April 3, 2020
We’re All in This Together
Our offices are closed, but our spirits remain open
Hello everyone,
My heart goes out to everyone whose health or that of their family and friends has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In these last couple of months, as we have had to adjust the ways in which we live, work, and interact, we have become acutely aware of how interdependent the world truly is.
Thank you for your continued interest in the Stanford MBA Program. During this challenging time, our priority is to help reduce stress and uncertainty as you navigate your MBA application process. Whether you are about to submit your application or just considering an MBA, we want to share with you how Stanford GSB has responded to COVID-19 and how these changes may impact you.
The health of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni is our greatest concern. We are working closely with Stanford University to actively monitor local and global developments regarding COVID-19 and adhering to state and local guidelines. In accordance with these guidelines, the university has implemented travel restrictions and the entire campus is complying with “shelter-in-place” orders. The majority of staff are working remotely and spring quarter courses will all be taught online.
As Stanford GSB Dean Jon Levin shared in a recent communication: “To navigate [this] challenge globally, to protect lives and well-being, we will need leadership that is both bold and wise, as well as individual and collective heroism.” Our faculty and MBA students have joined forces, working together to protect patients and prevent viral spread by developing new approaches to disease modeling and securing scarce medical equipment for healthcare workers. I am inspired by the strength of the Stanford community — and reminded that the need for great leadership is ever present. We hope to support you on your journey to obtain the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to lead in these turbulent times.
How COVID-19 Has Impacted Admissions Processes
For those of you applying in Round 3, we are keeping our application deadline and notification dates the same. Individuals who apply by April 8 will be notified by May 21, and admitted students have until June 10 to accept their offer of admission. We are maintaining this timeline to allow students enough time to obtain visas and to prepare for their arrival on campus in September.
As testing centers have closed across the globe, we understand you may not be able to take the required testing by April 8. We encourage you to apply without the required test scores, and we will consider them as soon as they become available. Please see our FAQs for more details. If your recommenders have difficulty submitting a letter of recommendation on time, we will accept their recommendations after the deadline, so that your application can still be considered.
Stanford GSB remains committed to admitting students from across the globe for the Class of 2022 and all classes that follow. We recognize that obtaining a visa may be more difficult at this time given the closures of U.S. embassies. We encourage international students to apply in Round 3. Any admitted international student who is unable to start the Stanford MBA Program due to a visa issue will be considered for a deferral and a spot in the next year’s class.
For those of you interested in learning more about the Stanford MBA Program, we hope you will connect with us through our virtual events. At this time, we have canceled all on- and off-campus recruiting events to protect your health and safety but look forward to seeing you online.
We encourage you to reach out to us if you have any concerns about applying or would like to learn more about our MBA program. We know you may be facing unexpected difficulties and wish to support you in whatever way we can.
Regards,
Kirsten Moss
Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid
