MSA Application

GMAT®  or GRE scores are not required for students who have, or are expected to have, an undergraduate degree from a U.S. college or university prior to enrollment. Applicants from colleges and universities outside the U.S. and colleges are required to submit a valid GMAT® score or apply for a GMAT waiver.

We do not accept test scores older than five years. GMAT® and GRE® scores should be reported directly using the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business codes: XM7-2D-54 for GMAT and 6998 for GRE.

Try our GMAT mini quiz to get familiar with the types of questions you’ll encounter on the GMAT.

GRE/GMAT Waivers:
To request a waiver, please complete this form and provide all required documentation.

Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended. Please include all prior coursework including summer sessions and any graduate studies. International transcripts must be accompanied by an official English translation.

As some applicants are still enrolled in undergraduate studies, the Admissions Committee will accept an unofficial transcript for application purposes. If you are admitted, you will be required to submit a final, official transcript with proof of graduation prior to enrollment.

Please note: Only full term-by-term transcripts are accepted; degree audits are not. Submitted documents cannot be returned. Applications are reviewed once all materials are received.

One recommendation is required as part of the application process. We suggest selecting someone who can provide a comprehensive assessment of your qualifications and skills.

The individual you choose should be familiar with your professional or academic background and capable of offering detailed insights into your abilities and achievements. Ideally, this recommender will have observed your performance closely and can provide specific examples that highlight your strengths and potential.

Applicants should submit a one-page resume summarizing your education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments. Include academic qualifications and professional experience with key responsibilities and achievements. Highlight relevant technical and soft skills, along with notable accomplishments such as awards or publications. Include professional affiliations, volunteer experience, and extracurricular activities that demonstrate your leadership and personal development.

In addition to your resume and transcripts, our slide deck component offers an opportunity for candidates to showcase unique qualities not captured elsewhere, including personal aspects beyond your academic and professional experiences. This slide deck is a required component of your application, and you will be asked to upload it as part of your submission.

Slide Deck Guidelines:

• Submit four (4) slides.
• Create slides using any software and save/upload as a PDF.
• Avoid using audio or video files.
• The Admissions Committee will review the slides; no presentation is required.
• Share meaningful insights about yourself for the Admissions Committee.
• Use a lighthearted tone that reflects your personality to highlight your uniqueness beyond academic and work achievements.

The statement of purpose is a 100-word statement detailing your short-term professional goals. Include the roles and industries you are targeting after completing your degree and how you plan to leverage the skills and knowledge gained from the program to achieve these goals. This statement will help the Admissions Committee understand your career vision and how our program fits into your professional development plan.

Applicants will respond to the required essay prompt in 500 words or less. This essay allows the Admissions Committee to understand who you are and who you will be at Notre Dame.

Essay Prompt:

“The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842, by Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C, with a mission to become “one of the most powerful means for doing good in this country”. In 1879, Father Sorin’s vision for Notre Dame seemingly came to an abrupt end when a massive fire destroyed the main building that housed the entire university. Instead of giving up, Father Sorin interpreted the fire as a sign that his dream was too small. He then decided to rebuild, bigger and better. The now iconic main building still stands today, topped by the gleaming Golden Dome, as an ongoing symbol of perseverance and vision.

Tell us about a time, in your personal or professional experience, when you persevered and overcame obstacles or you had to start over and rebuild. What did you learn most about yourself, and how has that influenced how you show up in the world?”

This is an opportunity to share information not covered elsewhere in your application. You can include additional context about your background, gaps in employment, unique experiences, personal challenges you have overcome, or any other insights that may not be fully represented in other sections of your application.

As part of our application process, we require a video assessment. During this assessment, members of our Admissions Committee will ask you a set of questions to better understand you as an individual. This holistic approach allows the Committee to review your application thoroughly. The video assessment is a prerequisite for your application to move forward and should be completed within 3-5 days of submitting your application.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants (and U.S. citizens with extensive international study) must submit an English proficiency test score. Accepted tests include TOEFL®, IELTS™, PTE Academic, or the Duolingo English Test. Test scores may be waived if you completed at least six full-time semesters or nine full-time quarters at a university where English is the primary language. Transcripts will verify this, and the Admissions Committee will notify you if additional information is needed.

Report your English proficiency scores directly to the MBA program using Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business TOEFL code 2456.

The $50 non-refundable application fee is the final requirement in the application process. After submitting your application, you will be directed to the application status page where you can submit a payment by credit card through the online application system.

Your application will not be considered complete until this fee is paid.

Application fee waivers are available for individuals who satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

• United States Active Duty Military or Veterans
• Current or former Peace Corps volunteers
• Current or former Teach for America volunteers

If you fulfill any of these criteria, please reach out to the admissions team for further details at msa.business@nd.edu.