You may have heard about the Consortium, been to a Consortium MAPS event, or perhaps you are in the process of putting the finishing touches on your Consortium application to Tuck. You may also have no idea what I am referring to! Wherever you find yourself, let this application journey be your own and know that you are in the right place. Keep reading if you are curious about applying to Tuck through the Consortium or need guidance on your application in progress.
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (“the Consortium”), was established in 1966 and is a mission driven organization committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership by striving to reduce the significant underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both MBA classrooms and the ranks of global management. Tuck has been a Consortium member since 1999. Any US Citizen or permanent resident who can demonstrate a commitment to the Consortium’s mission is eligible to apply (i.e., individuals of any race or ethnicity may apply). A common application, opportunity for scholarship, as well as broadened personal and professional networks are some of the benefits of the Consortium. I hope the following paragraphs clarify the process and address some frequently asked questions.
The Consortium is an organization of member MBA schools. The Consortium application has two components: the common or “core application” and the individual school supplement. If you are applying to Tuck through the Consortium, a common application (foundational information used in applying to any Consortium member school) and a school specific supplement (unique questions that are school specific) are required. The specific questions in the Tuck supplement are the exact questions presented to every Tuck applicant, those applying to Tuck through the Consortium and those applying directly to Tuck.
A great foundation for applying to Tuck is to review our admissions criteria as well as the guide to our essays which you can find on the Tuck360 blog. You can see the Tuck essay questions as well as guidance for answering each essay. The best first step to essay writing may come even before you seek advice from us. Take some time to reflect on what you have accomplished, how you have arrived at this moment, and how you want to present yourself to the admissions committee. Lead with your story and then use our resources as a guide to refine your responses.
Keep in mind, in addition to Tuck’s required essays, there are two short answer questions within the Tuck supplement that ask you to talk about your short term and long-term goals. Each short answer question has a 75-word limit. These short answers are meant to be brief statements about your career aspirations.
When applying through the Consortium, you are evaluated for membership to the Consortium organization as well as admission to your selected school(s). Membership essays are strictly viewed and evaluated by the Consortium and not seen by individual schools.
There is one required Consortium essay that all applicants will answer, followed by three unique Tuck essay questions. Allow me to dive into some details and compare the required Consortium core essay and Tuck’s first essay. The Consortium core essay asks: “Please describe your short- and long-term goals post-MBA. How has your professional experience shaped these goals and influenced your decision to pursue an MBA degree?” Tuck’s essay #1 asks: “Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your goals and aspirations?”
While there are similar themes in these questions, please think about the uniqueness of these essays and how answers to each can reveal something unique about yourself and your path forward. The Consortium essay asks specifically for your goals and how your professional experience has impacted your decision to pursue an MBA. The Tuck essay asks why is Tuck the best place for you to pursue this opportunity. When answering Tuck essay #1, you do not need to restate your goals. This essay is a wonderful platform to connect specifically with Tuck and highlight what it is about the Tuck MBA that genuinely aligns with your aspirations.
There are two application rounds for the Consortium and applications are due either October 15 or January 5. You will submit all materials and your completed application to the Consortium by your chosen deadline date and then it will be forwarded to all member schools to which you have applied. The Consortium shares applications in batches with member schools after the Round 1 and Round 2 Consortium deadlines have passed. We typically receive application materials within 48 hours of each Consortium round deadline and Tuck will email you to confirm receipt of your completed application.
For Round 1 and Round 2 Consortium applicants to Tuck, you may submit your completed application early to be guaranteed an interview. If you submit your Consortium application by a Tuck guaranteed interview date, this does not accelerate when we receive your application. Due to the Consortium sharing application information with member schools, they process on a batch basis. Your application submission date is noted, and Tuck will be aware if you submit all materials by our guaranteed interview date. No matter which round you choose and whether or not you submit by the guaranteed interview date, don’t stress. We are excited to hear from you when you are ready, and we will interview as many applicants as possible!
It is okay to discover the Consortium at different points along the application journey. If you have already applied to Tuck, but would like to explore membership to the Consortium, there is a “school referred” process. The school referred window opens after the Consortium has closed its active application cycle on January 31. Between February 1, 2025 and October 1, 2025, the Consortium has an open referral process for anyone admitted to a member school. You may reach out to us after you are admitted, and we will help you connect with the Consortium.
The Consortium community at Tuck is an engaged group of first- and second-year students and alumni who honor the mission of Consortium through community engagement and leadership at Tuck, and in the broader business world upon graduation. Current Consortium students at Tuck are members of the student board, mentors to the Dartmouth community, the leadership team for our annual Diversity Conference, and student ambassadors. You are welcome to connect with Tuck’s Consortium liaisons and current student members of the Consortium community through our Tuck Ambassadors page.
We are always available for your application questions. Please reach out to me, or join us for an upcoming event. We look forward to connecting with you and guiding you through this process!
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