In this edition of Real Humans: MBA Students, we head to a rigorous, close-knit MBA program in Charlottesville, Virginia. MBA candidates who choose The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business can expect to review more than 500 case studies during the two-year program. Darden also emphasizes experiential learning, including international hands-on opportunities like the Darden Worldwide Course, the Global Consulting Project, and the Exchange Program. Domestic field experiences include the Leadership Ride: Lessons in Leadership, a course exploring leadership styles, systems of authority as evidenced in the Battle of Gettysburg; the elective, Markets in Human Hope, designed to help the disadvantaged and underserved; and Consulting Darden Business Projects during which a small group of students collaborate directly with a corporate client.
336 students comprise the Darden MBA Class of 2021. International students make up 33 percent of the student body and represent 38 countries. U.S. minority students represent 21 percent and women 40 percent. During their undergraduate years, the new class averaged a 3.5 GPA. The average GMAT score landed at 713, while those who took the GRE averaged 161 Verbal and 160 Quant.
Charlottesville, only two hours from Washington, D.C., is set at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where students can access 100+ miles of hiking trails. Charlottesville has over 400 restaurants and 1,000 live music venues. The National Venture Capital Association ranked Charlottesville the fastest-growing venture capital city in the U.S. The University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson, is the only UNESCO World Heritage University in North America.
Read on for profiles of six Darden first-year students, who share their impressions of Darden, advice on the MBA admissions process and more.
