The University of Virginia has one of the most competitive sets of MBA admissions criteria. The philosophy of the school emphasizes classroom communication, so successful applicants for a Darden MBA typically have excellent interpersonal communication skills. You will have to undergo an interview as part of the application process. In addition the quantitative factors are very competitive.
Interview:
Some people are just not that good at interviews, while others are naturally good at interpersonal communication. To pass the interview and gain admission into the University of Virginia MBA program, it is recommended that you do several mock interviews with business associates. You are going to need to know off the top of your head your business history and career goals. Memorize everything about these topics before you go to the interview.
You want to also think about challenges you have had at work or could have in the future. Think about possible solutions to problems and various ways of managing information, tasks, and personnel. Pretend like you are going to a job interview, not just an interview to talk about career or educational goals in general.
GMAT:
The mean GMAT is 701. This is about the 90th percentile, so you are either going to have be naturally good at this exam or spend enough time to get good at it. As a standardized aptitude test, some people simply won’t be able to ever get a 700. However, this is the mean average. The University of Virginia Darden admissions staff will also look at all other factors, including your interview, GPA, work experience, and even community service. Ideally, you want to score at least 600 to have a reasonable chance at getting admitted to a Virginia MBA degree program.
GPA:
The mean GPA is a 3.4, so it’s also on the high end compared to other MBA schools. A much higher GPA might allow you to get in with a lower GMAT. But a GPA under 2.8 or so is likely going to make it very difficult to gain admission.
Age and Work Experience:
The average age is around 28, so this equates to 4 to 5 years of work experience on average. The place where you work is probably less important than the leadership positions you have held. If you are still working and getting ready to apply to the University of Virginia, seek out leadership positions at work and even offer to work on special projects if they are available. Anything that shows initiative will help you in the admissions process and give you extra things to talk about in the interview.
Undergraduate Major:
You don’t need a specific type of major. The 2013 class is about 23 percent business, 15 percent economics, 25 percent engineering/science/math, and 30 percent humanities/social science.
Sources:
University of Virginia Darden School of Business MBA Class Profile
Events and Receptions Page for Darden MBA Admissions
Connect With Admissions and Online Application