MBA - Admissions - Apply - Early Action

Applying in the Early Action round allows applicants to indicate to the Admissions committee that Darden is their first choice. Additionally, applicants are enabled to schedule their interview without waiting to be invited. Darden will host interviews for applicants who intend to apply in the Early Action round during the open interview period (August and September).

Early Action applicants can choose to pursue an optional binding Early Action path. Applicants will choose whether to select the binding or non-binding Early Action option in the application.

Admitted applicants will pay a larger deposit fee to secure their spot in the class.

Only for those applicants who have actively selected the Early Action 'Binding Option' in the application. If accepted, those who opt-in to fully committing to Darden will be asked to pay a nonrefundable deposit and withdraw applications from other schools. Applicants will be notified of any potential scholarship award in advance of the deposit deadline.

Applicants who have selected the Early Action 'Non-binding Option' are indicating to the Admissions committee that they are choosing a non-binding and unrestrictive admission plan while still expressing they are very interested in Darden, know they want to apply and wish to receive their admission decision early.

Yes. An application is not considered complete until the application fee has been paid. 

Yes. To schedule an open interview, applicants must start an Early Action application, complete the 'Personal Information' page, upload their resume and provide an answer to the following question in the ‘Essays’ section:

Community of Belonging: What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

Applicants who plan to submit their application by the Early Action deadline may schedule a virtual open interview from August to late September or attend an on-Grounds interview day.

We kindly ask that applicants only schedule an interview if they intend to submit a completed application by the Early Action deadline. We highly recommend scheduling an interview as soon as you are ready as interview availability will be limited.

Select applicants may be invited to interview following the Early Action deadline if they have not already scheduled an interview.

For the 2024-25 application cycle, open interviews will be offered on set dates for open on-Grounds interviews as well as virtually via Zoom. Virtual and in-person interviews are weighed evenly in the admissions process.

Given the earlier notification and the flexibility around the interview process, we require applicants offered admission in the Early Action round to pay a higher deposit to reserve their place in the class.

Applicants placed on the Waitlist during the Early Action round will be considered in subsequent rounds. Waitlisted applicants have the opportunity to receive feedback on their application to improve their candidacy.

Applicants who are not offered admission in the Early Action round will not be considered in subsequent rounds. If an applicant remains interested in attending Darden, it is possible to reapply in the following year.

Applicants who apply to Darden through Early Action are eligible for Consortium membership. To be considered for Consortium membership, candidates will need to state their intention in the Program Information section of the application. Those who wish to apply to additional schools through the traditional Consortium application rounds may do so as usual, but should not include Darden as one of those schools.

Darden will refer all admitted students from the Early Action round who have expressed interest in Consortium membership to the Consortium through the school-referral process. The school-referral process may include additional steps to confirm alignment with the mission and criteria for Consortium membership.

Those who are admitted to Darden through Early Action and are granted Consortium membership will receive the same benefits as those who apply and are admitted to Darden through the traditional Consortium application including access to member-only events, recruiting opportunities, and exposure to partner companies and others in the Consortium network.

Note that applying Early Action vs. the traditional Consortium process will not affect the candidate's prospect for consideration of full-tuition scholarships. Scholarship decisions will be released in October.

Click here for more information about Consortium eligibility and the application process.