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Applying to Stanford GSB’s MBA? Here Are the Basics
By Pascal Michels
Last updated: June 16, 2025
Table of Contents
The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) is a leading business school with special strengths in private equity and venture capital, entrepreneurship and social impact. Although it compares unfavorably to Harvard Business School (HBS) in certain metrics–as of 2019, its endowment is reported by Poets&Quants to be nearly $2 Billion lower, and HBS, thanks in part to its larger enrollment, consistently produces more CEOs, cabinet members, and other alumni in powerful positions–Stanford GSB is actually the most selective business school.
This low acceptance rate means that even if you are a great applicant, you are not guaranteed a place. Dean Emeritus Robert Joss famously remarked that he could “double the size of the incoming MBA class without even touching the quality,” and the corollary of this statement is that a large number of very well qualified applicants will be rejected each year.
As any MBA program does, Stanford wants to be appreciated for more than it’s historical reputation (for entrepreneurship, in this case). Stanford applicants would be well-advised to understand the school’s culture of emotional sharing (or over-sharing), giving feedback to each other, and pursuing a humanistic approach to business that relies on understanding the relationships between people. This may be good news for you if you’re a humanities major– Stanford admits far more people from this group than peer schools.
This profile lays out the basic facts about Stanford GSB and the resources you’ll need to further research the program.
The Stanford MBA program curriculum is segmented into 6 quarters: the autumn, winter, and spring quarters of year one, and the autumn, winter, and spring quarters of year two. The GSB required curriculum spans over the first year of the program, where students take fixed core classes in the autumn quarter, and select from a limited variety of classes during the winter and spring quarters. Students must also complete one Global Experience requirement. GSB’s elective curriculum allows students to choose from at least 100 courses in their second year. These courses vary by year. Some of the current courses offered at Stanford are Strategic Philanthropy and Impact Investing, Media Entrepreneurship, Investing for Good, Strategic Pivoting for your Next Chapter, and Making Social Ventures Happen by Attracting Financial and Human Capital.
The Stanford MBA leads to a comprehensive general management degree. Although GSB does not offer majors, students choose their electives from nine different academic areas:
GSB requires students to complete at least one global experience in their first year. Students can choose from four experiences.
Global Management Immersion Experience: Students spend four weeks in a foreign country working on projects during the summer.
Global Seminars: Seminars provide an in-depth coverage of a global business topic, and students spend eight to ten days in the seminar location.
Global Study Trips: Travel to an international location for eight to ten days in a group of 20 to 30 students to develop a strong understanding of a global issue.
Stanford-Tsinghua Exchange Program: Collaborate with students from Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management on academic projects.
GSB also allows students to create their own independent study or global internship.
Coming from private equity, Alex knew he wanted to continue to build his career. A top-tier MBA was almost a prerequisite for his advancement: the degree would sharpen his leadership acumen, lay a knowledge foundation for him to build his own fund in the future, and help him establish a network that would support him throughout his entire career.
Hear how he navigated the MBA application process and ultimately won a spot in the Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2022.
The latest application requirements set by the Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA admissions office are described in the links below.
Essays
Here are the prompts for Stanford GSB’s most recent application cycle:
Personal Essay
What matters most to you, and why? (Suggested Word Count: 650 words)
Career Goals Essay
Why Stanford? (Suggested Word Count: 350 words)
Behavioral Essays
(Optional Question) 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, approximately 200 words for each example; up to three examples)
We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. With this question we provide you with an optional opportunity to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices. (1200 characters)
Optional Essay
We are deliberate in the questions we ask. We believe that we get to know you well through all of the elements of your application. Complete this section only if you have critical information you could not convey elsewhere on your application (e.g., extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance). This section is not meant to be used as an additional essay. (No word limit)
The majority of admissions interviews are conducted by Stanford GSB alumni. Interviewers are trained to focus especially on behavioral questions, asking numerous follow-up questions to understand exactly what you did in each situation and why. Interview reports from our clients indicate that the variability from interviewer to interviewer in terms of length, style and content is high.
Touchy Feely: This incredibly popular course about interpersonal dynamics is the single most famous aspect of the Stanford GSB. Be warned–it is difficult to say anything fresh about this topic in your essays!
Stanford University’s Six Other Schools: Stanford’s campus is designed with the GSB at the center, with the other graduate schools radiating outward from it. Many GSB students take courses at these schools, or design programs at the d.school.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars: A scholarship that brings together grad students from a variety of disciplines, fully funding scholars’ degrees, providing an extensive leadership program, and fostering a strong multidisciplinary community.
TALK: This is a forum for Stanford students to speak publicly to their classmates about highly intimate personal stories. You won’t find a homepage for this club with recordings of previous sessions–but some googling for “Stanford GSB TALK” will bring back more information about this tradition.
Ready to Apply?
Stanford’s MBA is one of the most competitive programs in the market, and creating a strong application requires a solid strategy. Applicants can benefit from the help of an MBA consulting service, ensuring they leave no stone unturned in the Stanford GSB application.
*All data retrieved from the Stanford GSB MBA Program webpages, unless otherwise stated.
Pascal Michels
Sr. Consultant & Director
Education: BA, MBA
Pascal’s former experience as Director of Admissions for IESE’s MBA program and heavy involvement with MBA recruiting at Citi Private Bank make him the perfect mentor for applicants looking to climb the ladder or transition into a new role. Fluent in four languages, Pascal has a special affinity for European MBA candidates—but his proven track record extends to all fields, including bankers and military officers.
