Admissions / Scholarships & Tuition / Interviews / GMAT & TOEFL /
Joint Degrees / Other FAQ
Admissions
What are your admission deadlines?
When should I submit my application?
Ideally, you should submit your completed application as early in the admission cycle as possible. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, usually within four weeks after an application is complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Do you admit students for fall and spring admission?
We offer fall (August) admission only.
Is work experience required?
Based on feedback from faculty and recruiters, work experience is a critical component of both class participation and career placement post-MBA. Therefore, the Office of Graduate Business Admissions requires a minimum of 24 months of work experience to apply to the Full-time MBA program. We evaluate an applicant on his or her full-time post-graduate work experience only. The average years of full-time work experience for our current first-year class is over four years. The only exception(s) to the work requirement rule include applicants interested in joint degree programs, and/or non-traditional applicants.
Do you accept non-traditional applicants?
Yes. Non-traditional applicants have work experience prior to enrolling in an undergraduate program. Non-traditional applicants may include military officers, religious servants, etc.
Do you only accept applicants with a business degree?
We do not prefer one undergraduate degree over another. The first year class includes students with undergraduate degrees in engineering, liberal arts, film, economics, psychology, etc.
Do you allow deferrals?
No, we do not allow deferrals. If an admitted student is unable to attend the fall for which he/she was admitted, the candidate may reactivate his/her application for the following fall.
Will Wake Forest allow transfers or transfer credit from other MBA programs?
We do not accept transfer students or transfer credit. Every student must begin in the fall and go through the two-year duration of the full-time program.
Are photocopies of undergraduate transcripts accepted?
No - we must have the original transcripts.
Do prospective students have to submit transcripts from summer school?
Applicants are required to submit transcripts from all colleges and universities where a degree was awarded. If the student took dual enrollment classes at a community college or took some “refresher” courses over the summer, we do not need to see those transcripts.
Do prospective students have to use the recommendation forms provided in the application packet?
It is a requirement that all applicants submit recommendations online. Please refer to the online application for information about the online recommendation process.
Do international students have to submit their recommendations and transcripts in English?
Yes - all application materials from international applicants must be in English.
Is a three-year degree from India sufficient to apply to the Schools of Business?
Yes - we consider the three-year degree from India as equivalent to a four-year degree from the United States.
Can I use a consulting firm to complete the applicant essay?
No - this would be considered an Honor Code violation and would result in an immediate “reject” decision from the Admissions Committee. All application information submitted must be the applicant’s own work.
Back to top
Scholarships and Tuition
What is the cost of the program?
Tuition is estimated at $35,000 for the 2009 - 2010 academic year. Learn more information about the student budget.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes - the Office of Graduate Business Admissions offers an excellent scholarship program. International and domestic applicants are considered for merit-based scholarships on an equal basis. Work experience, GMAT and interview are all factors when making scholarship awards. The amount of the award will commensurate with the quality of these factors. We make scholarship decisions simultaneous with admissions decisions and encourage applicants interested in scholarship awards to apply by the scholarship deadline.
If I submit my application after March 1, can I still be considered for scholarship awards?
Yes, provided there are still funds available.
Can my financial aid or scholarship be deferred?
We do not permit admission or scholarship deferrals. Funds are not guaranteed for any applicant who reactivates his or her application.
Are there any government loans available to international students?
No - international students may apply for private loans only, providing that they have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident.
Back to top
Interviews
Are interviews required?
Interviews are strongly encouraged. Applicants will be contacted by the Office of Graduate Business Admissions if they have been selected for an interview. In order to be considered, candidates must submit the online application.
Do you conduct phone interviews?
We will conduct phone interviews for candidates who are unable to come to campus. We do not penalize candidates who conduct a phone interview, rather than an in-person interview.
Can I interview with an admissions representative at one of your MBA Fairs or Forums?
Yes, by invitation only. Please submit the online application for consideration. You may refer to the admissions events listing for more information on upcoming travel dates to a city near you.
Can I come to campus for a campus visit even though I have had an interview off-site?
Yes! Candidates are welcome to visit, attend a class with a student host, and have lunch on campus with current students. If you would like to schedule a visit to campus, contact Ginny Kerlin at ginny.kerlin@mba.wfu.edu.
Do you offer alumni interviews?
We do not offer alumni interviews.
How far into the year do you allow interviews?
Until all the seats in the class are filled. For fall 2010 enrollment, interviews begin October 1 and extend through the final application deadline of June 1, 2010.
How can I schedule an interview?
Once the online application is submitted, the Admissions Committee will screen your application. If you are selected to interview, the Office of Graduate Business Admissions will contact you to schedule your in-person or phone interview.
Back to top
GMAT and TOEFL
What is the average GMAT score of the current first-year class?
The average GMAT is 629.
What is the lowest GMAT score you will consider?
It is unlikely that we would admit an applicant with a GMAT score lower than 500. We encourage candidates to take the GMAT a second time if their first score is not competitive.
If an applicant takes the GMAT more than once, does the school average the scores or use the higher score?
We will consider the higher score.
How long is a GMAT score valid?
Test scores are valid for five years.
Can I substitute the GRE for the GMAT?
No – all applicants are required to take the GMAT.
If I am a licensed professional engineer, can I waive the GMAT?
No - we will not waive the GMAT for any applicant.
How do I know if I have to take the TOEFL?
We required the TOEFL for any applicant whose native language is not English and/or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English.
Is there a minimum TOEFL score requirement?
We require a minimum score of a 250 (computer-based), 100 (internet-based) or 600 (paper-based).
How long is a TOEFL score valid?
Two years.
If I can not take my GMAT or TOEFL test until May or June will I still be considered for [fall] admission?
Yes, provided there are still seats available.
Are photocopies of international GMAT and TOEFL scores accepted?
No - an application will not be evaluated until we receive the official test scores from ETS.
Back to top
Joint Degrees and Other Graduate Programs
If I wish to pursue an MD/MBA or JD/MBA, should I apply to and be accepted by both schools separately?
Yes – applicants must go through two separate admissions processes and apply to both schools.
Do you offer a PhD in business or management?
Candidates interested in the PhD/MBA would receive a PhD from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and pursue the Evening MBA program. (The Schools of Business do not offer a PhD in business). For more information, contact Dwayne Godwin at 336-716-9437.
Do you offer a graduate study in Accountancy?
The Schools of Business offer an MSA in Accountancy, as well as an MSA/MBA degree.
What is the procedure to enter the MBA program for a MD/MBA degree when you are in your first year of medical school
Candidates who are interested in the MD/MBA program can begin their MBA studies either in the first year of the MD/MBA program, or in their third year (after completing two years at the Medical School). Those who are currently in their first year of Medical School would need to apply to the MBA program during their second year of study at the Medical School and would follow the Full-time admissions process.
If a prospective student has applied to the Law School and decides to apply the JD/MBA program, will the Office of Graduate Business Admissions accept a copy of their transcripts and recommendations from the Law School?
Yes – the candidate needs to make the Law School aware of their intent to apply to the Schools of Business. Then, the candidate should ask the Law School to share copies of transcripts and recommendations with our office.
Back to top
Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is the length of the full-time program?
The full-time program is two years in length.
How many credits do students need to graduate from the Full-time MBA program?
64 credits
Are first-year students allowed to work?
No, students are not permitted to work during the first year of the program. Students are allowed to work in the summer between their first and second years and are permitted to work up to 20 hours/week during their second year.
When was Wake Forest University founded?
Wake Forest was founded in 1834 in Wake Forest, N.C. The campus was relocated to Winston-Salem in 1948. Learn more quick facts about Wake Forest University.
When was the business school established?
The Babcock Graduate School of Management was established in 1969, and the first class graduated in 1973.
When did you move into the Worrell Professional Center?
We moved to this facility in 1993. The Worrell Professional Center is the first facility in the country to house business and law under one roof.
How many alumni do the Schools of Business have?
Over 5,000
How many full time faculty members do you have at Wake Forest University?
393
Who is the woman in the portrait in the admissions reception area?
Her name is Gay Nell Hutchins, and she is a graduate of the Executive MBA program. After graduation she donated money for the Executive program for students who are single mothers. She was a single mother who started out as a bank teller, progressed to Senior Executive and then bank president.
