Applying and Deadlines

One of the basic requirements for admission to Fisher is the completion of a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent prior to matriculation. The Ohio State University does not recognize a three-year bachelor’s degree to be comparable to the four-year bachelor’s degree. To determine if you meet the degree requirements for The Ohio State University, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

You are required to submit transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. Coursework from one institution reported as transfer credit on another school's transcript does not meet Ohio State's definition of a transcript. Separate transcripts must be submitted if you received any transfer credit from other institutions.

In cases where examination results or grades are not released, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

The MBA Admissions Committee reviews scanned copies of official transcripts uploaded in your application for evaluation purposes. Transcripts should include all work previously completed and work currently in progress. If you have taken (or are taking) courses at The Ohio State University, you do not need to submit transcripts for those grades as the Admissions Office will obtain your Ohio State grades directly from the University Registrar’s Office.

IMPORTANT: If you are admitted to the MBA program, you will be required to submit official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts to the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

You can watch our webinar covering the most common mistakes that applicants make when providing academic transcripts as part of their graduate program application. The Director of Admissions and Recruiting will also point out critical requirements for your transcript(s) to make for a seamless application process. 

Watch the Transcript Requirement webinar
 

Where To Send Official Transcripts

For U.S. Institutions

Request that your transcripts be sent electronically from the issuing institution directly to gpadocs@osu.edu. If your institution does not send official electronic transcripts, you may order them to be sent to us. Transcripts must come directly to us from the issuing institution; they cannot come from the applicant, even if they're in a sealed envelope.

Graduate and Professional Admissions
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004
Email for transcripts: gpadocs@osu.edu

For International Institutions

Send copies of international transcripts, diplomas or degree certificates and English translations in sealed university envelopes to:

Graduate and Professional Admissions
The Ohio State University
Student Academic Services Building
281 W. Lane Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210-1132 USA

Special Notes for International Students

• Because not all international institutions send transcripts on demand, we will accept official transcripts sent to Graduate and Professional Admissions by the applicant if they arrive in sealed university envelopes.
• International transcript documents should include certified educational records and degree certificates or diplomas.
• All documents must be received in the original language with official English translations. Student-made translations are not accepted.

GMAT or GRE** Standardized Test

All applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) unless approved for a waiver. There is NO minimum GMAT or GRE** score required to enter our program. GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years from the date you took the test. We recommend looking at the most recent class profile to understand what the class averages look like as a comparison point. Visit our FAQ page to learn how to send us official scores.

CHANGES FOR GRE TEST TAKERS: As of October 1, 2024, we will only accept GRE test scores taken at an ETS testing center, not the GRE at-home version. However, we will accept valid GRE at-home scores if taken before October 1, 2024. View a table of acceptable standardized tests if you plan to send scores.

Now offering GMAT/GRE waivers

As part of our continuing efforts to identify and meet the needs of all future leaders committed to improving their lives through graduate education, the Full-Time MBA program at Fisher College of Business offers GMAT/GRE test waivers for applicants.

At least one of three requirements must be true to be considered for a test waiver:

1. Have successfully completed college-level coursework in any of the following with a grade of "B" or better: Accounting, finance, algebra, geometry, statistics, calculus or similar quantitative courses.
   
   or
    
2. Hold a STEM degree
    
   or
    
3. Have any quantitative-based certifications (e.g. CPA, CFA)

Note: If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, your application will be reviewed without a standardized test score. However, if your cumulative or course GPA is below 3.00 or you have completed a limited number of quantitative courses, the admissions committee may request that you submit standardized test scores. If you answered “No” to all, you do not qualify for the test waiver, and you are required to complete the GMAT or GRE Standardized Test. View the test requirements for the Fisher Full-time MBA program.

Learn more about requesting a waiver

Waivers are issued at the sole discretion of the Admissions Committee, and requests will not be considered until after an application has been submitted and all required documents are listed as complete in your application portal (i.e. transcripts, resume and essays). You may not request a waiver if you have already taken the exam and requested your scores be sent to The Ohio State University.

U.S. Active Military / Veterans

Veterans and active-military bring leadership qualities and unique experience to the classroom, making them an excellent fit for the program and a GMAT/GRE waiver. Learn about Fisher's military-friendly MBA program.

Dual Degree Applicants

The Full-Time MBA program recognizes the cross-disciplinary knowledge dual degree students provide to each incoming class. As a result, LSAT or MCAT scores can be considered instead of GMAT or GRE scores for dual degree students. Learn more about dual degrees.

International Applicants

Ohio State's Graduate School requires you to demonstrate English proficiency by taking the TOEFL or the IELTS. Ohio State is currently also accepting the Duolingo English Test in addition to the TOEFL or IELTS. Additional information on English proficiency requirements, exemptions, and minimum scores.

A detailed resume or curriculum vitae gives the MBA Admissions Committee a snapshot of your professional and academic career as well as showcases your extracurricular and community involvement.

The resume also gives us an idea of how you would present yourself to a prospective employer and helps us evaluate your potential for successful career placement upon completion of the Fisher MBA program.

Resumes can be longer than one page to account for additional details about your school and work history, accomplishments, awards, community or professional organizations or other information that would be relevant for the Admissions Committee.

For more information about writing your Fisher resume, view our resume tutorial.

LinkedIn alternative: As an alternative to providing a resume (or in addition), you may share with us your LinkedIn URL. This must be a direct, accessible link to your profile page, and the information in your profile must contain updated, full and relevant information in lieu of a resume.

You will be required to complete a written essay response. The essay question gives you the opportunity to present yourself more fully to our MBA Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals, and thought processes.

Essay Topic

What are your short-term career goals and long-term career goals? How/why will an MBA help you achieve those goals?

Maximum length: One single-sided page,11-size font minimum (no margin requirement)

Supplemental Essay - Optional

The optional supplemental essay can be used to address any circumstances you’d like the Admissions Committee to be aware of (gaps in work history, explaining your quant ability through work experience, past academic performance, test waiver requests, etc.). This is a valuable opportunity to speak directly to the committee or highlight something not in the rest of your application.

Students who request a GRE/GMAT/EA test waiver may write an optional supplemental essay to clarify how they meet the outlined criteria. The admissions committee will utilize this in consideration of a waiver permission. 

Maximum words: 500

You will be required to provide two references (name, email, phone) that we reserve the right to contact if we feel the need to do so to reach an admission decision.​ ​Typically, your references should be from a professional context (example: supervisor).

Choose individuals who can attest to your​

• Professional career/development​
• Leadership
• Scholarship
• Personal character/personality

Letters of recommendation are not required for this program (only contact info for two references).

Each applicant will be required to complete an online assessment comprised of pre-recorded video questions (delivered via Fisher's Kira Talent platform). Since live interviews are by invitation only, the video interview is a way for us to virtually meet you and get a sense of your personality and potential beyond what you've included in your application.

When you start an application, you’ll receive an email invitation to complete your video interview. While it's recommended to complete the video interview within 2 weeks, the link will not expire. Your application cannot be reviewed until all items are complete, including your Kira video interview. 

How it Works

The process is simple - you will be asked a question, given prep time, and a set amount of time to respond. It should only take 20 to 30 minutes to complete and can be done on your own time. We recommend watching our webinar to understand how it works and to improve your application.

7 Tips to Ace your Kira Video Interview

What You Need

You will require an internet-connected computer with a functioning webcam and microphone. The system allows for unlimited practice sessions, but once you start the formal interview questions, you only get one chance - this allows us to see your candid responses. Be yourself!

If you have questions about access or want to request a disability-based accommodation, please contact fishergrad@fisher.osu.edu.

Interviews are offered by invitation only and are a required part of our evaluation process. We can conduct the interview on-campus or online. You will receive communications from our admissions team when you've been invited to select an interview option. 

On-campus interview: Recommended for domestic students. An in-person interview enables both you and Fisher to best evaluate your fit for the program. An on-campus interview offers the ability to meet admissions and career management, discuss financial aid, and tour campus. If cost is a barrier to visiting campus, please contact our team to learn how we can help. mba@fisher.osu.edu

Online interview: We understand that an on-campus interview is not always feasible. It is typically recommended that international students, or students that have already visited campus, select this option. The web-based online interview is conducted live through Zoom.

To process each application, we charge a non-refundable fee of $60 for domestic applicants and $70 for international applicants.