Application Requirements
This page contains information on Application Requirements for Smeal MBA students.
Application Requirements
The application for Fall 2009 (Class of 2011) will be available in September.
Your application must be completed online. If you experience any technical difficulties with the application, please contact customersupport@custhelp.com.
The Smeal MBA Program charges a $75 non-refundable application fee. Applications without fees cannot be processed. The fee may be submitted electronically via credit card or e-check.
The following requirements are part of the online application process.
Graduate Management Admission Test Score
The GMAT is required for admission to the Smeal MBA program. Official score reports must be sent directly from the testing service. Your GMAT score must be less than five years old at the time of your application. We urge all applicants to take the test no later than February of the year of intended enrollment. The GMAT Code for the Penn State Smeal MBA is ZZ8-HD-34.
Access information about the test, preparation materials, and registration guidelines at: http://www.mba.com.
Transcripts
Only the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution can be considered for admission into Penn State. Official transcripts must be submitted from each educational institution attended. Transcripts are reviewed for course content, academic performance, and any trends in academic progress. Transcripts may be digitally duplicated and submitted online for the purposes of initial application review, but originals must follow.
International applicants whose transcripts are not in English should submit both the originals as well as translated transcripts along with an official copy of the bachelor's degree and graduation certificate. Contact Penn State’s Office of Graduate Enrollment Services to determine if your degree is equivalent to a U.S. four-year baccalaureate degree before submitting an application.
Applicants from India are eligible to apply who have completed a four-year bachelor's degree or the master's degree examinations following a three-year bachelor's degree. Those completing the Chartered Accountancy final examination and awarded an Associate Membership (following a three year bachelor's degree) are also eligible. Three-year bachelor's degrees followed by a post-graduate diploma may be acceptable if the diploma program is one year full-time in length and offered by an Indian University that is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities. Professional programs offered by external organizations are not eligible.
Resume
Your resume will be reviewed for your academic history, professional work experience, related honors and/or achievements, and relevant leadership experiences, associations, and activities. Resumes should be no longer than one page.
Letters of Recommendation
Two recommendations from individuals who can accurately speak to your past professional performance are required for the Penn State Smeal MBA admissions application. Recommendations from personal friends, relatives, or family acquaintances are not appropriate.
Personal Essays
Your responses to essay questions will be reviewed to understand your goals, aspirations, and overall fit with the curriculum and culture of the program. These essays help us get to know you in a more personal and meaningful way. The more genuine and clear you can be about who you are and where you’d like an MBA to take you, the better we can determine our ability to help you get there.
Interview
Admissions interviews are required of all applicants admitted into the Smeal MBA program. During the interview, we will assess your focus and motivation, maturity, leadership and team skills, and whether we believe the Smeal MBA Program is the best fit for your goals and aspirations. All interviews are by invitation only. Because we will interview the highest percentage of applicants in the December 1 deadline, it is to your advantage to apply in the first round.
English Proficiency Exams (International Applicants)
TOEFL
Penn State Smeal MBA, Full-Time Code: 2660
The language of instruction at Penn State is English. International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below.
Test Delivery Method | Minimum Score | |
Internet-based Speaking Section | 100 20 | |
Computer-based | 250 | |
Paper-based | 600 |
International candidates may be exempt from the TOEFL if any of the following apply:
- The candidate has received a degree from a U.S. college/university/institution.
- The candidate has received a baccalaureate or a masters degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
- The candidate is a U.S. Permanent Resident.
For more information or to find testing locations, visit: www.toefl.org, or call 1-607-771-7100, or write:
TOEFL/ETS
P.O. Box 6155
Princeton, NJ 08541-6155
USA
IELTS
The Penn State Smeal MBA program will accept the IELTS as a test of English proficiency. However, we do prefer the TOEFL exam.
Test Delivery Method | Minimum Score | |
Test Centre | 7.0 |
Test Dates: IELTS offers you the choice of up to 48 fixed test dates each year.
How to Apply: You must apply to a test centre to take an IELTS test prior to the test date. Applications are made on an IELTS Application Form, which you can send or take into a test centre, along with the test fee and two passport-sized photographs. You will also need to include your passport number, or in some circumstances a national identity card number, on the application form – check with your test centre. Once you have applied, the test centre will confirm your IELTS test date and time. Application Form: http://www.ielts.org/_lib/pdf/1969_IELTSappForm05.pdf
Visa Materials (International Applicants)
The U.S. Department of State requires that international applicants provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover all expenses for at least one calendar year before a visa will be issued. The amount required varies with the economy, and is approximately $40,000-45,000U.S. Please submit the Visa Application form with your application to the Smeal MBA program.
We request that the Application for Visa Document, the Financial Certification Form, and the Financial Guarantee Documents be submitted at the time of the application. However, we understand that gathering the Financial Guarantee can be time consuming and that it is not always possible for students to do so in advance. We will work with you if you submit these items after your application.
For the most current figures, additional information, or special assistance, visit the Penn State " target="_blank">http://www.international.psu.edu:80/about_office/iss.htm">Office of International Student Services.
You may also call or write:
International Student Services
The Pennsylvania State University
410 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802-5900
E-mail: International@IP.psu.edu
Phone: US 814-865-6348