There’s only 3 top deferred MBA programs and they are extremely hard to get. A deferred MBA program is where you can work for a company for 2-5 yrs and secure your spot for that school. The only schools that have this is Harvard, Standford, and Yale. Does anyone know the best way to getting into these programs?
Chicago Booth has an older “2+2” program than Yale’s and is more highly regarded. This year, Wharton also got into the deferred admissions game as well. But Booth and Wharton only do it for their own Uni’s undergrad students.
The Yale Silver Scholars program is not a 2+2 program. HBS calls its program 2+2 because of the two year work/deferral period after graduation (Stanford’s GSB program is the same). Both will usually allow a third year with a good reason. Yale requires matriculation the fall after graduation, so there is not a deferral period. Additionally, it’s a three year program with the middle year an internship/work year. My son just applied to the other two, but not to Yale because he wants some time to work before starting his MBA. Because Booth and Wharton are only available to their undergrads, so they are not an option for most students.
The best way to get into these programs is to earn an excellent undergrad gpa from a rigorous college, score above the mean on the GMATs, and participate in something exceptional - whether founding a company or equivalent. Both deferred HBS and GSB programs seem to prefer STEM undergrads interested in tech - I know HBS accepts 60% STEM undergrads into its 2+2 program.
Per the HBS website…“Upon graduation, admitted 2+2 students spend a minimum of two years (maximum of 4 years) working in a professional position in the public, private, or nonprofit sector.”