MIT Executive MBA Application Process

Essays are required. These essays will provide you with the opportunity to highlight recent experiences from your professional life.

• General Managers are individuals responsible for strategy, budget, and work output from both individuals and teams for at least one function of an organization, with the ability to see the big picture across functions. They participate making in short-term and long-term strategy decisions and work cross-functionally to achieve specific goals or strategies. Please describe your General Management experience. Cite a recent example that demonstrates your general managerial perspective. (100 words or less)
• What are your immediate and long-term professional objectives, and what do you need to achieve them? (100 words or less)
• Why is this the right time to pursue the MIT Executive MBA? (100 words or less)
• Tell us what you learned about your strengths and weaknesses as a leader during a recent challenging period for your team. (200 words or less)
• MIT highly values positive impact on the community. Please explain past or current community involvement and how you feel this involvement has benefited the community. (200 words or less)
• Please tell us about a time you introduced a new idea that changed the way in which your organization approached a business challenge or opportunity. What factors did you consider, what barriers or obstacles did you face, how did you measure your success? (300 words or less)

You will be asked to fill in basic information for each of your current and prior jobs. You must also submit a standard, two-page, business resume.

References are a vital part of your application. We require two letters and you may submit a third recommendation only if it provides distinctive or additional insight into your candidacy.

Organizational Support Letter (required) 
Because real-world application is at the core of our curriculum design, support from your organization is an important part of our evaluation.  

• This letter must come from someone in your direct supervisory line (direct manager, higher level supervisor, division head, CEO, or HR).  
• The recommender should be able to provide specific answers to these organizational support questions.
• Entrepreneurs and CEOs: If you have a board of directors, this letter should come from a board member. If you don’t have a board of directors, the letter should come from a significant investor or shareholder. If neither applies, please choose someone who can credibly confirm your organization's support for the time commitment.  

General Reference Letter (required) 
This letter should come from someone who can comment on your professional and educational goals, as well as your potential.

• Avoid selecting friends and relatives.  
• The recommender should be able to provide specific answers to these general reference questions.

Your application must include copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions of study. Copies of transcripts should be scanned and uploaded into the online application system, not mailed. Official transcripts are requested after admission and required directly from the institution(s) prior to matriculation.

We will review your college and university transcript(s) in their entirety. In particular, we look for at least one course in statistics and one in calculus.

If you have not taken calculus and statistics, or did not receive strong grades (B or better) in these courses, we recommend taking a credit-bearing class now. We encourage you to find in-person courses at a local college or university, if possible.

You will need to include an organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of your department or company. Please provide as much information as possible with the understanding that some information may be privileged. Example charts are available in the application.

Interviews are by invitation only. An interview request signals that your application has reached an advanced stage of consideration. Invitations to interview are made after the specific application round deadline has passed.

The Admissions Committee reviews applications and interviews selected candidates by round. If you are seeking an early decision, apply early in the admissions cycle. Decisions for interviewed candidates are made by the posted date for each round.