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Graduate Application Requirements

Graduate & Executive Programs at the Whittemore School, UNH

The crucial requirement for admission is a history that demonstrates the applicant has the potential and desire for graduate study. All students must have completed a four year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) before beginning the program. In the portfolio approach to admission, the following factors are all considered:

Academic Credentials

Copies of transcripts from every institution you have attended must be submitted with your application. Official transcripts should remain in their sealed envelopes and submitted with the application. In instances where an educational institution will not release transcripts directly to the student, they may be sent to the Graduate School, University of New Hampshire, Thompson Hall, 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824-3547. A grade point average (GPA) will be calculated based on academic coursework taken at all institutions you have attended. The recent average GPA for admitted applicants was 3.2.


GRE/GMAT Scores

The GRE is required for admission to the MA and PhD in Economics programs. Candidates are considered competitive with scores in the mid-600's.

The GMAT is required for admission to the MS Accounting and MBA programs. The recent average GMAT score was 560. To register for the exam or for more tools to help you prepare for the exam, please visit the Graduate Management Admissions Council homepage.


References

Three letters of recommendation must be submitted with your application. References should detail your strengths, weaknesses, and potential for academic and managerial success. Executive MBA applicants must submit a letter of reference from their current supervisor. Personal references are not recommended.


Interview

Normally Full Time MBA Executive MBA applicants are required to have an interview as a part of the application process. The interview allows the admissions committee to gain a greater understanding of the applicant's professional background. Interviews are not required for admission to the other Whittemore School graduate programs, but may be requested by either the applicant or the admissions committee. An interview is strongly recommended for applicants with one or more weak components of their profile. An interview can be scheduled after submitting your application by contacting the Graduate Programs Office.


Essay Questions

The essay questions are a crucial component of your application to the Whittemore School. Through your answers to the specific essay questions you will offer the admissions committee members insight into your reasons for pursuing a graduate business degree. It is important that we are able to accommodate your academic needs and that your interests are in line with our curriculum objectives. There is no minimum or maximum requirement for the essays, however we expect that you will convey your responses in a clear and concise manner.


Work History

Executive MBA - A minimum of seven years of professional work experience is required for an applicant to be considered for this program.

Full-time MBA - Two years of work experience is recommended but not required for applicants considering the full-time MBA program.

Part-time MBA -Two years of work experience is recommended but not required for applicants considering the part-time MBA program. Currently, the average applicant has four to seven years of professional work experience.

MA and Phd in Economics and MS in Accounting - Work experience is recommended for applicants considering the Economics or Accounting programs, but not required.


Potential for Leadership

An effective leader is an active listener as well as a dynamic speaker, a participant as well as an organizer, and a manager as well as an innovator. We believe leadership skills can be taught, but it takes a unique person to apply these skills. At the Whittemore School, you will have the opportunity to participate as a team member throughout your academic career. Your individual strengths and weaknesses will be balanced within your team and allow you to develop these skills. Obviously, leadership skills are difficult to measure. The admissions committee works to create a class that brings together many individuals from diverse backgrounds to create an atmosphere that promotes critical thinking, collaboration, computer literacy, international awareness, and creative reasoning.

You may be called upon or you may elect class representatives to participate in quarterly review meetings with program administrators. As a small academic community, you will have the ability to impact the quality of your learning experience.


TOEFL

The minimum TOEFL requirement is 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test. International applicants are required to submit official TOEFL scores less than two years old. While we have established minimum scores for admissions purposes, competitive applicants seeking financial aid from the Whittemore School, have on average, had TOEFL scores of 650 on the paper-based test and 280 on the computer-based test.

The Admission committee will also accept scores from the IELTS exam. The minimum score is 6.5 and

Applications for Admission

International Students who live outside the US must submit a pre-application prior to submitting a formal application.