Admissions

We have found past performance to be an excellent predictor of future performance.

To ensure that we recruit students who will help us continue to grow our base of successful alumni, we want you to tell us about your experiences to date and how those experiences have made you a better manager or leader.

• An understanding of math is an important component of this degree. Ideally, SMB-A candidates would have a calculus class on their academic transcript.
• Your resume will provide us with a sound overview of your past accomplishments.
• Experience in fields such as; IT, computer science, or engineering - looking to move out of a technical role and use analytics to move into business management is valued, however, no work experience is required.
• Be sure to offer concrete examples in your personal statement to demonstrate things like how you plan to utilize the degree to enter into or accelerate your career, how you landed that first job, used analytics within a team project, worked your way through college, or started a family and want to get back into the workforce.

Fisher is dedicated to developing business leaders who will make a difference, and our SMB-A Admissions Committee is charged with determining your leadership potential.

• We will look at your past leadership experiences (or potential) and refer to your personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation. Leadership's many facets include integrity, empathy, curiosity, endurance, vision, communication skills, decision-making, and self-awareness.
• We will look for examples from your life, as well as insights into any leadership experiences, potential, and experience beyond your immediate responsibilities.

Joining a group of highly qualified individuals requires that you have strong academic capability, too.

We will examine your overall academic ability, based on prior university records (GPA, etc.) and the results of the GMAT (optional for autumn 2021), as well as the quality and nature of your work experience. Your success is our goal and we want to ensure that you will be able to excel in our curriculum.

However, having "smarts" goes beyond analytical abilities and a strong academic record.

• We are interested in your ability to grasp complex concepts and models, your curiosity, and your passion for learning and expanding your horizons.
• We are also interested in understanding how you interact with others. Team spirit and competence are critical to succeeding during your studies and in business.
• Show us that you have the ability to be in touch with your own and others' emotions, that you are an able communicator who recognizes opportunities when they arise through interaction with others, and that you can stimulate the flow of ideas.

Because Fisher is a close-knit community, your personal qualities and contributions will have an immediate and visible impact on your classmates and the school’s environment.

• We want to understand the characteristics that have contributed to your accomplishments to date and what experiences have made you the person that you are today.
• We also want to understand the principles and ethical standards that are part of the intricate mix that makes you "tick" as an individual.
• There are a number of qualities that we hope our students share, including being driven and hardworking, as well as having high ethical standards and a deep respect for others. However, we are not looking for conformity.
• We strongly believe that diversity and differences in personality are critical to the dynamic and stimulating exchanges that are characteristic of our community. Be sure to share with the admissions committee what makes you, your background, and your accomplishments unique.