Vanderbilt’s MBA program is small, collegial, collaborative, and very close-knit. The school has been called a “hidden gem,” because it ranks in the top 5% to 10% of all business schools in the world but is often overlooked in favor of the M7 schools. However, applicants who do some research might find that the school is the right place for them. Candidates applying to Vanderbilt often want a small program with a curriculum that can be tailored to their needs. It is a place where you truly will know everyone in your class, the faculty and staff members, and even students in other schools at Vanderbilt, such as law and medicine. The school values diversity in all forms and wants students who will be engaged and have an impact on society.
The school lists eight core values, but these are the most important:
- We are competitive, not cutthroat.
- We solve problems collaboratively.
- We lead with ideas, not egos.
- We challenge the status quo.
Keep these values in mind when writing your application statements and also during your interview.
You can find a lot of very interesting and revealing facts about Vanderbilt by visiting the program’s website.
Vanderbilt Owen prides itself on its excellent Leadership Development Program (LDP), which has been in existence for roughly two decades. The Owen website states: “At Vanderbilt, leadership is not an add-on or afterthought. It is well-integrated into the business school experience.” Every student can participate in this innovative program, which uses the Hogan assessment as a tool to understand personality characteristics. The LDP staff go over the results of the Hogan with students on an individual basis and then recommend one of the three tracks offered to work on leadership skills. The school employs more than 40 professional executive coaches to work with both students and alumni.
Ready to get to work on your Vanderbilt Owen application? Read on.
- Vanderbilt Owen application essay tips
- Vanderbilt Owen application deadlines
- Vanderbilt Owen class profile
Vanderbilt Owen application essay tips
Statement 1
Our Career Management Center offers resources, guidance, and support to students as they navigate their anticipated post-MBA career paths. Examples of popular industry career paths are Consulting, Financial Services, Consumer Products, Healthcare, Human and Organizational Performance, Technology, and beyond. It is noteworthy that many students opt to concurrently explore multiple industry career paths.
As you contemplate your post-MBA aspirations, share two post-MBA career paths you aim to explore during the Vanderbilt MBA program. Please articulate your rationale and enthusiasm for these choices, and include the skills you have developed that will help you achieve your career goals. (200 words)
This short-answer question was changed to elicit a more “meaty” answer from applicants to the classic “Why are you pursuing an MBA?” question. Read it carefully. The adcom wants to know what two different career paths you might want to try while at Vanderbilt. Why two? Because with constant shifts in industries and the economy, they want you to think about having a backup plan, one that might be similar to the first – though it could also be completely different. In addition, they want you to know that whatever you choose, the school’s career office will work with you to get you where you want to go. But you need to explain what has inspired you to work in these areas. You need to describe the skills you already have, and then look at the curriculum and focus on what classes you need to move to another career. Where are the gaps? This is where you can show the adcom that you have researched the program and classes and have made the decision to apply because the program is what you need.
And please be as specific as possible about your goals. Don’t just say, “I want to be a consultant” or “I want to reform healthcare.” These are broad and vague goals. Sit back and visualize where you want to be when you graduate and where you want to be in three to five years, and then describe the kind of consulting you would be good at based on what you already know and the industries you are familiar with. What specific areas of healthcare do you know about, and what aspects can you reasonably work on to create small but impactful improvements?
Of course, you are not going to be held to these particular goals. Interests change, and many new opportunities arise while you are in an MBA program, but it is good to know in what direction you are going, or you won’t go anywhere!
Statement 2
We are genuinely interested in getting to know you and recognize that your identity extends beyond the confines of this application’s structured questions. Please highlight something about yourself that isn’t already captured in the application. This highlight statement is an opportunity for you to provide context and depth to something that is important or meaningful to you.
Again, this statement is very clear: tell us something about you that is not already in your application or resume. What is special about you? What hobbies do you have that are interesting? And how did you get started in those hobbies? What sports do you play, and have you won any trophies or special awards? What have you done that has nothing to do with your professional life but shows how you have made an impact? This essay is your chance to talk about you as a person, not just a young professional, and yes, the committee does want to know who you are outside of work.
Optional explanatory statement
You may provide an additional statement to briefly explain anything that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application. This could include employment gaps, lack of recommendation from your current or most recent supervisor, violations of the law, academic misconduct, sub-par academic performance, or anything else that is relevant to your application. Bullet points are acceptable for this statement when appropriate.
This essay is truly optional. It simply gives you the chance to explain any low grades you earned as an undergrad, or why your current supervisor is not your recommender, or why you have a gap in your employment history. Don’t use this section to whine about your test score. It is what it is, and if you didn’t bother to retake the test to try to improve your score, then that says a lot. Also, don’t use this space to reiterate what you’ve already said in other parts of the application.
Video response
The video response is a chance for you to provide the Owen adcom with a glimpse of your authentic self, speaking without a script. The video questions are designed to be easy-to-answer, “small talk” questions to help the committee get to know you. The video component of your application will be seen by the adcom with whom you might not have had any direct interaction. You want to do a good job on this so that the committee members will be inspired to root for your admission. But – and I am serious about this – don’t try to be something you are not! Don’t crack jokes if you aren’t normally funny. Don’t be too serious, either. Owen is looking for people who have a good personality, and by that we mean someone they’d like to work with on an team, someone who would be receptive to advice and encouragement. You will have time to prepare your response, and the application will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to record your answers. Above all, don’t be nervous. This section will not make or break your candidacy!
As with all videos, remember this: have good lighting, test your video and audio, and dress appropriately (business casual). Try to record in front of a bare wall, not your messy bedroom, and lock the door so your roommate won’t walk through after a shower!
Vanderbilt Owen application deadlines
| Round | Application Deadline |
| 1 | October 8, 2024 |
| 2 | January 8, 2025 |
| 3 | February 25, 2025 |
| 4* | April 1, 2025* |
| 5 | May 15, 2025 |
Source: Vanderbilt website
*To ensure adequate time for visa processing, Round 4 is the final deadline for international applicants.
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Owen directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***
Vanderbilt Owen class profile
Here is a look at the Vanderbilt Owen MBA Class of 2025 (data taken from the Vanderbilt Owen website):
Class size: 160
Age range: 23-39
Women: 33%
International students (includes foreign nationals, dual citizens and U.S. permanent residents): 29%
Military: 16%
Minorities as percent of U.S. citizens: 9%
Average years of work experience: 5.6
Countries Represented: 19
Median undergraduate GPA: 3.5
GMAT average score: 687
GMAT median score: 690
GMAT range (middle 80%): 640-730
GRE average Quant: 158
GRE average Verbal: 159
Dr. Christie St-John has more than 25 years of higher ed and admissions experience, including ten years in admissions at Dartmouth Tuck. She was formerly the director of MBA recruiting and admissions, director of international relations, and an adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University. Having also served on the board of directors of the MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance and the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, Christie has a deep knowledge of MBA and other graduate admissions. Want Christie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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