Each year about 120 students enter the Full-Time Carlson MBA Program. These students possess a wide variety of work and academic experiences and a range of professional aspirations. As part of its highly competitive selection process, the program looks at a variety of criteria that measure the candidate's demonstrated or potential abilities as a student, manager, and leader:

• Past academic performance, including areas of academic strength and trends in performance, with greater weight given to more recent study.
  
  
• General intellectual ability as measured by scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). All three scores, Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing Assessment, are important.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to assume responsibility and achieve measurable results, as principally measured by the type, level, and amount of work experience. We also take into account leadership and extracurricular activities while in school and military service.
  
  
• Personal statements of goals, challenges, and experience.
  
  
• Interpersonal and communication skills. We encourage students to schedule a personal interview with an MBA admissions staff member.
  
  
• Letters of recommendation. We consider the comments made by others who can evaluate your accomplishments, your communication and interpersonal skills, and your leadership potential.