University of Minnesota

• Personal short essaysRequired

  Responses to two required prompts (approximately 2 pages maximum), each answered separately. The committee reviews content and your ability to communicate clearly in writing. An optional essay (no more than one page) is also available.

• Resume or CVRequired

  A current resume with a detailed education and employment history in no more than 3 pages: employers and official positions, month and year for each role, 3-5 bullet points per role including programming languages, technical software and analytical methods used; an optional section for quantitative/technical academic projects.

• Unofficial transcripts from all institutionsRequired

  A transcript from each college or university where you have completed coursework (including institutions whose credit transferred toward another degree), uploaded in the online application or emailed for attachment to your file; unofficial transcripts must include your name and the institution's name. No paper copies. Third-party credential evaluation reports and degree planning documents are not accepted as transcripts. International credentials must include the original-language documents and an English translation, plus copies of original-language diplomas if a degree was conferred. Official transcripts are required if admitted.

• Two recommendations

  The school’s official pages say this differently. Here is what each one says — check with the school before you rely on it.

  Two recommendations (Requirements & Deadlines page)

  Two recommendations are required. Your recommenders get the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation form by email once you enter their contact information; they may attach a letter. Both must complete the form, and all recommendations must be received before the deadline you're applying for.

  MS Business Analytics & AI Application Requirements ↗

  Two professional recommendations (program page)

  The program page's 'Admissions Requirements Overview' lists 'Two professional recommendations'.

  Master of Science in Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence ↗
• GMAT or GREOptional

  GMAT (optional with a 3.0+ GPA; or GRE): GMAT or GRE General Test scores are optional for domestic or international applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale (or overall B grade equivalent); you indicate this in the 'Carlson Masters Programs Requirements' section. Below 3.0, official GMAT or GRE scores must be submitted to be considered. Strongly recommended for applicants with academic weaknesses. No preference between tests and no minimum scores; a Quantitative score in the 80th percentile or above is recommended. Scores must be less than five years old at the time of application; enter unofficial scores in the application, and official scores should arrive before the round deadline. Send official GMAT scores to code D2N-VJ-05 (Carlson Master of Science in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence). Applicants interested in consulting should plan to take the GMAT specifically.

  GRE (optional with a 3.0+ GPA; or GMAT): GMAT or GRE General Test scores are optional for domestic or international applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale (or overall B grade equivalent); you indicate this in the 'Carlson Masters Programs Requirements' section. Below 3.0, official GMAT or GRE scores must be submitted to be considered. Strongly recommended for applicants with academic weaknesses. No preference between tests and no minimum scores; a Quantitative score in the 80th percentile or above is recommended. Scores must be less than five years old at the time of application; enter unofficial scores in the application, and official scores should arrive before the round deadline. Send official GRE scores using institution code 6874 (U of MN graduate school); results may take up to 8 weeks.

• Duolingo English Test, IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBTIf your degree wasn't taught in EnglishRequired — waiver possible

  Duolingo English Test (DET): Required of international and domestic applicants whose first language is not English. The exam date must be within two years of the graduate program start date. English ability is not assessed on arrival. Minimum scores: Overall 115 or above; Literacy subscore 115 or above. (Cambridge C1 Advanced is also accepted: 180 total, writing and reading.)

  IELTS: Required of international and domestic applicants whose first language is not English. The exam date must be within two years of the graduate program start date. English ability is not assessed on arrival. Minimum scores: Total 6.5, Writing 6.5, Reading 6.5 (no exceptions).

  PTE Academic: Required of international and domestic applicants whose first language is not English. The exam date must be within two years of the graduate program start date. English ability is not assessed on arrival. Minimum scores: Total 59, Writing 59, Reading 59 (no exceptions). Typically competitive candidates have a total score of 65 or higher.

  TOEFL iBT: Required of international and domestic applicants whose first language is not English. The exam date must be within two years of the graduate program start date. English ability is not assessed on arrival. Graduate School minimums: Total 79, Writing 21, Reading 19 (no exceptions). Typically competitive candidates average 90-105. TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition accepted; MyBest scores do not meet the total-score minimum.

  Waiver / exemption: Test scores are not required for applicants that have completed post-secondary coursework in the United States, Canada (except Quebec), United Kingdom/Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Kenya or Nigeria, if the coursework consists of at least 16 semester credits or 24 quarter credits, does not include ESL coursework, was completed within the past 2 years, and you were living in one of those countries while completing all of the credits. You are not exempt if you have lived in an English-speaking country for several years without completing prior education in English.

• Impromptu video essayRequired · with the application

  Required. Use a computer with camera and microphone; you can test your technology and record practice videos as many times as you like (they are not saved beyond the testing phase and never reviewed). You answer one impromptu question from a bank of imaginative or behavioral questions selected by the admissions team: two minutes (120 seconds) to prepare and two minutes (120 seconds) to record, with only one attempt at the official video essay.

• Self-recorded Video InterviewRequired · after you submit

  An email invitation arrives within 24 hours of paying the application fee and submitting the application. Log into the application portal and record all answers in one sitting: three questions, each answered within a 3-minute limit, within 1 week (7 days) of the invitation. Applications are not reviewed until the Video Interview is completed.

Who can apply

• Bachelor's degree (4-year U.S. equivalent)Required

  A first university degree equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree. Students with a 3-year degree from India do not satisfy this minimum and must complete an additional year of accredited post-baccalaureate study before applying. Unsure applicants can email transcripts and proof of degree to the Office of Graduate Admissions for review.

• Demonstrated computer programming competencyRequired

  Competency in one of Python, C, C++, C#, VB (not VBA), Java, Rust or JavaScript, shown by university coursework on your transcript (upload a course description or syllabus naming the language) or by a verifiable certificate for an online course or sequence of at least 20 hours covering basic programming concepts (conditionals, loops, functions, input/output, file handling, strings/lists/dictionaries). Not required at application: you may be admitted without it, but it must be completed before orientation. Fulfilling it before applying is preferred; the suggested course is 'Learn to Program: The Fundamentals (University of Toronto)' on Coursera.

• Completion of a quantitative courseRequired

  At least one college-level quantitative course is required (Calculus 1 or higher preferred) in Statistics, Probability Theory, College-level Algebra, Linear Algebra, Matrix Algebra or Calculus; Financial or Business Math count if they use Calculus or Linear Algebra. Short Calculus, Pre-Calculus, Survey of Calculus and Quantitative and Research Methods courses don't count. Must be completed before you apply: shown on a transcript (upload a course description or syllabus) or by the faculty-approved Coursera certificate 'Introduction to Calculus (University of Sydney)'.

• At least one college-level statistics course (recommended)Optional

  Candidates are recommended to have at least one college-level statistics course and an undergraduate degree in economics, mathematics, engineering, business, computer science, statistics or a related field.

• Work experience (not required)Optional

  Full-time work experience is not required. Strongly recommended: at least some related internship(s) involving analyzing data, using technical software and/or programming languages (e.g., Python, R, SQL, C, C++, C#, VB or Java), plus related academic or extracurricular experiences.

• Essay 1 · Optional · 1 pageUse this essay to share information that is not presented elsewhere in the application, for example: Explanation of employment gaps or academic weaknesses; Quantitative abilities; Choice of recommenders; For re-applicants, improvements to your candidacy

  Use this essay to share information that is not presented elsewhere in the application, for example: Explanation of employment gaps or academic weaknesses; Quantitative abilities; Choice of recommenders; For re-applicants, improvements to your candidacy

• Essay 2 · Required · 2 pages for these 2 questions togetherPlease list all the computer programming languages and other relevant data analytics tools or methods you’ve learned and used in your academics, internships, work experience (as documented on the resume/CV), and/or otherwise. Rather than using a narrative essay, we suggest a bulleted list with details about where/how you have applied each will help the committee understand the depth of your expertise.

  Please list all the computer programming languages and other relevant data analytics tools or methods you’ve learned and used in your academics, internships, work experience (as documented on the resume/CV), and/or otherwise. Rather than using a narrative essay, we suggest a bulleted list with details about where/how you have applied each will help the committee understand the depth of your expertise.

• Essay 3 · Required · 2 pages for these 2 questions togetherWhat attracts you to business analytics as a field? Why is an MSBAi program the next logical step for you in your career, and why are you interested in the Carlson MSBAi program specifically?

  What attracts you to business analytics as a field? Why is an MSBAi program the next logical step for you in your career, and why are you interested in the Carlson MSBAi program specifically?