UC – Berkeley Haas Undergraduate School of Business
In addition to being ranked number 3 by US News as the best undergraduate business program in the country, the graduate MBA program at UC-Berkeley is also ranked #7 overall nationally. It is also one of the highest ranked undergraduate universities in the country, ranking #22 in the 2022 national rankings.
Admissions to the undergraduate program is competitive, with an undergraduate acceptance rate of 17.5%. Those who have been admitted to the undergraduate program may apply to the Haas undergraduate school of business following their freshman year. Admissions weighs the following factors most heavily per their team: 50% based on grades and coursework, 35% based on essays during the admissions process, and 15% based on resume. Click here to learn more about the program.
University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Ranked 4th by US News in the category of best undergraduate business programs, University of Michigan is also ranked 23rd nationally for best undergraduate universities overall. Their Ross Master in Business Administration graduate program is ranked #13 nationally for those planning on getting an MBA later in their career.
Impressively, 99% of students at the undergraduate Ross business program at the University of Michigan are able to secure a business-focused internship before graduation. Click here to learn more about the program.
Washington University in St. Louis Olin School of Business
Washington University in St. Louis is ranked #14 overall in best undergraduate universities, and their graduate MBA program ranks #36 in the country. The B.S. program in Business Administration at WashU is excellent, with Poets and Quants ranking it #13 in undergraduate business degrees.
Over 60% of students at the undergraduate program have an overseas experience, and it is no wonder considering they offer 20 different study abroad opportunities in over 15 different countries. Students can expect superb employment upon graduation with 97% of students having secured an internship before graduation and 91% of students landing a full-time job within 3 months of graduating.
Indiana University School of Business
University of Indiana is ranked 8th nationally for best undergraduate business programs. The graduate Master in Business Administration program at Kelley is ranked the #23 best business school in the nation.
94% of students who graduate from the Kelley school of business undergraduate program have a job secured within 3 months of graduation and within their desired industry. The acceptance rate for the undergraduate program is manageable compared to others, with an approximately 50% acceptance rate. Click here to learn more about their program.
What about others?
It should be noted that Stanford, University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, University of Washington, and other institutions in the Midwest and Western U.S. have excellent MBA programs for graduate students, though their business schools may not specifically offer an undergraduate business major as robust as the programs listed above.
While this may be the case, acceptance to any of these programs and other competitive institutions will still build the groundwork in undergraduate education that one needs to be competitive at the top MBA programs. The above institutions also have fantastic graduate MBA programs themselves, and many institutions give weight in applicant’s favor if they have attended their undergraduate university.
Frequently asked questions
How important is the personal statement for MBA programs?
Since MBA programs can receive thousands of applications, and many of these applicants all have average or above average GPA and GMAT scores, the personal statement can become and important differentiator.
Should I go through multiple drafts of my MBA essays?
Absolutely. You should have multiple people review your essays for grammar and spelling errors, transition quality, and overall message. The most polished essays that are application-ready have usually been through at least 2 or 3 revisions prior to submission.
What is the most common interview format for MBA programs?
The most common format for MBA interviews is one-on-one or panel interviews (two or more interviewers with one applicant). It is important to prepare and practice answers to the most common MBA interview questions.
How long should my MBA interview answers be?
Anywhere between 1.5 to 3 minutes is a safe range for answers, although a few seconds more or less than this is completely reasonable depending on the question. The quality of the answer, given concisely and directly, is far more important than the amount of minutes you are speaking.