Evening MBA Admissions

Overview

As an admission committee, our goal is to select students who will achieve academic and professional success through the Leeds Evening MBA program. We aim to select the most talented and diverse candidates through a holistic review of the application materials. Admission decisions are made by balancing quantitative and qualitative strengths such as undergraduate GPA, test scores, professional experience, and unique potential to contribute in the classroom and Evening MBA community. We focus on admitting students who will thrive at Leeds and add value to the Evening MBA program.

Class of 2013 Profile

Evening MBA Overview

Application Deadlines

Applications for the Leeds Evening MBA program at the University of Colorado at Boulder are accepted for the summer semester only (May 2012). The Leeds School of Business divides the admission cycle into two rounds of applications; however Evening MBA program applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. We encourage all candidates to apply early for best consideration.

The admissions evaluation process takes approximately eight weeks from the time your completed application is received.

Priority Deadline: December 1, 2011
Final Deadline: February 15, 2012

Previous Applicants

Applicants who have previously applied to the Evening MBA program will need to submit a new application for admission. The new application will include updated personal and educational information, additional recommendations, and responses to the new essay questions.

Additionally, you should provide a personal statement in the Additional Information section outlining how you have improved your candidacy for the program this year. Previous application materials such as official copies of transcripts, GMAT scores, etc. are kept on file in the MBA Programs Office for two years. You will be required to pay an additional application fee when you submit your completed application.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact MBA Admissions at leedsmba@colorado.edu or 303.492.8397.

The University of Colorado at Boulder does not issue duplicate degrees; therefore, applicants who have already earned an MBA from another institution are not eligible for admission.

Criteria

Successful Evening MBA candidates exhibit the characteristics that typify successful business leaders: intellectual curiosity, positive competitive spirit, the desire to succeed, creative and resourceful problem-solving skills, effective communication, solid ethics, and the ability to thrive in dynamic team environments.

Carefully preparing your application is an important part of the admissions process. Applicants are encouraged to completely review the admissions information available online before they apply. While we encourage candidates to apply early for best consideration, incomplete or inaccurate applications will delay the admissions process. It is best to take the necessary time to prepare a complete and thorough application, even if it means waiting to apply in a later admission round.

Admission to the Leeds Evening MBA program is competitive. The admission committee conducts a holistic review of your application in an effort to select the most qualified candidates for admission. Our decisions are based on a number of criteria including (but not limited to) the list below.

Academic Competitiveness

Applicants must have completed the equivalent of a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited institution. In addition to your cumulative grade point average, we also consider the rigor of your undergraduate major as well as the academic caliber of the institution awarding the degree. The admission committee does not consider an online-based baccalaureate program equivalent to a traditional campus-based undergraduate experience. Although some on-line course work can be a part of the applicant's record, we prefer at least two years of campus-based residential classes to be part of the applicant's curriculum.

Completed graduate-level courses or degrees are also considered a part of the cumulative educational background. Transcripts from any graduate course work should also be submitted for consideration.

The University of Colorado at Boulder does not issue duplicate degrees; therefore, applicants who have already earned an MBA from a U.S. institution are not eligible for admission.

Academic Prerequisites

Enrolling candidates from different undergraduate disciplines is a valued part of creating a diverse classroom environment. Consequently, no specific undergraduate coursework is required for admission to the Evening MBA program. Although there are no prerequisites for the program, applicants who possess quantitative/mathematical skills and have some familiarity with business terminology are typically more successful in the program. We encourage candidates to have completed calculus, college level statistics and/or college algebra; along with microeconomics and principles of accounting before beginning the Evening MBA program.

Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the GRE General Test (GRE)

The GMAT and GRE are other indicators of academic competitiveness and a help in assessing applicant qualifications for graduate business study. GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years. For Summer 2012 admission, applicants should submit scores from tests taken since June 2007. GMAT or GRE scores are required for admission consideration. Applicants who already hold a master’s degree in an engineering, mathematics, or science discipline may waive this requirement.

Professional Experience

At least two years of full-time, post-graduate work experience is required for admission to the Evening MBA program. Professional work experience adds relevance and depth to the learning process and allows greater contribution to classroom discussions and project work. The admission committee considers the quality of your professional experience in addition to the length of your work history. Increasing levels of responsibility and career progression are important components of our evaluation. A clearly defined career direction that matches what a Leeds MBA can offer is also an important element in our evaluation.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation from sources in a position to evaluate your professional experience. 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.

Interviews

An interview is required for admission. After an initial application evaluation is completed, selected candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. An on-campus interview is preferred, but we will also conduct phone interviews in special cases for applicants whose schedules prohibit an in person interview. An interview is an excellent opportunity for you to present aspects of your candidacy beyond what can be submitted in writing. The interview also offers you a chance to ask questions and gain a greater understanding of the strengths of the Leeds School and the MBA program.

Apply

Before submitting your application, review the application instructions and checklist to be sure your application is accurate and complete. Missing information or credentials will delay the processing of your application.

Apply Now

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:

MBA Programs Office
Leeds School of Business
University of Colorado at Boulder
995 Regent Drive UCB 419
Boulder, CO 80309-0419
Phone: 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

Completed and submitted Leeds MBA online application.
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.
Official Transcripts. Request that two official transcripts from each collegiate institution you have attended (except 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.
GMAT or GRE Test Scores. The Leeds School of Business requires all applicants to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the GRE General Test (GRE). The Leeds MBA program does not accept LSAT scores in lieu of the GMAT. GMAT and GRE scores are only valid for 5 years. For Summer 2012 enrollment, the admissions committee will accept official GMAT scores taken after June 2007 If you have taken the GMAT or GRE test more than one time, your highest test score will be used in the admissions evaluation. Note: For Evening MBA candidates who have already earned a master's degree in engineering, math or science we will waive this requirement.

The GMAT code for the University of Colorado Boulder MBA program is 11S-Z2-32. For GMAT information and test registration, please visit mba.com. The GRE code for the University of Colorado Boulder is 4841.
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.
Essays. Candidates must submit responses to three required essays with the online application. The Creativity Challenge is optional.

Required Essay (max. 1,000 words)

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 education interests and career goals.

Short Essay Responses (max. 500 words each)

At times it is our personal failures that result in key learning opportunities that will eventually lead us toward professional successes. Discuss a significant nonacademic failure or disappointment that you experienced and how it has impacted your career progression. How did you handle the situation, and what have you learned from it?
What accomplishments/characteristics are you most proud of as an individual and a professional? How would you apply these traits and experiences in the MBA program and how would they influence your contributions to the Leeds community?

Creativity Challenge (Optional)

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. We invite you to submit a creativity challenge as a supplement to your MBA application. 250 words, maximum. If this sample of your creativity is other than a written work, please also include a description of your submission and its relevance to your MBA application.

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

Please note that 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).

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.

Note: Non-US citizens who are in the US on a work visa will not need to provide language testing information such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE.

Application Status

Candidates should continue to check their application status and submit any missing credentials or information to the MBA Programs office immediately. Once you have submitted your application, the admission evaluation will begin. Selected candidates will be notified to schedule an admissions interview.

Check Application Status

You can check the status of your application and receive your admission decision online by logging into your online application using your PIN and password. Missing materials should be submitted as quickly as possible to avoid delays in the processing of the application.

If you have questions about your application status, you may also call 303.492.8397 or email the MBA Programs office. Please identify yourself with your full, legal name and date of birth in your email.

Admission Decisions

Decisions are generally made within eight weeks from the time a completed application is submitted and not later than twelve weeks after the deadline for the admission round in which the candidate is applying.

The MBA Program Office will only release information on the status of the application to the applicant. The Leeds School of Business policy, based on federal and state guidelines, is to hold in confidence all information that the candidate provides in the application materials. Applicants who would like anyone else to have access to application information should notify the MBA Programs office in writing of the individual's information (name, address and email address) and the preferred method of communication (email or postal mail).

Keep Your Mailing Address Current

We send you important information by mail regarding admission, registration, and orientation, as well as other information. If your address changes after you’ve submitted your application, notify the MBA Programs office immediately at 303.492.8397 or by email. Include your full legal name and birth date in your email for identification purposes.

Keep Your Email Address Current

List a valid and active email address on your application. Keep your email updated at all times. If your email address changes or is no longer valid, notify the MBA Programs office by email. Include your full legal name and birth date in your email for identification purposes.

Confirm or Defer

Confirming Enrollment

If you have been accepted to the Leeds MBA program and plan to enroll in the fall semester, you must confirm your intent to enroll in the MBA program by submitting the non-refundable enrollment deposit online. Follow the instructions in your admission letter to submit your enrollment deposit. The confirmation deadline varies based on the date you were offered admission and is listed in your admission letter.

Deferring Enrollment

The Leeds School of Business does not typically allow candidates admitted to the MBA Program to defer enrollment. However, admitted candidates with special circumstances may request consideration for deferral by sending a written request by mail or email to the MBA Programs office. Candidates who submitted an application to the MBA program within the past year, but did not enroll or defer before the admission confirmation deadline, must reapply. Please review the reapplication instructions to reactivate your application.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The decision to invest in your graduate education is an important step toward meeting your future goals. Evening MBA students typically use a combination of company-sponsored tuition support and educational loans to fund their educational endeavors.

Financing Your Evening MBA

Estimated Expenses

For the class entering the Evening MBA program in the summer 2012 semester, the cost is $8,000 per semester for six semesters, for a total of $48,000. That rate will not increase during the duration of your program as long as you maintain enrollment in the program.

Financial Aid

If you are interested in receiving financial assistance through federal loan programs you should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is completed online by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov. Follow the instructions provided to secure a “PIN” number and save the number for further use. The University of Colorado at Boulder treats the summer term as a trailer of the academic year. Therefore for summer of 2012 it is necessary to complete the 2011-2012 FAFSA. For the 2012-2013 academic year a 2011-2012 FAFSA must be completed.

Note: If you are interested in receiving federal funding for the summer of 2012 you should complete the 2011-2012 FAFSA as soon as possible.

Quick Steps to Financial Aid

Complete the appropriate FAFSA using your Federal PIN to sign the form online.
Once completed online the FAFSA processors will send to CU-Boulder electronically. The CU/Boulder school code is 001370.
Accept the loan amounts you wish to receive for each semester. Complete the master promissory note by going to www.studenloans.gov using your FAFSA PIN number.
Be informed. Federal aid is subject to academic requirements such as completion rates and grade point averages. Financial aid for a term is affected by enrollment for the term. Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 4 credit hours a semester to receive aid. For additional information visit the Office of Financial Aid.

Company Reimbursement

The majority of our Evening MBA students receive some educational reimbursement support from their employers. Be sure to investigate these opportunities through your company's human resource department.

Evening MBA Fellowship

The Leeds School of Business offers a competitive fellowship award to selected candidates admitted to the Evening MBA program with funding provided by the Leeds School of Business. The criteria for merit-based awards include prior academic achievement, professional accomplishments, and extracurricular contribution, based on those materials that you submit during the application process.

Fellowship funding is limited and preference is given to candidates who are not receiving any company assistance.

Some of the Leeds Fellowship funding is entirely merit-based and some is both merit- and need-based. In order to award our funding efficiently, all applicants for the Leeds Evening MBA Fellowship who are US citizens or permanent residents should file a Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form should be submitted online after you have filed your 2010 income taxes.

Evening MBA Fellowship Information

Tuition Reduction for CU-Boulder Employees

The Leeds School of Business at CU-Boulder is pleased to offer a 20% tuition reduction for CU-Boulder employees enrolled in the Evening MBA Program.

For the class enrolling in May of 2011, Evening MBA tuition is $46,800 for the complete two-year program, charged in six equal installments. Both the tuition rate and the reduction amount will be set for each enrolling class and will not change during the duration of the program, as long as the student maintains standard enrollment. At the current rate, the tuition reduction will cover $9,360 of the Evening MBA total tuition cost ($1,560 per term*). The student will be responsible for the remaining $37,440 of the Evening MBA tuition.

Note: *Any tuition reduction in excess of $5,250 that is excludible annually for tax purposes will be treated as wages, subject to applicable payroll taxes and withholding.

Need-Based Financial Aid

Many Evening MBA students will apply for need-based financial aid to make up the difference between what their company will contribute and the cost of the program. Evening MBA students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens may apply for need-based financial aid in the form of federal student loans. To apply for financial aid, you must submit both the 2010 and 2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.

Financial aid for the Evening MBA program is managed by the Division of Continuing Education. For more information please contact Financial Aid Advisor Christie Carrier at 303.492.8146, or at christie.carrier@colorado.edu.