Applying to Tuck

Whether you’re just starting out on your MBA application journey or you’re ready to apply to Tuck, we believe the following information, resources, and advice will best prepare you to submit your application with confidence. We look forward to getting to know you throughout the application process.

Preparing to Apply

Getting to Know Tuck

Before you apply, we encourage you to get to know Tuck. Explore Tuck’s many curricular, co-curricular, and career opportunities and determine what you would like your MBA experience to be. Getting to know Tuck will help you articulate how the distinct Tuck MBA will contribute to achieving your goals and aspirations and how your background will contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community. These are questions you will need to answer in your application! 

Beyond the academic, career, and student life information across our website, we recommend reviewing the following pages and utilizing the below resources as you’re preparing to apply:

“I encourage prospective students to reflect on what they want to get out of their business school experience and start getting to know the distinct Tuck community. Our motto is “Your time, Your Tuck.” Every Tuckie you speak to will offer a unique perspective on this special place.”
ARLEEN CHIEN T'21 | Read her story

Application Deadlines

*Applicants who submit their complete application (including test scores and Letters of Reference) by the following deadlines (including the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management) will be guaranteed an admissions interview. Round 1: September 3, 2024 5:00pm ET; Round 2: December 2, 2024 5:00pm ET. 

One week before decisions are released all applicants will receive instructions for accessing their application decision via the application portal the following week. We officially communicate all decisions via the application portal. We may also personally contact admitted applicants to share the good news.

Navigating the Application

Each component of your application maps to our admissions criteria. Your application form provides background information. Your academic transcripts and test scores demonstrate that you are smart. Your resume demonstrates that you are accomplished. Your essays demonstrate that you are aware and encouraging. The Letters of Reference are designed to provide evidence of all four criteria. Learn more about each of these components of your application:

• Application Form

  All applicants must complete and submit a Tuck application to be considered for admission. Applicants who wish to apply to Tuck through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management should complete the Consortium application in lieu of the Tuck application.
• Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

  In the Application Specifics section of the application form, all applicants will be asked to share their short-term and long-term professional goals in 50 words or less. Both your short- and long-term goals should be ambitious and realistic, though on the margin, we will expect your long-term goals to tilt towards the former and your short-term goals to tilt towards the latter. 

  “We want your responses to be clear, concise, and matter-of-fact. Our advice to those of you trying hard to shoehorn in a supporting narrative: save the additional details for your essays or your interview, and trust that we really, truly do want you to be factual and direct.”
  —Patricia Harrison, Director of Admissions, Evaluation and Yield

  View additional advice for sharing your goals: Tuck Admissions Insights: Your Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
• GMAT or GRE Scores

  All applicants must self-report scores and percentiles for one of the following.

  • Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
  • Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE)

  
  Details

  • We do not prefer one test over the others.
  • We accept all versions of the GMAT and the GRE General Test.
  • Self-report all valid scores taken exactly as they are listed on your score report. Note: test scores must be valid as of the date you apply. If your test score(s) will expire prior to August 2025, you must release your official score report(s) to Tuck prior to submitting your application. Your official score report(s) must be released to Tuck at least 10 days before the test expiration date.
  • There is no minimum score required to apply or to receive admission. If you have taken the test(s) multiple times, report all valid scores per test. We will consider your highest total score and highest sub-scores across tests taken. Sub-scores from different tests cannot be combined to create a new total score.
  • Applicants are not required to submit official score reports until they enroll at Tuck, unless their scores will expire prior to August 2025. Once enrolled, admitted students must have an official score report sent to Tuck within 30 days of enrolling. We will verify scores for all enrolling students.
  • To request that official test scores are sent to Tuck, please use the following school codes:
    • GMAT: Z04-NH-64
    • GRE: 4887

  “Standardized tests are not one-size-fits-all. Remember that you have choices when it comes to testing. We encourage you to lean into the test(s) that work best for you.” 
  —Tim Neil, Assistant Director of Admissions, Recruitment

  Explore your testing options: Tuck Admissions Insights: Test Scores

  
  GMAT/GRE Test Waivers

  Upon request, Tuck may offer GMAT/GRE test waivers to applicants who demonstrate that their academic background and/or the nature of their professional work has sufficiently prepared them for the quantitative rigors of the Tuck MBA.

  To be eligible for a GMAT/GRE test waiver, you must:

  • Currently have at least two years of post-graduate professional work experience.
  • Be a native English speaker or qualify for our English Language Proficiency test waiver.
  • Demonstrate strong quantitative and analytical competency through your academic and/or professional experience.
  • Have an open, unsubmitted application while we process your request. Those applying through the Consortium do not have to open a Tuck application but must confirm that they are applying through the Consortium on the GMAT/GRE test waiver request form.
  • Submit the test waiver request no fewer than 12 business days before your desired application deadline to be guaranteed a response by that application deadline. To ensure you receive a response by your desired deadline, submit by:
    • For Round 1/Consortium 1 Guaranteed Interview: Wednesday, August 14, 2024  
    • For Round 1: Monday, September 9, 2024  
    • For Consortium 1: Thursday, September 26, 2024  
    • For Round 2/Consortium 2 Guaranteed Interview: Wednesday, November 13, 2024  
    • For Round 2/Consortium 2: Friday, December 6, 2024 [Note that Dartmouth College is closed from December 23, 2024, through January 1, 2025.]  
    • For Round 3: Friday, March 7, 2025

  
  To request a GMAT/GRE test waiver, please complete this form. Note: GMAT/GRE test waivers are not renewable and must be requested each admissions cycle.

  We will ask for your resume, unofficial copies of your undergraduate and graduate transcripts, proof of professional certifications, designations, or non-degree coursework, and additional context to evaluate your readiness for the quantitative rigors of the Tuck MBA. Candidates who present a strong profile through both academic and professional experience are more likely to be granted a GMAT/GRE test waiver. 

  Requests are reviewed as they are received, and you will have a response within 12 business days. We will not review requests submitted fewer than 12 business days before the application deadline. If you miss the test waiver deadline, you will be required to submit a GMAT/GRE score if you still wish to apply in that round, or you may wait to apply in a future round. Please note that Tuck will be closed for the holiday break from December 23 to January 1 and will not be reviewing requests during this time.

  If granted a test waiver, we strongly encourage you to carefully assess the strength of your overall candidate profile and whether submitting a score could work to your benefit. A test waiver may make you less competitive for admission and/or merit-based scholarships, as it provides one less data point for the admissions committee in a selective evaluation process. While you may qualify for a waiver, submitting a test score may ultimately enhance your application. If you are a reapplicant, a test score might help differentiate your candidacy and show improvement over your previous application. 

  For more information and guidance on whether a waiver is right for you, please visit the GMAT/GRE Test Waiver Request section of our FAQs.
• English Language Proficiency Scores

  If you are a non-native English speaker, you must submit scores for one of the following to demonstrate English language proficiency. 

  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS)
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE)
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language iBT (TOEFL)

  
  Details

  • We do not prefer one test over the others.
  • We accept the online/at home versions of these exams.
  • Self-report all valid scores taken exactly as they are listed on your score report. Note: test scores must be valid as of the date you apply. If your test scores will expire prior to August 2025, you must release your official score report(s) to Tuck prior to submitting your application. Your official score report(s) must be released to Tuck at least 10 days before the test expiration date. Also, if you’re reporting an IELTS score we will ask for your IELTS Academic Test Result Form (TRF) number. This number can be found on your hard-copy results document.
  • If you choose to submit a DET score you must send Tuck your certified test results through your Duolingo account before you submit your application, otherwise your application will be considered incomplete. We must receive certified DET results at the time of application because of the video interview section of the test. If your Duolingo account email address doesn’t match your Tuck account email address, please email us so that we can match your scores to your application.
  • Applicants are not required to submit official score reports for the IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL until they enroll at Tuck, unless their scores will expire prior to August 2025. Once enrolled, admitted students must have an official score report sent to Tuck within 30 days of enrolling. We will verify scores for all enrolling students.
  • To request that official test scores are sent to Tuck, please use the following school codes:
    • DET: Dartmouth College - Tuck School of Business
    • IELTS: Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business
    • PTE: Dartmouth College
    • TOEFL: D507

  
  English Language Proficiency Test Waivers

  • You qualify for a waiver if you have earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction.
  • You do not need to seek our approval or submit documentation to prove eligibility for this waiver. You should indicate eligibility with the check box in the education section of your application.
• Education Information

  In the Undergraduate Degree section of the application, all applicants will be asked to share the primary undergraduate school from which they received their bachelor's degree. In the Other Schools section, applicants will be asked to create an entry for each additional undergraduate and graduate school they have attended, including transfer schools, if applicable. You should not create entries specifically for study abroad programs or postgraduate non-degree coursework. In these sections you will transcribe your education information, e.g., institution, degree, major, and GPA.

  In the Other Education Information section, applicants will have the opportunity to share additional education information such as completion or enrollment in postgraduate non-degree courses and professional certifications.

  “The admissions committee is well versed in different grading schemes from around the world and we calibrate and assess your grades within the context of your school’s grading scale and rigor, and we are mindful of trends within degree programs and across your academic history.”
  —Megan Creeden, Associate Director of Admissions, Yield

  Delve deeper into how to share your academic experience within the application: Tuck Admissions Insights: Education Information
• Transcripts

  Upload a copy of your academic transcript for every undergraduate and graduate school you attended in the Undergraduate Degree and Other Schools sections of the application. Submit all available pages of each transcript, including any pages that detail your school’s grading scale.

  Details

  • If your transcripts are not in English, upload both the original transcript and a certified translation.
  • If you transferred from another school, you must also submit a transcript from that school.
  • It is not necessary to provide transcripts for postgraduate non-degree courses or from study abroad institutions if your study abroad course(s) are listed on your undergraduate or graduate school transcripts. However, you will be asked to provide details (institution, term/year, course title, and grade) for any postgraduate non-degree courses in the Other Education Information section of the application.
  • Tuck works with Re Vera Services LLC to verify the accuracy of all matriculating students’ applications. After enrollment, Re Vera will request official transcripts from each school you attended.
• Employment History

  List your post-undergraduate employment history for your last four employers. In addition to general employer information, you will be asked about compensation and other details like your responsibilities and reason for leaving, if applicable.

  “Our goal is to better understand your professional progression as we assess how you demonstrate the accomplished criterion.”
  —Kristin Roth, Associate Director of Admissions, Evaluation

  Review tactical guidance on what information to provide in this section: Tuck Admissions Insights: Employment History, Common Applicant Questions
• Resume

  Upload a resume outlining your professional, academic, and other relevant experience. We encourage you to limit your resume to one page and to activities and experiences occurring during and after your undergraduate studies.

  

  Tuck Admissions Insights: Resume Writing Guide

  This guide is an introduction to resume writing and formatting principles. Our goal is to...

  

  Tuck Admissions Insights: Make Your Resume Shine

  Advice on format, content, and more to help you craft a resume that closely reflects...

• Essays

  All applicants must respond to the following essay prompts:

  1. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your goals and aspirations? (300 words)
  2. Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words)
  3. Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words) 

  “You can find advice and essay guidance from many outside influencers and websites; however, my colleagues and I want you to hear directly from those of us who are reading and evaluating your essays.”
  —Patricia Harrison, Director of Admissions, Evaluation and Yield

  Dive into advice for each essay prompt: Tuck Admissions Insights: 2024-2025 Application Essays

  All reapplicants must respond to an additional essay prompt:

  • How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)
     

  The following essay prompt is optional:

  • Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

  “Rest assured; this is not a test. We will not think less of you if you do not submit an extra essay here. Most of you will likely not need to use this section at all, and for those of you who do—own your past.” 
  —Patricia Harrison, Director of Admissions, Evaluation and Yield

  Review guidance on how this section is best used and when to refrain from using it altogether: Tuck Admissions Insights: Optional Information Section

  The best responses to essay prompts are clear, succinct, forthright, thoughtful, genuine, and so distinctly personal that only you could have written them. We expect that your essays are entirely accurate and exclusively yours. Using tools or professional services to create content that is not your own violates Tuck’s admissions policies and Academic Honor Principle.
• Letters of Reference (LORs)

  You must submit two LORs unless you are a reapplicant who applied during the most recent admissions cycle. Reapplicants who applied during the most recent admissions cycle need to submit only one new LOR from a reference who did not write to Tuck on their behalf last year.

  Details

  • In the application, you will be asked to enter your reference’s information. We will email each reference a unique link to our LOR form. All LORs must be submitted virtually by your reference(s) via this process.
  • References who cannot write in English should write in their native language and have the LOR translated by an outside translation service. Do not translate the LOR into English for your reference.
  • Your reference must be the sole author of your LOR. Drafting, writing, translating, or submitting your own LOR, even if asked to do so by your reference, violates Tuck’s admissions policies and Academic Honor Principle. You are responsible for informing your references of this policy.
  • You are also responsible for notifying your references of your application deadline and ensuring your LORs are submitted on time. We review your application only if all required LORs are received by your application deadline. Otherwise, we will move your application to the next admission round. If your application is not complete by the final deadline it will be evaluated as is. If you would like to make changes to your list of references, please contact us.

  
  What We Ask

  Tuck has adopted the Recommendation Questions posed by GMAC’s Common Letter of Recommendation.

  1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. (50 words)
  2. How does the applicant's performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Provide specific examples. (500 words)
  3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (500 words)
  4. Optional: Is there anything else we should know?

  
  Selecting Your References

  • Request LORs from people who can demonstrate that you are smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging.
  • If possible, your current direct supervisor should write one of your LORs. You will be asked to provide a brief explanation in the Other Employment Information section of your application if you cannot provide an LOR from a direct supervisor. If more than a brief explanation of recommender choice is needed, you may further clarify your choice with a few sentences in the Optional Information section of the application.
  • LORs from professors who did not supervise professional work, from friends, family members, or coaches, do not enhance your candidacy.

  “Once you have identified who you would like to write for you, ask them these three questions: 1) Do you have the knowledge of my outcomes and behaviors to write a compelling LOR? 2) Do you have the desire to write a positive LOR? and 3) Do you have the time to write a detailed LOR? If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” find someone else.”
  —Patricia Harrison, Director of Admissions, Evaluation and Yield

  Explore additional suggestions for selecting and preparing your references: Tuck Admissions Insights: Letters of Reference
• Application Fee

  A non-refundable application fee of $250 USD is due upon application submission. You may pay by credit card or a prepaid Visa or MasterCard gift card. Applicants in the United States may also use checking account payments through ACH transfers. Please note that processing fees apply.

  Application Fee Waivers

  The application fee is automatically waived for the following groups.

  • Active Members of the U.S. Military
  • Alumni (within the last 5 years) and Current Graduate Students of Dartmouth College
  • Alumni (within the last 5 years) and Current Graduate Students of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
  • Alumni (within the last 5 years) and Current Graduate Students of Historically Black Colleges or Universities
  • Alumni (within the last 5 years) and Current Graduate Students of Tribal Colleges and Universities
  • Alumni (within the last 5 years) and Current Graduate Students of Women’s College Coalition Member Schools 
  • Citizens of countries on the United Nation’s list of “Least Developed Countries”
  • First-Generation College Graduates (neither parent received a four-year college degree or bachelor's equivalent)
  • Tuck Business Bridge Alumni
  • U.S. Military Veterans
     

  The application fee may be waived upon request, if the following documentation/information is provided, for:

  • Access Fellowship Recipients: Applicants must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating selection as an Access Fellow.
  • Alumni (within the last 5 years) of academic institutions within the HALI Access Network of sub-Saharan Africa: Applicants must upload a copy of their diploma or final transcript from the HALI Access Network member school.
  • AmeriCorp Alumni (within the last 5 years): Applicants must upload a copy of their official AmeriCorps Certification of Service letter.
  • Forté MBALaunch Program Participants: Applicants must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating they were selected to participate in the Forté MBALaunch Program.
  • Fulbright Scholars: Scholars must upload a copy of their official Fulbright Scholarship award letter indicating selection as a Fulbright Scholar.
  • JumpStart Network Members: Members must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating selection to a JumpStart program or a copy of the official certificate of completion for completing a JumpStart program.
  • Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) MBA Prep Fellows: Fellows must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating selection as an MBA Prep Fellow.
  • McNair Scholars: Scholars must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating selection into the McNair Scholars Program.
  • Need-Based: Applicants experiencing significant financial hardship must briefly explain why they are making this request. Responses should include all details that emphasize financial need, including current income and any extenuating circumstances impacting the ability to submit the application fee.
  • Peace Corps Alumni (within the last 5 years): Applicants must upload a copy of their official Peace Corps Certification of Service letter.
  • Posse Scholars: Scholars must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating selection as a Posse Scholar or a copy of the official certificate of completion for completing the Posse Scholars program.
  • QuestBridge Students: Applicants must upload a copy of their official QuestBridge Match indicating a match with a QuestBridge College Partner.
  • Rhodes Scholars: Scholars must upload a copy of their official Rhodes Scholarship award letter indicating selection as a Rhodes Scholar.
  • Riordan Programs Participants: Applicants must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating selection into one of the Riordan Programs (the Riordan Scholars Program, the Riordan College-to-Career Program, the Riordan MBA Fellows Program).
  • Robert Toigo Programs Participants: Applicants must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating selection into one of the Toigo Programs (Toigo MBA Program, Groundbreakers Summit, Groundbreakers RISE).
  • Schwarzman Scholars: Scholars must upload a copy of their official invitation letter indicating they were selected as a Schwarzman Scholar or a copy of the Schwarzman Scholars certificate of completion.
  • Teach For America Alumni (within the last 5 years): Applicants must upload a copy of their official Teach For America Certification of Service letter.
  • Those granted asylum in the United States: Asylees must upload a copy of Form I-94 with the appropriate stamp/notification indicating asylum was granted.
  • Those granted refugee status in the United States under 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA): Refugees must upload a copy of Form I-94 with the appropriate stamp/notification indicating refugee status was granted.
  • Those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status: Those with DACA status must upload a copy of their official DACA Approval Notice.

  
  To request an application fee waiver, please complete this form. Note: application fee waiver requests are due before submitting the application, you must have an open application to access the form, and we will not guarantee processing of requests made within 2 business days of an application deadline. Application fee waivers are not renewable and must be requested each admissions cycle.

Information for International Applicants

In addition to the transcript and reference translations and English Language Proficiency application policies above, please note that international applicants may apply in any round.

U.S. visa eligibility forms will be made available to all accepted international students after they have paid their enrollment deposit. The Dartmouth Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS) will assist enrolling students with the U.S. visa process.

Information for Consortium Applicants

Tuck is a proud member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. Applicants who wish to apply to Tuck through the Consortium should complete the Consortium application in lieu of the Tuck application.

Consortium Application Deadlines

*Applicants who submit their complete application through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (including test scores and Letters of Reference) by the following deadlines will be guaranteed an admissions interview. Consortium 1: September 3, 2024 5:00pm ET; Consortium 2: December 2, 2024 5:00pm ET. 

One week before decisions are released all applicants will receive instructions for accessing their application decision via the application portal the following week. We officially communicate all decisions via the application portal. We may also personally contact admitted applicants to share the good news.

“You may have heard about the Consortium, been to a Consortium MAPS event, or perhaps you are in the process of putting the finishing touches on your Consortium application to Tuck. You may also have no idea what I am referring to! Wherever you find yourself, let this application journey be your own and know that you are in the right place.”
—Amy Mitson, Director of Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing
 

Keep reading if you are curious about applying to Tuck through the Consortium or need guidance on your application in progress: Applying to Tuck through the Consortium?

Information for Reapplicants

As a reapplicant, you must submit a new application. Procedurally, applying as a reapplicant is almost exactly the same as the previous time you applied albeit for an additional reapplicant essay and, depending on when you previously applied, you may only need to submit one new Letter of Reference. Please reference the application policies above for details.

We will consider only one application per academic year. You are welcome to reapply to Tuck in the next application cycle and we look favorably upon reapplicants who have strengthened their candidacy across our four admissions criteria.

“The fact that you remain enthusiastic about Tuck and want to contribute to our community shows us that you sincerely want to be here—we appreciate that! That said, strong reapplicants take action to strengthen their candidacy, and go beyond simply resubmitting their previous application.”
—Amy Mitson, Director of Admissions. Recruitment and Marketing
 

Discover what the reapplication process entails and what steps you can take to strengthen your application: Reapplying to Tuck

“My advice to prospective students is to tell your authentic story, reflect on how you can uniquely contribute to the Tuck community, and not to give up if things don’t work out the first time around. I am a waitlister and reapplicant. I knew Tuck was the right fit for me and persisting through the application process was unequivocally worth it.”
MARK NOBLE T'21 | Read his story

Understanding Next Steps

Each of us appreciates the trust and faith you place in us to evaluate your candidacy. We enjoy getting to know you better through your application, and we take great care to conduct our assessment with fairness, equity, humanity, and positivity. We’re proud of our open and transparent admissions process and invite you to review the following to ensure you understand next steps:

Questions?

We wish you the best of luck during the admissions process. If you have any questions, please explore our Admissions FAQs and do not hesitate to contact us at +1 603 646 3162 or by email.