MBA Application Requirements
There are separate applications and essay questions for The Evening MBA for Career Accelerators and The Daytime MBA for Career Explorers.
- Meet PSU minimum admission requirements
- Professional resume
- Unofficial transcripts/mark sheets from any institution where a bachelor's degree was awarded and any institution where graduate-level credits were completed. Upon admission, applicants will be required to provide official transcripts from these institutions. Visit the PSU Admissions website for detailed transcript requirements.
- Interview by the admissions committee. After an initial application review, selected candidates will be invited to an on-campus or virtual interview. This is a positive indicator of our interest in your application but does not guarantee admission.
- $67 application fee - Attend an Information Session to waive this.
- Contact information for two or more references (at least one professional reference preferred). Forms will be emailed to these contacts and we must receive at least two submissions before applications are reviewed.
- Essay questions (3 written and 1 video): Essays are your opportunity to tell us who you are beyond your GPAs, test scores and resume. Use this opportunity to provide us with a better understanding of your personal journey, unique background and goals associated with the program.
- Video essay (1): Applicants are required to record a one-minute video of themselves answering the following question - "Introduce yourself and tell us your story. What led you to apply to this program?" The application system provides detailed guidance on how to complete this process.
- Written essays (3):
- 250 words maximum per essay question
- Answers to all three questions are required
- See questions below
- GMAT and GRE Optional: We recognize that standardized exams are not always a fair reflection of a candidate's abilities as a result of the inequity of those exams. Therefore we have suspended the GMAT and GRE requirement. This means the GMAT or GRE are no longer required for admission to the MBA program at PSU. We recommend that applicants with undergraduate or graduate GPAs lower than 3.0 consider taking the GMAT or GRE to improve the competitiveness of their application. However, we may require the completion of self-paced online primers from students admitted to the MBA program who need additional preparation.
Essay Questions
The Portland MBA for Career Explorers (Daytime):
- Introduce yourself and tell us your story. What led you to apply to The Portland MBA? (video, 1 minute maximum)
- Which classes in the MBA curriculum are you most interested in and why? (written, 250 word maximum)
- A graduate degree is a large commitment and investment in your future. Please describe what steps you have taken financially, personally and academically to ensure your success in the program. (written, 250 word maximum)
- Describe how you envision your career path unfolding during the five years following your graduation from the MBA program. (written, 250 word maximum)
The Portland MBA for Career Accelerators (Evening):
- Introduce yourself and tell us your story. What led you to apply to The Portland MBA? (video, 1 minute maximum)
- Which classes in the MBA curriculum are you most interested in and why? (written, 250 word maximum)
- A graduate degree is a large commitment and investment in your future. Please describe what steps you have taken financially, personally and academically to ensure your success in the program. (written, 250 word maximum)
- The Evening MBA is designed for students who have reached one or more of their post-undergraduate employment goals, and whose professional experience will help provide valuable context to their cohort members. Tell us about that journey and how the MBA will support the next phase in your career. (written, 250 word maximum)
Additional International Student Requirements
Learn More about The Portland MBA