Application Instructions
Applicants should complete the Leeds MBA online application. Items sent by mail (transcripts, Creativity Challenge submissions, recommendations) should be marked (when possible) with your full legal name and date of birth for identification purposes. Send items to the following address:
| For US Mail: | For Express Mail services: |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | University of Colorado at Boulder |
| MBA Programs Office | MBA Programs Office |
| Leeds School of Business | Leeds School of Business |
| UCB 419 | 995 Regent Drive |
| Boulder, CO 80309-0419 | Boulder, CO 80309-0419 |
| | 303-492-8397 |
We will send you important communications regarding your application status by mail and by email. It is critical to keep your mailing address and email address current. Update the MBA Programs office immediately if your contact information changes.
Carefully review the following instructions to ensure your application will be complete when submitted. Missing information or credentials will delay the processing of your application and may affect your chances of admission.
Requirements for a Completed Application
1. Completed and submitted Leeds MBA online application.
2. Non-refundable $70 (U.S.) application fee. Application fees may be paid by credit card, check or money order. Checks should be made payable to the University of Colorado and must be drawn on an American bank. Submit your payment with your application as applications will not be reviewed without payment of the application fee. Include your full name and date of birth on your check or money order to ensure the payment is credited to your application. Do not send cash. Application fees are not refundable and will not be waived.
3. Official Transcripts. Request that two official transcripts from each collegiate institution you have attended (except for any campus of the University of Colorado) be sent directly from the issuing institution to the MBA Programs Office. This includes transcripts from junior college, lower division undergraduate courses, transfer units from abroad, graduate work, and extension work. Be sure to request transcripts from all institutions, regardless of the length of attendance, whether or not courses were completed, and whether or not you believe the record will affect your admission. Certified English translations must accompany transcripts that are not in English.
4. GMAT Test Scores. The Leeds School of Business requires all applicants to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). The Leeds MBA program does not accept GRE and/or LSAT scores in lieu of the GMAT. GMAT scores are only valid for 5 years. For fall 2010 enrollment, the admissions committee will accept official GMAT scores taken after June 2005 If you have taken the GMAT test more than one time, your highest test score will be used in the admissions evaluation.
The GMAT code for the University of Colorado at Boulder MBA program is 11S-Z2-95.
For GMAT information and test registration, please visit MBA.com.
5. Letters of Recommendation. You are required to submit two letters of recommendation. Each recommender should know you in a professional environment. Recommenders may be notified of your request for a recommendation by email through the online application. Recommendations may be submitted online or in paper. Paper recommendations should be printed on company letterhead, and should include a completed recommendation form. Additionally, hard copy letters should be signed across the envelope flap by the recommender.
Recommendations must be from people who have supervised or managed your work. One of those should be your current supervisor; the other can be a former supervisor or another person in the organization who acts in a supervisory role. Applicants who are unable to provide such a letter should include a note of explanation.
Recommenders should be able to evaluate the applicant's potential to lead and manage others, personal qualities, interpersonal skills, and professional accomplishments in an organizational context. For this reason, the Leeds MBA program discourages academic references.
6. Essays. Candidates must submit responses to three essays with the online application. Essay one and two are mandatory topics. The third essay is a choice of two options – an essay topic or the Creativity Challenge.
Essay 1 (Required)
1. Discuss your career progression to date. Why do you want to pursue an MBA at this point in your career, and how will this degree help you to achieve your career goals? In addition, specifically discuss how the Leeds School of Business MBA program fits with your educational interests and career goals. (max. 1,000 words)
Essay 2 (Required)
2. Throughout your career and personal life, people provide you with advice or criticism on an almost daily basis. Some pieces of guidance are more influential than others. What is the best piece of constructive critisim you've received thus far and how has it affected the decisions you make in your professional or personal life? (max. 500 words)
Essay 3 (or Creativity Challenge)
3. Creativity is one of the many factors in the admission process that helps us to select the brightest, most talented and diverse candidates each year. Answer the following question OR submit a sample of your creativity.
Describe a creative solution you devised to deal with a specific situation. Indicate the outcome of your efforts and what you learned about your own creativity from that situation.
You may choose to submit a creativity challenge in place of the essay response, but please note the following restictions. Your submission becomes the property of the Leeds School of Business and cannot be returned for any reason. Do not submit anything perishable (e.g. food or drinks) or that has been worn (e.g. clothing).
Past submissions have included (but should in no way be limited to) the following:
- a physical object (such as a design or a piece of art)
- a business plan
- a marketing campaign
- a photo (or series of photos) that depict your creativity
- an essay that describes you at your most creative
If you submit a creativity sample other than a written work, please also submit a description of your submission and its relevance to your MBA application. (max. 500 words)
Additional Information (optional)
Provide any additional information or insights into your application that you feel would be useful to the admission committee in evaluating your candidacy.