Vanderbilt Owen

Nashville, TN · Private · 2-year full-time

Average GMAT Focus: 660 (625–705 (middle 80%))
Median GPA: 3.40
Class size: 160 (Class of 2027)
Median base salary: $142,800 (Class of 2025)
Program tuition: $153,400 (≈ 2 × first-year tuition)

Deadlines

Round 1: Oct. 1, 2026
Round 2: Jan. 6, 2027
Round 3: March 10, 2027
Round 4: May 5, 2027

Essays

Statement One (400 words)

Our Career Management Center offers resources, guidance, and support to students as they navigate their anticipated post-MBA career paths. Examples of popular industry career paths are Consulting, Financial Services, Consumer Products, Healthcare, Human Resources, Technology, and beyond. It is noteworthy that many students opt to concurrently explore multiple industry career paths. As you contemplate your post-MBA aspirations, walk us through your career journey thus far and share two post-MBA career paths you aim to explore during the Vanderbilt MBA program. Please articulate what in your career journey has led to your decision to pursue an MBA, and touch on skills you've developed that will help you achieve your post-MBA career plans.

Statement Two (300 words)

Reflect on a challenge or stressful situation you have faced. How did you respond to this challenge, and what did you learn about yourself through the process?

Video response

The video response is a chance for you to provide a glimpse of your authentic self, speaking without a script. The video questions are designed to be easy to answer, “small talk” questions to help us to get to know you. You will have time to prepare your response and the application will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to record your answers.

Optional explanatory statement

You may provide an additional statement to briefly explain anything that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application. This could include employment gaps, lack of recommendation from your current or most recent supervisor, violations of the law, academic misconduct, sub-par academic performance, or anything else that is relevant to your application. Bullet points are acceptable for this statement when appropriate.

Re-applicant essay (optional, re-applicants only)

You also have the opportunity to complete a re-applicant essay to share information about what has changed about your candidacy.

Editor's notes

A late file costs you a round here. Vanderbilt moves any application still missing pieces a week after the deadline into the next round, and your official test score takes 10 to 14 business days to arrive. For Oct. 1, send scores and brief your recommender now.
Think twice before a test waiver if you're aiming at consulting or finance. Those were the top two industries for the Class of 2025, and Vanderbilt itself warns that employers in those fields may ask for a score. Once you submit any score, a waiver is off the table.
The interview is behavioral and Vanderbilt calls it essential. Your Statement Two story and the career journey in Statement One are your best raw material. Prepare two or three more examples of the same quality before an invitation comes.
Statement One is built around the Career Management Center and two career paths. Research both paths at Vanderbilt specifically. With 35 of last year's graduates staying in Nashville and healthcare at 16% of hires, a healthcare path is one the school can speak to directly.