Stanford GSB (Optional Deferred Program for College Seniors)

For Stanford GSB there is no exclusive program for college seniors such as HBS 2+2. However, they encourage seniors to consider applying to the MBA program. Harvard usually takes in around 110 college seniors through its 2+2 program. The number of students who get in through optional deferred program are quite less according to me. I think the number is less than 10, but it's just my guess. But, I still encourage college seniors to apply as you learn a lot about yourself. It is a self-realizing process and the satisfaction is immense. You also get to know which areas you can improve in. And, you get that extra few crucial years to improve yourself than you would have got if you had started applying after working for a few years.

Few of the qualities they seek in an undergraduate applicants are
1) Intellectual Vitality: This can be demonstrated through many ways but not only by grades and test scores. GSB considers our attitude to learning to be as important as our aptitude. Stanford wants to shape the future and they want to see our passion, dedication and genuine interest in expanding our intellectual horizon. They would also like to know whether we mastered any concepts that are not immediately relevant to our immediate career, to carve a path in ambiguous environment. This helps GSB to know whether we will be able to support the school's goal of developing knowledge that deepens and advances the practice of management.

2) Demonstrated Leadership Potential: By this, they would like to know about our character. This leadership activities can be demonstrated through activities, research or internships. They want to know more about our personal motivations and convictions, and our ability to confront complex, unfamiliar issues with good judgement through our essays.

3) Personal Qualities and Contributions: They want to know about our experiences that significantly influenced how we work with others, beliefs, passions, dreams, goals which would help them evaluate how we can not only contribute to, but also, how we can benefit from GSB. College seniors who get in normally have high maturity and self-confidence.


Also we should be able to articulate why we need to attend business school. Ultimately remember, Stanford wants to change lives, change organizations, change the world.