMAT/GRE score, we consider the score along with other data such as the applicant’s academic background and professional history. A high score does not guarantee admission and an average score does not necessarily eliminate an applicant from the program.
In exceptional cases an applicant who does not meet the minimum GMAT/GRE score requirement may be admitted to the program on conditional basis. This means that the student will be placed on academic probation during the first term of his/her studies and will be required to obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the first term.
Is work experience an admission requirement?
Work experience is preferred for Full time MBA (FMBA) and is required for Professional MBA (PMBA) applicants. The SBM believes that work experience provides students with a solid frame of reference to MBA coursework. For the PMBA program, applicants are required to have at least three years of full-time (or the equivalent part-time) relevant work experience. In exceptional cases, however, the Admission Committee may allow an applicant to enter the PMBA Program without extensive work experience.
How do you evaluate the applicant’s wok experience?
We review the length and the type of the work experience as well as the quality of the applicant’s job accomplishments. We also try to determine whether the applicant has had theopportunity to develop professional and leadership skills.
I have some internship and voluntary work experiences. Will they count?
Internship, substantial voluntary activities with credible organizations, and part-time jobs are also taken into account especially when the applicant has limited full-time work experience.
Why do you interview applicants?
The main purpose of the interview is to explore applicant’s educational and career goals and to ascertain the applicant’s fit with the requirements and objectives of the MBA program. The interview is based on the submitted application material including the application essays. The admission interview usually takes place after a complete application package has been submitted.
Do you interview all applicants?
No. The MBA Admission Committee does not usually interview applicants who fail to meet the minimum admission requirements such as a TOEFL iBT score of 79 and a score of 60 percent on GMAT quantitative section.
All applicants who meet the minimum requirements and have submitted a complete application file are required to attend a personal interview. International applicants are interviewed via telephone or videoconference.