About Stanford GSB
“The majority of people who go to GSB do extraordinary things in ordinary jobs.”
Stanford’s MBA Program is the most selective in the world. Consistently at the top of the rankings, it attracts thousands of applications for spots in a relatively small class, which leads to the lowest acceptance rates of any major business school in the world, usually around 6%.
The Stanford MBA program’s class size lends itself to an intimate and close-knit community environment that pretty much guarantees almost every student knows one another. The class profile is extremely diverse, with roughly 45% women, 35% international and around 400 different employers representing its incoming class of, on average, 420 students. With Silicon Valley in its backyard, a growing number of tech and engineering applicants are choosing GSB over its East Coast rival. The dean estimates that three out of every four applicants who are admitted to both HBS and GSB choose Stanford. Graduates enjoy their pick of the hiring options from Google, McKinsey and a thriving Silicon Valley in a wide range of industries: finance, private equity, management consulting, big tech and, of course, entrepreneurial ventures. With the highest total compensation for alumni five years after school – estimated by Forbes at an average of $255,000 – and the school and its graduates are clearly in high demand and making an impact.
Strengths and Specializations
Tech, entrepreneurship, innovation, general management, social enterprise.
Graduating Class of 2025
Number of Applicants: 6190
MBA Class Size: 431
Avg. Work Experience: 5 yrs
Avg. GMAT: 738
International Students: 36%
Female Students: 46%
Tuition: $79,860/year
Post-MBA Careers (class of 2023)
Sector: Finance 38%; Tech 24%; Consulting 15%; Healthcare 4%; Starting Own Business 25%
Avg. Base Salary: $189,010; Salary Increase: 117% (source: FT Rankings 2024)
Employment offered within 3 months of graduation: 89%
Stanford GSB Rankings
Admissions
Deadlines for 2023-2024: R1: Sep 12, 2023, R2: Jan 04, 2024, R3: April 9, 2024
Essays
A. What matters most to you, and why?
B. Why Stanford?
Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.
- Explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management.
- Explain the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford.
- If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.
Length
Your answers for both essay questions combined may not exceed 1,050 words. Stanford recommends up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B.
Short Answer Question:
Optional Question A: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? (Up to 1200 characters each, or approximately 200 words each, for up to 3 examples)
Fortuna Tips & Advice
Check out our article on Stanford GSB Essays: Tips & Strategy on Writing What Matters Most