McDonough School of Business – Georgetown University

FAQ

What is the tuition for McDonough’s MBA program?

The tuition for McDonough’s MBA program is $62,684 per year. The total cost of the McDonough MBA program is $93,852 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.

How hard is it to get into McDonough’s MBA program?

The acceptance rate for McDonough is 47.5% It is important to consider the acceptance rate in the context of the student profile of those who are admitted. For example the average GMAT score is 693.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to McDonough’s MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at McDonough is 693. The GMAT range is middle 80% 650 – 730.

Does the McDonough MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The McDonough MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.

What is the average GRE score for admission to McDonough ’s MBA program?

McDonough does not publish an average GRE score for its incoming class, but does accept the GRE for admissions.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to McDonough’s MBA program?

McDonough does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 5.6 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to McDonough’s MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a McDonough student?)

The average number of years of work experience among students in McDonough’s MBA program is 5.6. The average age of a McDonough MBA student is 28 years.

What is the average starting salary for graduates of the McDonough MBA program?

The average starting salary for McDonough MBA graduates is $116,946 (average base salary). The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

How long is McDonough’s full-time MBA program?

McDonough offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for McDonough’s MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is September 30, 2019. The Round 2 application deadline is January 6, 2020. The Round 3 deadline is March 24, 2020. The Round 4 deadline is April 27, 2020.

What percent of McDonough MBA students are women?

The percentage of the class at McDonough that are women is 29%.

What type of interview does McDonough use for MBA admissions?

McDonough offers interviews by invitation. The interviews are blind. This means the interviewer has not had access to the application materials.

Admissions

The Class Profile

Of the 1,459 people who applied to the McDonough Class of 2020, 271 ultimately matriculated into the program. Eighty percent of these entering students had GPAs between 2.89 and 3.77. The middle 80% range of GMAT scores was 650 to 730. Members of the Class of 2020 range in age from 23 to 38, though the average age is 28. Eighty percent of the class worked between 3 to 9 years prior to matriculation, and the average student entered the program with 5.6 years of work experience. Twenty-nine percent of the class was made up of international students. Lastly, women make up 29% of the class, and 37% identifies as a member of a U.S. minority group; this includes students of African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and Native American descent. 

Application Procedures

Prospective students may apply to McDonough in one of the four admissions rounds, which occur in October, January, April and May. In addition to a completed application form, candidates are asked to submit GMAT scores, one professional recommendation, essays, a résumé, transcripts from all collegiate and post-collegiate institutions attended, and TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable. McDonough also requires an application fee of $175. After applications are evaluated, the admissions committee will offer interviews by invitation only. An interview is required for admission into the full-time MBA program.

Application Checklist

• Application Fee of $175
• Application form (online)
• Personal essays (online)
• Professional reference (online)
• Current résumé (online)
• Official GMAT score
• Official English language proficiency test score (TOEFL or IELTS), if applicable
• Official transcripts/academic documents

Interview Reports

Georgetown McDonough Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / First-Year Student / On-Campus

I had an on-campus interview with a first-year student. The interview was held in the MBA admissions office, which was a small suite of offices in the impressive McDonough building. The check-in process was quick and easy, and everyone was incredibly kind and helpful. The interview lasted a little over 30 minutes and was very […]

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / On Campus

The interview was blind. She only had my resume to reference, which I was requested to bring ahead of time. The interview was pretty conversational, and it lasted for about 25 minutes with five minutes remaining at the end for me to ask questions. List of questions: Short/Long term goals & how MSB will help […]

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Skype

The whole interview was very conversational, and the interviewer had a lot of questions about my work experience and career choices. It was a blind interview. She also said that if she keeps on looking elsewhere and writing something during the interview, I should not be distracted as she will be taking down the notes […]

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Off-Campus Hub

Interview was extremely conversational with the Adcom. Started off with walking through my resume then ST/LT goals. Real focus though was on why Georgetown (talked about gaining international perspective, advantage of being in DC etc…). Did not get asked a lot on extracurriculars at all, but tried to weave them in my examples of leadership […]

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / On-Campus

I had a great experience visiting and interviewing at Georgetown. I interviewed on February 27, 2020, and the interview was blind. Let me start by saying that everybody on campus is super nice. Every building I entered had people opening the door for me. I shared this observation with somebody and they told me it […]

Georgetown McDonough Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Skype

List of interview questions Tell me about yourself. Why MBA and why now? Why Georgetown? Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult person. Tell me about a time you faced an issue at work. What are your thoughts on diversity? Any questions for me? I haven’t received my admission decision yet, they […]

Georgetown McDonough Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Virtual

The whole interview was a very positive and pleasant experience. The adcom member introduced himself and made it very clear that all he knew about me was whatever was listed on my resume. He did mention that the interview was supposed to run for about 30 minutes although the conversation was flowing very well and […]

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / First-Year Student / On-Campus

I applied to Georgetown McDonough Round 1 and was invited to interview on campus or remotely. I was able to make it to campus on the last day available in the portal, just before Thanksgiving. I had already done self-initiated interviews at two other schools and bombed the first one – I wasn’t prepared and […]

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

The interview was taken by a member of the Adcom. The total interview lasted approximately 27 minutes. The Adcom started by introducing herself and made it clear to me that she had not gone through my application and only had my resume with her. The interview as very conversational and the Adcom was very polite […]

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-year student / Video chat

My Georgetown / McDonough MBA interview was enjoyable. This was a blind interview with the interviewer only having access to my resume. Many conversational questions about my career, goals, and reason for pursuing an MBA. Questions Explain you current career trajectory and common themes in your resume. Why pursue an MBA and why now? Explain […]

Georgetown-mcdonough Q&As

Admissions Director Q&A: Shelly Heinrich of Georgetown McDonough

“You do an MBA because you want the ROI; you ultimately want to gain your ideal career,” says Shelly Heinrich, the associate dean of MBA admissions and director of marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.  She joins us for our ongoing series, Admissions Director Q&A, to reveal how the Georgetown MBA delivers on that […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Shelly Heinrich of Georgetown McDonough

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Shelly Heinrich, the interim associate dean of MBA admissions at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She has capably stepped in to lead the team since Shari Hubert left to lead admissions at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business earlier this fall. With more than 13 years of […]

Real Humans of MBA Admissions: Shari Hubert of Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business

Shari Hubert knows MBA admissions from both sides, having successfully navigated the process as a candidate herself, securing a spot in the Harvard Business School (HBS) Class of 2000. Leading MBA admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business since 2013, she’s now on the other side, getting to know current applicants and trying to determine […]

Georgetown-mcdonough LiveWire and DecisionWire

Academics

Faculty

Across its six academic areas of focus, the McDonough School of Business employs 112 full-time faculty members. Faculty members both teach courses and help staff the school’s nine research centers and initiatives, which investigate topics ranging from global social enterprise to financial markets and policy.

Curriculum

Professors at McDonough utilize a variety of teaching methods, including case studies and lectures. The McDonough academic calendar runs on a two-semester system, and each semester is further divided into twelve-week Core Courses and Elective Modules of six weeks or half a semester. The fall semester begins in late August and runs until mid-December. Following a three-and-a-half week winter break, the spring semester starts in early January and ends in mid-May; graduation takes place shortly thereafter. There is a brief exam period every six weeks after a module is complete, with career weeks and holiday breaks occurring between modules. 

At the start of the program, incoming students complete a three-week Opening Term in which they take Leading Teams for Performance and Impact, Structure of Global Industries, and Accounting Fundamentals. They then spend the year fulfilling the core requirements. The incoming class is divided into cohorts that complete the core curriculum and residences together. The core features foundational business concepts in finance, accounting, statistics, economics, marketing, management and operations. Students may waive certain core courses and opt to take electives in lieu of familiar coursework. In the spring semester of their first year, MBA candidates pursue two electives of their choosing. 

During their second year, students must complete an additional 12 electives out of the roughly 70 offered across accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations and information management, and strategy. McDonough students are not required to declare a major, although there are special initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, global social enterprise and real estate finance in which students can participate. To allow students to gain international exposure, McDonough has created a Global Business Experience program. Beginning in the fall semester of the second year, Global Business Experience requires students to complete classwork and a consulting project for an international organization. Students then travel to the client country to discuss their solutions with senior managers and also present their findings to classmates at the end of the spring semester. 

Other MBA Degree Options

Outside of the full-time MBA program, McDonough offers a four-year MBA/JD program with the Georgetown University Law Center and a five-year MBA/MD program with the Georgetown Medical School. Other options include a MBA/ MPP program with the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and a MBA/MSFS program with the School of Foreign Service, both of which take three years to complete. Executive offerings include a 20-month Executive MBA program and a 14-month Global Executive MBA program in partnership with Walsh School of Foreign Service and ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.

Special Initiatives

• Entrepreneurship
• Georgetown University Women’s Leadership
• Global Business
• Global Social Enterprise

Degree Offerings at McDonough

Full Time and Evening MBA
http://msb.georgetown.edu/programs/MBA

Executive Education
http://msb.georgetown.edu/executive

Dual Degrees
JD/MBA, MBA/MD, MBA/MPP, MBA/MSFS
http://msb.georgetown.edu/programs/MBA/academics/dual-degree

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences & Competitions

McDonough students have many opportunities to become involved in extracurricular activities, with over 40 student organizations to choose from catering to a range of professional and personal interests. For example, many MBA students participate in community service activities through the clubs MBA Volunteers and Net Impact. Meanwhile, students can prepare for potential post-MBA careers by joining clubs such as the Business and Government Alliance, the Georgetown Entertainment and Media Alliance and the Graduate Marketing Association. A popular tradition on campus is the International Festival, hosted each fall by McDonough’s international clubs, which showcases international cultures through dance, music and food. The student government also hosts informal social events on Thursdays, meant to help students relax at the end of the week.

Every year, McDonough’s student organizations run a variety of conferences on campus. Conferences have included, among others, the Georgetown Women in Business’s annual conference regarding the professional development of businesswomen. McDonough students also participate in a large number of business competitions each year, such as the Georgetown Ventures & Values Pitch Conference and the Venture Capital Investment Competition.

Campus Space

The McDonough School of Business is located in the Rafik B. Hariri Building in the center of Georgetown University’s campus in northwestern Washington, D.C. Opened in 2009, the building includes student lounge spaces and breakout rooms, a 400-seat auditorium, 120 faculty offices, 15 classrooms, 15 conference rooms and nearly a dozen rooms for interview purposes. Although all graduate students at Georgetown University live off campus, many find housing in the surrounding neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. If admitted, the MBA Admissions team provides a Housing Guide that references neighborhoods and types of communities where current students live.

MBA Careers

Career Services

The MBA Career Center provides McDonough students with a vast array of resources, including career fairs and corporate presentations. The Center also organizes annual treks off campus to allow students to explore industries such as consulting, marketing and real estate, as well as key business regions like Wall Street, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Students can receive additional help with their job searches by pairing with a Career Coach to help guide them through the job search process. On-campus interviews for full-time positions begin in late September and run through mid-December, while those for internships begin in mid-January.

Career Statistics

Ninety-eight percent of the Class of 2018 received a job offer within three months of graduating and 94% accepted job offers within that timeframe. These newly minted MBAs received an average salary of just over $116,946 and an average signing bonus of nearly $31,036. Top employers of the Class of 2018 include Amazon, American Express, Citi, Deloitte, Ernst & Young LLP, Uber, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLC, and Wells Fargo.  

The most popular post-MBA industry was consulting, chosen by nearly 26% of graduates, followed by financial services at almost 22%. Roughly 18% of the class accepted positions in technology, while the 8% went into non-profit, and approximately 7% chose consumer products. About 7% of graduates selected roles in real estate. 

Financing

The tuition for the 2018-2019 year at McDonough is $61,632.  Given other expenses such as housing, travel and books, however, the school estimates that students will pay $90,591 during that time. The MBA program provides students with financial assistance through merit-based scholarships. First-year MBA students are automatically considered for these awards upon admission and do not need to fill out any additional applications. The school notes, however, that applicants who apply to McDonough’s MBA program during the first or second rounds of admission are given priority consideration for scholarships. McDonough offers an array of loan options to students, with federal loans available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents and private loans, such as the MBA Loans Program, available to international students with a U.S. citizen co-signer. McDonough also offers research and teaching assistantship opportunities to graduate students.

Cost of Attendance

• Tuition & Fees $62,684
• Avg. Living Allowance $22,696
• Avg. Books $2,646
• Avg. Travel $2,606
• Federal Direct Loan Fees $3,220
• Total $93,852

Recent Georgetown / McDonough News

The Week Ahead: MBA Decisions & Deadlines, March 23-27, 2020

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! January Rounds have moved to the decision stage!  Round 1 is now behi

Georgetown McDonough Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / First-Year Student / On-Campus

I had an on-campus interview with a first-year student. The interview was held in the MBA admissions office, which was a small suite of offices in the impressive McDonough building. The check-in proce

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / On Campus

The interview was blind. She only had my resume to reference, which I was requested to bring ahead of time. The interview was pretty conversational, and it lasted for about 25 minutes with five minute

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Skype

The whole interview was very conversational, and the interviewer had a lot of questions about my work experience and career choices. It was a blind interview. She also said that if she keeps on lookin

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Off-Campus Hub

Interview was extremely conversational with the Adcom. Started off with walking through my resume then ST/LT goals. Real focus though was on why Georgetown (talked about gaining international perspect

Georgetown / McDonough MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / On-Campus

I had a great experience visiting and interviewing at Georgetown. I interviewed on February 27, 2020, and the interview was blind. Let me start by saying that everybody on campus is super nice. Every

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