Dartmouth Tuck 2019-2020 MBA Application Deadlines

Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business is moving its round one deadline for MBA applications back two weeks to Oct. 7th for the 2019-2020 admissions season. Applicants who apply in round one have until Nov. 1 to schedule an interview, with round one decisions out on Dec. 12.

Tuck set a second-round deadline of Jan. 6, with an applicant-initiated deadline of Jan. 31st, so that decisions could be released on March 12th. The third and final deadline for what will be the Class of 2022 is March 30th, with an interview deadline of April 2 and a decision date of May 7. Tuck’s 2019-20 MBA application will open in early July.

The school also set slightly different deadlines for candidates who apply under the Consortium. The round one deadline for these applicants is roughly a week later on Oct. 15, while the round two deadline is a day early on Jan. 5.

Tuck’s 2019-2020 MBA Application Deadlines

Tuck Rounds	Application Deadlines	Applicant Initiated Interviews	Decisions
Round 1	Oct. 7, 2019	Nov. 1, 2019	Dec. 12, 2019
Round 2	Jan. 6, 2020	Jan. 31, 2020	March 12, 2020
Round 3	March 30, 2020	April 2, 2020	May 7, 2020
R1 Consortium	Oct. 15, 2019	Nov. 1, 2019	Dec. 12, 2019
R2 Consortium	Jan. 5, 2020	Jan. 31, 2020	March 12, 2020

TUCK IS MAKING A FEW CHANGES TO THIS YEAR’S APPLICATION

“We pledge to listen and to be responsive to our applicants. Moving our round one deadline back two weeks provides several additional days for aspiring Tuck students to visit campus and interview before finalizing round one applications,” explains Luke Anthony Peña, executive director of admissions and financial aid. “And once again, we are committing to a shorter wait time for decisions.”

Along with the deadlines, Tuck made a few changes to this year’s application. Gone is the short-answer question section of the application.

In the 2019-20 application, there will be three 300-word essays.

Essay Questions

Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)

Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are. (300 words)

Tuck students invest generously in one another’s success even when it is not convenient or easy. Share an example of how you helped someone else succeed. (300 words)

Tuck’s essays will continue to map directly to two of its admissions criteria: aware and nice. The essays invite reflection on these criteria as applicants demonstrate the other criteria, smart and accomplished, elsewhere in their applications. “We have been pleased with the quality and caliber of aspiring wise leaders for whom all four of the criteria have resonated,” says Peña.

The last difference between this year’s application and those of prior years is that Tuck Admissions has elected to fully adopt GMAC’s Common Letter of Recommendation Questions.

Letter of Reference Questions

Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.

How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (E.g. what are the applicant’s principal strengths?)

Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

Is there anything else we should know? (Optional)

“We really enjoy getting to know our applicants and are eager to reduce anxiety in the application process. Our previous questions for references were distinct. Applicants told us that made the process more onerous,” continues Peña. “We trust that references with the knowledge, desire, and time to thoughtfully advocate for applicants will still surface meaningful examples of Tuck criteria when responding to these common prompts.”

2,621 APPLICANTS VIED FOR 287 SEATS IN THE CLASS OF 2020

During the 2017-2018 application cycle, just two of the top 20 full-MBA programs received more applications than the year before. Turns out, Tuck was one of the schools that bucked the trend. The school received 2,621 applicants – up 11 applications over the previous year. Unimpressed? To put that into context, consider Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan. These schools reported decreases of 4.5% and 4.3% respectively. That doesn’t count Wharton, which suffered a 6.7% loss in applications. By those measures, Tuck’s performance was impressive…if not miraculous.

That wasn’t the only big news. The class also reported that women made up 45% of the class, the highest percentage of any Top 10 full-time MBA program. It is also an improvement over the past two classes, which were stuck at 44%. Although many programs reported steep losses in international student populations, Tuck experienced just a 1% drop to 36%. Overall, 71% of the class consists of American and Canadian citizens. The rest hail from Asia (16%), Europe (8%) and Latin America (7%).

Academically, average GMAT scores held steady at 722, with average GPAs falling from 3.51 to 3.49. Traditionally, Tuck caters to career transitioners with non-business backgrounds. The Class of 2020 epitomizes this trend. Notably, 51% of the class majored in arts- and humanities-related subjects, which is actually down 4 points from its Class of 2019 high. STEM-related majors constitute another 29% – with business-related majors making up just 20% of the class. The 287 member class also attended 152 undergraduate programs, with 99 based in the United States. Another 14% of the class holds advanced degrees.

ADVICE FROM RECENT GRADUATES & CURRENT STUDENTS:

“I’d encourage you to not only reflect on why you want to pursue an MBA but why a Tuck MBA specifically. Take the time to get to know Tuck – trust me, it’s worth it! This is a special place that invests heavily in getting to know you as a candidate and how you’d contribute to the community. Talk to students and alumni who can share their experience and help you imagine your own Tuck journey. Visit Hanover on a self-initiated interview, if you can, and grab a coffee at JOE.” — Sophia Cornew, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

“I would say to an applicant: “Be clear about why you want an MBA, why Tuck is the perfect place for your business school experience, and why now is the right time.” I would also encourage him/her to get to know Tuck before submitting an application – come visit, connect with current students and alumni, get a feel for the community here – and then make those authentic touchpoints come to life in the application.” — Kayla Lorraine Demers, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

“Do not try to change who you are fundamentally to fit the school’s “ideal” candidate. I’d recommend this for any school, but especially Tuck as it is a unique school among its peers given its size and location. Every school has a certain character or vibe to it, and you want to be certain that the school you are choosing to attend aligns well with you. This process is a two-way street and the value you get out of this experience will link closely to the level of enjoyment you have throughout it. Staying true to yourself from the start of the process will yield a much higher chance of you finding the school that is right for you.” — Marcus Morgan, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

“Reflect deeply. Force yourself to go through the rigorous thinking and analysis to understand why an MBA is the right next step for you, and why Tuck is the best place to take that step.” — Sam Humbert, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

WHY THEY CHOSE DARTMOUTH TUCK FOR THEIR MBA

“When considering MBA programs, I think it is important to first reflect on what conditions and environments enable you to best learn. I have found that I’m best able to learn, experiment, fail, and explore in tight-knit communities like Tuck. I like to joke that no one ends up in Hanover by accident, that this is a place where everyone says “YES!” in all caps. Everyone is all in. There is a joy and an energy that runs through this place – students talking excitedly about a lecture on their way out of the classroom, laughing and making jokes in the hallways, and greeting each other in Stell Hall. We all make a real effort to become a genuine part of each other’s lives and it is palpable on campus. When I visited, I just knew Tuck was meant to be my home.” — Sophia Cornew, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

“I chose Tuck for several reasons. First, I have two wonderful mentors who graduated from Tuck. Since they were still gushing about the program so many years later, I knew that this school had something magical. I was seeking an intimate, graduate-only institution that prided itself on personal connections and high expectations. Plus, I wanted to attend a school where everyone fully “opted-in” to the b-school experience. I knew that I could have applied to Columbia or NYU Stern and have remained in the city, switching out a full-time job for business school, but I wanted to be enveloped by the experience and wanted my fellow classmates to feel equally immersed. Lastly, I wanted the opportunity to be closer to family while at school. Tuck was and has been, the best choice I could have made.” — Kayla Lorraine Demers, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

“My goal in going to business school was to work with and eventually run my own small game development company. There wasn’t a school that was particularly distinguished when it came to this niche market, so instead, I prioritized which school would give me the greatest personal investment. My pre-MBA interactions with current students, faculty, and alumni reassured me that Tuck was the school that was right for me. I received a disproportionate amount of time and effort from the Tuck community throughout the application process. That level of commitment provided before I was even a student, completely solidified my desire to attend Tuck.” — Marcus Morgan, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

“My primary reason: There is no other business school in the world to which I’d rather bring my family. Tuck is incredibly inclusive of partners and Tiny Tuckies. As an example, I’m working on a group independent study with a professor that required a meeting on Friday which I usually have off from class and spend with my family. That day, I brought my daughter along to meet with the professor and she was more than welcome! Tuck’s unique culture and inclusive community have been cultivated over many generations of accomplished, smart, aware and nice Tuckies.” — Sam Humbert, Class of 2019 Tuck MBA

DON’T MISS: MEET DARTMOUTH TUCK’S MBA CLASS OF 2020 or A CANDID INTERVIEW WITH TUCK’S HEAD OF MBA ADMISSIONS