With each application year, I’m continuously impressed by the dedication of Fuqua’s fantastic applicants and the matching enthusiasm of our Admissions team in getting to know them. The Daytime MBA Class of 2026 is, in a word, impressive. Amazing. Motivated. Inspirational. I know, that’s more than “a” word, but I can’t help myself!

While last year broke a school record for the number of applications received, our team is always looking for new ways to improve our process — and this year is no exception.

Here are three things applicants should know before completing the 2024-2025 Daytime MBA application.

1. Interviews Offered by Invitation Only

One of our goals is to ensure our process is as fair and consistent as possible. Therefore, as we reviewed our processes for this application year, we have decided to offer interviews by invitation only.

In prior years, we offered interviews both by invitation and during an applicant-initiated “open interview” period. However, we found that some applicants scheduled interviews before they were truly ready, afraid that they would be penalized for not taking advantage of the open interview period. While no applicant was penalized for “waiting” for an invitation to interview, we acknowledge the difference in the interview process was a source of stress and anxiety for many.

By moving to a single, consistent interview policy, we hope to alleviate this stress. Here’s how the process will work:

• Applicants, including Early Action applicants, will submit their application.
• Then, they will await an interview invitation. Interview decisions will be released on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed.
• An applicant who is invited to interview will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to schedule the interview, either in-person or virtually, depending on what they indicated in their application.

We are excited about this change because it allows more time for applicants to plan and schedule their interview, whether they are choosing to interview virtually or travel to Durham for an on-campus interview. It’s important to note that while interview decisions are released on a rolling basis, there is no benefit or disadvantage to receiving an invitation earlier versus later. Regardless of when you receive your interview decision, all applicants will still receive their admission decision on the published decision release date.

2. Applying Through Consortium

As we shared earlier this year, we are excited that Fuqua has joined the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an alliance of business schools and industry partners aiming to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in business schools. Fuqua has a long history of supporting and championing those who are underrepresented in the business world. Becoming a member of the Consortium was a natural fit for us.

Applicants who are applying through the Consortium will find our essay questions and additional materials through the Consortium application. They will be considered for interview invitations on the same timelines as applicants applying directly to Fuqua through either Round 1 or Round 2.

3. Understanding the New GMAT Format

We are not making any changes to our test score policy — Fuqua will continue to accept the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment (EA), without a preference for any test. Many applicants have questions about how the “new” GMAT score will be considered. Previously called the “GMAT Focus,” this shortened version of the GMAT is now the only format offered by GMAC. In addition to the GRE and EA, we will continue to accept both the new and old GMAT scores (test scores are valid for five years after the test date).

The new GMAT format uses a different scoring scale, so applicants should be aware that their scores may look different. Our Admissions team is very familiar with the new scale, though, so don’t worry! We encourage applicants to look into the new GMAT scoring scale. 

Many people think their GMAT score “looks” lower than published GMAT averages, but that may not be the case. Looking at the percentiles that go along with the composite score offers a more clear comparison. For example, a 700 on the old GMAT was in the 89^th percentile; on the new GMAT, the 89^th percentile corresponds to a score of 655.

Again, Fuqua’s testing policy has not changed, but given the change to the GMAT itself, I wanted to be clear about how applicants should view their scores. We always encourage applicants to submit any test scores they have, whether they’ve taken one test type or have tried all three.

With these improvements in place, our Admissions team is ready to start recruiting the next wave of impactful business leaders. The application is live now, and our travel dates are on the calendar. We look forward to getting to know the Class of 2027!