Deferred MBA programs ask for something unusual: a commitment to business school before your first full-time job, plus a convincing case that your plans hold up. This kickoff opens the week by looking at what programs like HBS 2 2 and Stanford GSB’s deferred enrollment are actually evaluating when your record is mostly internships, campus leadership, and a story about where you’re headed.

The panel covers the process from both sides of the table. Geri spent eight years on the HBS Admissions Board and helped launch 2 2, Timothy read and interviewed applicants as an admissions fellow at Chicago Booth, and Brandon earned his GSB deferred admit as a first-gen student not long ago. Hearing how an admissions reader and a recent admit describe the same application is a useful place to start.