Application Instructions

Apply now for Fall 2012

View a printable copy of the application instructions.

All parts of the application, including recommendation letters and essays, must be received by the applicable deadline to consider the application complete.

Part 1: The Application

• Please use the following Portal to access the Penn State Graduate School Application. You can return to this portal anytime during the process to access your application.
  
  http://www.gradsch.psu.edu/portal/
• After you begin your application, you will be asked to select the desired program. Your selections for the full-time residential Smeal MBA program at Penn State should be:
  
  
• Complete application and upload resume and essays as prompted.

Part 2: Essays

• Format: Please complete the following two essays and upload them to the application in .pdf or .rtf format. Please include both in one document.
• Length: Please limit your essays to the word limit provided.
• Academic Integrity: Please follow academic integrity guidelines regarding plagiarism - "using someone else's words or ideas without properly giving credit." To ensure academic integrity, all essays will be confirmed through Turnitin for Admissions authenticity software.
• Essay Questions

1. What are your short-term and long-term career goals?  What is your plan for achieving these goals?  Please be as specific as possible, including industry and function.  How do you see your experience at Smeal fitting into this plan? (600 words)

2. Listed below are the values that embody the Penn State Smeal MBA community.
   Penn State Smeal MBA Values
   - We are Individuals of Character and Integrity. We value honesty, humility, and hard work. We value passion, commitment, and personal responsibility. We honor our obligation to each other and to the world in which we live.
   - We are A Diverse Community built on Common Values. We value each person’s unique contributions to the Community. We value trust, mutual respect and collaboration. We share our struggles and our successes - and have fun along the way.
   - We are Leaders focused on Learning and Individual Growth. We value intellectual curiosity, creative thinking, and a commitment to excellence. We value a curriculum that is relevant, innovative, and practical, and demanding. We take risks and reach beyond our perceived limitations.
   - We are The Students, Faculty, Alumni, and Staff of The Penn State Smeal MBA Program.
   - We are Penn State.
   We value how these principles help us develop our future leaders. Please select ONE of the following questions to show how you embody the Penn State Smeal MBA culture. (500 words)
   a.    “We value each person’s unique contributions to the Community.” What will be your unique contribution to the Penn State Smeal MBA community?
   b.    “We honor our obligation to each other and to the world in which we live.”  What obligation do you have to the world and how are you planning to make an impact?
   c.     “We take risks and reach beyond our perceived limitations.” Describe a time when you took a risk, and what you learned from the outcome.

Part 3: Letters of Recommendation

• Two letters of recommendation are required.
• The online application "References" section may be left blank and Saved, as the site below will register your two references.
• Use the following link to register yourself. After creating your account, login and submit your two recommenders. Upon submission, they will be sent access to a webform to complete their recommendations. You may go back to the registration page to change recommenders.
  
  http://php.smeal.psu.edu/mba/recommendation/index.php
• If your recommenders are unable to use the electronic form above, please have them fill out and mail the following form.
  Recommendation Form
• Additional recommendation letters may be submitted as supplements, however, we prefer that only the form is used. This allows us to most equitable compare candidates, and ensures that candidates' assessments rely on specific ratings rather than their references' varied language and writing styles.

Part 4: Video (Optional)

We encourage applicants to submit a brief video (2 minutes or less). While this is not a mandatory part of the application, a video will help allow the admissions committee experience your presentation capabilities. In your video, please do the following:

• State your name, where you are from (city and country), and the date you are recording the video.
• Describe your personal value proposition. Why should you be a member of the next Penn State Smeal MBA class? (Try to include some information that we can't see anywhere else in our application.)

Technical Requirements: http://www.mycollegei.com/UnAuth/Pages/FAQs.aspx

To upload your video, click here: http://www.mycollegei.com/UnAuth/Pages/LoginInv.aspx?CollegeID=29baefcb-5050-4977-91f4-a413b10daf48&PennStateSmealMBAProgram

Additional Information

• If you need additional information on the application process, please visit:
  
  Domestic Applicant Requirements
  
  International Applicant Requirements
• If you still have questions after consulting the resources on the website, please contact us at 814-863-0474 or via e-mail at smealmba@psu.edu.
• The only accurate way to check the status of your application and whether or not your materials have been received is to contact us at smealmba@psu.edu. The information available on https://secure.gradsch.psu.edu/status/ is not up to date.

Materials Mailing Address:
Penn State Smeal MBA Program
Admissions Office
220 Business Building
University Park, PA 16802
USA