The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, located in Hanover, NH, and founded in 1900, offers a unique culture that is unlike many other top business education institutions in the US.
Tuck’s small, rural setting helps it stand out amongst other choices and makes it worthy of your consideration as a contender for where you will pursue your MBA. Small but mighty, Tuck is ranked consistently amongst the top ten business schools in the country.
An MBA from Tuck would benefit your career not just materially, in the almost guaranteed boost to your salary, but also by giving you the significant prestige of having a degree from an elite institution.
Tuck School of Business Acceptance Rate: 23%
The Tuck School of Business acceptance rate is 23%. In the most recent admissions cycle, Tuck accepted roughly 605 applicants from a pool of 2,621 students. This means that Tuck is a fairly competitive business school, although not as selective as some other top MBA programs in the US.
The class size at Tuck is also relatively small, with only 297 matriculated students in comparison to schools like Wharton, with a class size of almost 900. This can be incredibly advantageous in classes as it allows students to get to know the professors better, but may also increase Tuck’s selectivity in the admissions process.
How Hard Is It to Get Into the Tuck School of Business?
Since Tuck typically accepts less than a quarter of students who apply, it’s a fairly competitive school. The Tuck School of Business acceptance rate of only 23%, combined with high standards for GPA, GMAT, and GRE scores, makes it difficult to get into Tuck.
Tuck School of Business Admissions Statistics
Tuck Business School Average GPA: 3.49
According to Tuck’s most recent class profile, incoming students had an average GPA of 3.49 on a 4.0 scale. The total GPA range of scores was from 2.7 to 4.0, so if you want to get an MBA from Tuck, you should aim to get as close to a 4.0 GPA as possible to be competitive!
Tuck Business School Average GMAT Score: 726
The recent incoming class at Tuck boasts a competitive average GMAT score of 726. The total range of scores was from 630 to 800, with a verbal average of 42, a quant average of 48, and an IR average of 7. Be sure to study hard for the GMAT in order to get a competitive score!
Tuck Business School Average GRE Score: 322
The average GRE score of incoming Tuck students is a total 322, since the average scores for both GRE sections were 161. In order to be considered a competitive applicant, you should aim for a score equal to or higher than 161.
Tuck Business School Average Years of Work Experience: 5.8
Tuck’s incoming students have an average of 69 months of work experience. This equals out to about 5.75 years.
The industry with the highest percentage of incoming Tuck students is financial services, comprising 22% of the incoming class. Consulting (17%) takes the second-highest spot, with nonprofit & government (16%) and technology (15%) coming in at third- and fourth-highest.
What Is Tuck Business School Looking For In Applicants?
Tuck provides specific admissions criteria for applicants to follow that extend beyond test scores and GPA requirements. To be a successful applicant at Tuck Business School, you need to be smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging.
Tuck further defines these attributes by explaining that as an applicant, you should demonstrate intellectual aptitude, professional performance, individuality, and emotional intelligence. This may help you understand how Tuck Business School evaluates applications more thoroughly.
Along with these key attributes, you should also contribute strong application materials, including competitive test scores, a high GPA, and a solid resume.
Tuck Business School Admissions Requirements
To get into Tuck Business School, you’ll need a GPA of 3.5 or above as well as a GMAT score of 730 or a total GRE score of 325 in order to be a competitive applicant. You should also supplement your application with written materials that demonstrate your intelligence, accomplishments, awareness, and encouraging spirit.
The process of applying to the Tuck School of Business is typical compared to that of other top business schools. Here are the key application requirements:
- Application form, including a section about you short-term & long-term goals
- GMAT or GRE scores (or test waiver)
- English language test scores (if applicable)
- Academic transcripts
- Resume and employment history
- Essays
- Letters of reference
- $250 application fee
Tuck Business School Application Deadlines
You can apply for an MBA from Tuck in one of three rounds. Whether you apply in Round 1, 2, or 3 depends mainly on your personal situation, schedule, and preferences.
To help you keep track of important dates, here is a table outlining the Tuck application deadlines for Round 1:
Here are the application deadlines you’ll need to know if you’re applying in Round 2:
And finally, here are the important dates for Round 3 applications:
Tuck Business School Regular Decision Deadline
Because of the rounds system, there are multiple regular decision deadlines for Tuck Business School. You’ll need to submit your application by either September 25, January 4, or March 25.
When decisions are released, you’ll be able to find your admissions decision on the application form. Tuck may also personally contact some applicants to let them know their decision.
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Into Tuck School of Business
Now that we have discussed the process of applying to Tuck, we can delve into how you can best boost your profile and get in under the 23% Tuck School of Business acceptance rate. Reviewing all of the parts of the application process should highlight ways that you can improve your profile.
Earn Strong Test Scores
One of the most obvious ways is to ensure that you have solid test scores. Almost all top business schools have an average GMAT score above 700, and Tuck is no exception. Test scores indicate that a candidate is academically capable and will be able to deal with the work expected of them at business schools.
Tests such as the GMAT are particularly sophisticated and tailored towards business education in such a way that they give significant insights into the capabilities of candidates for business schools.
As such, if you feel that your test scores are lacking, improving them means you will be much more likely to get into Tuck and succeed. If you feel that you are struggling with the GMAT test, which tends to heavily emphasize quantitative skills, try the GRE test, which is also accepted by Tuck but has much less of a computational focus.
You can also seek out resources like tutors or test prep programs to ensure you perform your best, no matter which of the tests you choose.
Gain Relevant Work Experience
Having a solid resume is another key way to ensure a successful application to Tuck. Top business schools are looking for top candidates, which, in business education, means you are expected to already have a significant length of experience in professional settings before applying.
As we have noted, the average work experience of accepted candidates is five years. If you don't have much experience yet, you might save yourself a lot of time and money by securing sufficient work experience before you apply. Impressive work experience on your resume is one of the most valuable things on your business school application.
Schools such as Tuck will even disregard below-average test scores if you can prove that your ‘real-life’ experiences and achievements show that you are still suitable for a place in the Tuck MBA program.
Demonstrate Your Fit
The Tuck School of Business acceptance rate is fairly low at only 23%. This means that you’ll need to go above and beyond in your application in order to stand out!
Tuck is very clear about the characteristics they look for in students. Successful applicants will be smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. In your application, make sure that you implement these values!
You can demonstrate your intelligence and your accomplishments through your grades, test scores, and resume. But don’t forget about Tuck’s values of awareness and encouragement, either! You can use your supplementary materials, such as your essay, interview, or even recommendation letters, to demonstrate these qualities.
Communicate clear goals and ambitions as well as how Tuck’s community will help you realize your aspirations. Demonstrate an encouraging spirit through anecdotes and your general demeanor. This will help put your application over the edge!
Tuck Business School Essay Prompts
Crafting a compelling MBA essay can be challenging, but remember--it’s a chance for you to show who you are to the admissions committee!
While it’s important to be intentional about what you write, try not to get too caught up in what they want to hear. Be genuine and authentic! You may also want to look at some MBA essay examples to get inspiration.
Tuck also advises students to make sure they personalize their responses to these prompts and be specific about why Tuck is a good fit.
Here are the updated Tuck essay prompts for 2024:
- “Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinctive Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations? (300 words)”
- “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)”
- “Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words)”
- “(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)”
- “(To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)”
Your essay (or letter of intent, depending on the prompt) is a valuable opportunity. Your life, your experiences, and your goals are all relevant to the admissions officers. They want candidates who are not only exceptional but will truly benefit from the educational opportunities Tuck can offer. Use this opportunity to show them just that.
Tuck Business School Interview
The Tuck Business School interview is an important part of the application process!
While Tuck aims to interview as many students as possible, not every applicant will be guaranteed an interview. If you manage to submit your application before certain dates for each round, you’ll be guaranteed an admissions interview. Otherwise, you’ll only receive an interview by invitation.
Interview notifications will be sent out on a rolling basis over a span of about 2-4 months, depending on the round in which your interview is being conducted. Your interview will be conducted by a trained group of second-year students known as Tuck Admissions Associates (TAAs).
You can expect your interview to last roughly 30-45 minutes. At the end, you’ll have a chance to ask your interviewer anything you’d like to know about Tuck. Interviews are conducted both virtually and on campus, although there are limited spots for in-person interviews.
How to Prepare For the Tuck Business School Interview
If you’re nervous about your business school interview, don’t worry! Tuck provides specific interview tips to help you relax and prepare. Here’s what they advise:
- Know Tuck’s admissions criteria well: You can use the admissions interview to demonstrate that you are smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. You may wish to think about how you can highlight these attributes in your answers.
- Be familiar with common MBA questions: These questions may include “Why are you pursuing an MBA?” or “Walk me through your resume.” Be prepared to discuss your aspirations and your professional and academic journey.
- Prepare examples for behavioral questions: To prevent your mind from blanking, consider using the STAR method for answering behavioral questions (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and preparing several examples of your leadership or professional skills in advance.
- Don’t be overly scripted: While it’s good to prepare, you should still be ready to improvise. Tuck discourages the use of pre-written notes; rather, you should be able to demonstrate that you can listen and respond to questions in real time.
- Prepare accordingly for your interview format: Make sure that you’re appropriately prepared for either a virtual or in-person interview. If virtual, be sure that your camera is well-lit and shows your whole face. Also, be sure to minimize background items and noise as much as possible.
- Be aware of first impressions: Present yourself in a good light from the first moment on! Remember to dress well, maintain eye contact, and be confident and friendly.
FAQs
1. Is Tuck worth the price?
It is more than likely that your time at Tuck will pay off in the long run. To be clear, studying for an MBA there will incur a considerable financial cost. Including the cost of living and the opportunity costs from not working for two years, you can expect your degree from Tuck to set you back at least $200,000.
That being said, Tuck does offer significant financial aid and scholarships to decrease the upfront costs of your degree, and with the increased salary that you can expect after completing your studies, you should pay off the cost of your degree within four years.
2. Is the Tuck School of Business a good graduate school?
As a member of the Ivy League, Tuck is regarded by many as an extremely prestigious institution. In addition, it consistently ranks among the top ten business schools in the US across multiple categories. If you’re considering whether you should get an MBA from Tuck, the answer is a resounding yes.
3. Who should send my letters of reference?
The ideal referee is someone who can honestly testify to your character and achievements. For example, your direct supervisor or a professor with whom you worked closely on a project at your university.
4. Should I submit test scores for both the GMAT and GRE?
The Tuck School of Business accepts both the GMAT and GRE but does not require you to submit both. You would be better served by selecting whichever test you have done or think you can do best in and submitting the highest score possible as part of your MBA application.
5. Do you have to have business experience to be accepted into Tuck?
Tuck accepts a wide variety of candidates and doesn't require formal business experience from its candidates. It does require that you are able to exhibit the skills that will be required to successfully study at a business school, and if you lack experience in some of the key quantitative concepts that will form a part of your MBA education (statistics, finance, etc.), consider taking classes to better prepare you.
6. What can I do if I cannot afford the cost of the application?
Tuck does offer waivers on a case-by-case basis to those facing financial hardship. If this is a concern for you, explore Tuck’s admissions FAQ for details on the waiver request process.
7. Does Tuck have a waitlist?
Yes, Tuck employs a waitlist for candidates that it feels are worthy of consideration in further rounds of the application cycle. This is only a very small part of the applications process, as generally very few candidates will be put on this list each year.
This can be a disappointing result, but it is still a good result from the application process and means you have a good chance of acceptance in the future.
Conclusion
The Tuck School of Business is a historical and prestigious institution. Your approach to the school should reflect this. Applying to a top business school like Tuck requires serious commitment and a strong history of success — both academically and professionally.
This article is a good starting point to allow you to explore all that would be required of you when applying to Tuck and how to best maximize your chances of success in your application.
Remember to achieve the highest test scores possible, maintain a competitive GPA, and secure strong letters of recommendation while gaining the appropriate work experience. Getting into Tuck would result in an almost guaranteed boost to your career with an increased salary and the prestige of an Ivy League business school MBA.
Tuck has a rare essence. If you believe this is the school for you, may you be successful in your pursuit of the highly esteemed Tuck MBA.
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