Specialized Master in Business Analytics

Applying and Deadlines

Application Materials

• Open/Close Academic Transcripts

  One of the basic requirements for admission to Fisher is the completion of a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent prior to matriculation. The Ohio State University does not recognize a three-year bachelor’s degree to be comparable to the four-year bachelor’s degree. To determine if you meet the degree requirements for The Ohio State University, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

  You are required to submit transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. Coursework from one institution reported as transfer credit on another school's transcript does not meet Ohio State's definition of a transcript. Separate transcripts must be submitted if you received any transfer credit from other institutions. In cases where examination results or grades are not released, please contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

  The SMB-A Admissions Committee reviews scanned copies of official transcripts uploaded in your application for evaluation purposes. Transcripts should include all work previously completed and work currently in progress. Ideally, SMB-A applicants will have a calculus class on their transcript (although not required). If you have taken (or are taking) courses at The Ohio State University, you do not need to submit transcripts for those grades as the Admissions Office will obtain your Ohio State grades directly from the University Registrar’s Office.

  IMPORTANT: If you are admitted to the SMB-A program, you will be required to submit official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts to the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.

  You can watch our webinar covering the most common mistakes that applicants make when providing academic transcripts as part of their graduate program application. The Director of Admissions and Recruiting will also point out critical requirements for your transcript(s) to make for a seamless application process. 

  Watch the Transcript Requirement webinar

  Where To Send Official Transcripts

  FOR U.S. INSTITUTIONS

  Request that your transcripts be sent electronically from the issuing institution directly to gpadocs@osu.edu. If your institution does not send official electronic transcripts, you may order them to be sent to us. Transcripts must come directly to us from the issuing institution; they cannot come from the applicant, even if they're in a sealed envelope.

  Graduate and Professional Admissions
  P.O. Box 182004
  Columbus, OH 43218-2004
  gpadocs@osu.edu

  FOR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

  Send copies of international transcripts, diplomas or degree certificates and English translations in sealed university envelopes to:

  Graduate and Professional Admissions
  The Ohio State University
  Student Academic Services Building
  281 W. Lane Ave.
  Columbus, OH 43210-1132 USA

  SPECIAL NOTES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:

  • Because not all international institutions send transcripts on demand, we will accept official transcripts sent to Graduate and Professional Admissions by the applicant if they arrive in sealed university envelopes.
  • International transcript documents should include certified educational records and degree certificates or diplomas.
  • All documents must be received in the original language with official English translations. Student-made translations are not accepted.
• Open/Close Test Scores (optional)

  GMAT/GRE - OPTIONAL FOR APPLICANTS

  Standardized tests (GMAT and GRE) are part of how we evaluate your potential for success in the Specialized Master in Business-Analytics (SMB-A) program. The SMB-A program is test-optional. Test optional means we allow you to opt-out of submitting GMAT/GRE test scores to be considered for admission. Applying to the SMB-A program as test-optional does not guarantee a favorable admission decision, and your application will be reviewed holistically. 

  The GRE or GMAT remains an important part of the Fisher SMB-A program's holistic admission process for students electing to send scores. We encourage students to take the GRE or GMAT and share their scores with us if you think they reflect their ability and potential.

  • Other components of your application carry more weight if you elect to apply without test scores
  • Max M. Fisher College of Business-Specialized Master in Business – Analytics GMAT Code: ZLJ-9D-94. For the GMAT, we accept either the legacy GMAT or Focused GMAT.  
  • There is NO minimum GMAT or GRE score required to enter our program. GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years from the test's date.

  HOW TO BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT TEST SCORES

  The request is part of Fisher's online application. Answer "YES" to the question, "Do you wish to apply for admissions without official GRE or GMAT scores?" inside the application. Due to COVID-19, All requests will be granted for the current autumn enrollment cycle. We have suspended our minimum waiver requirements. The admissions committee may contact you to discuss options if your application looks like it could greatly benefit from the addition of good test scores.

• Open/Close Resume

  A detailed resume or curriculum vitae gives the SMB-A Admissions Committee a snapshot of your professional and academic career and serves as an indication of how well you are able to sell yourself on paper.
  
  Since our Career Management Office is represented on the Admissions Committee, the resume also gives us an idea of how you would present yourself to a prospective employer and helps them evaluate your potential for successful placement upon completion of the Fisher SMB-A program.

  Resume requirements

  Please include all of the following in your resume, if applicable, and account for the time since the beginning of your university education.

  • Your contact information (full name, mailing address, phone, and email)
  • Employment history (with details of primary duties and accomplishments in each position held)
  • Extracurricular and/or community activities
  • Languages (read, spoken, and/or understood)
  • Military record (if applicable)

  For more information about writing your Fisher resume, view our resume tutorial PDF.

• Open/Close Essay

  You will be required to complete an essay. The essay gives you the opportunity to present yourself more fully to our Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals, and thought processes.

  ESSAY TOPIC

  What are your short-term and long-term goals? How/why will a Specialized Master in Business - Analytics (SMB-A) help you achieve those goals?

  Maximum length: One single-sided page, 11-size font minimum (no margin requirement)

  OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY

  This optional essay can be used to address any circumstances you’d like the Admissions Committee to be aware of (gaps in work history/academic performance/choice of references/test waiver requests).
  
  Maximum words: 500

• Open/Close Two References

  You will be required to provide two references (name, email, phone) that we reserve the right to contact if we feel the need to do so to reach an admission decision.​ ​Typically, your references should be from a professional context (example: supervisor).

  CHOOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN ATTEST TO YOUR:​

  • Professional career/development​

  •  Leadership

  • Scholarship

  • Personal character/personality

• Open/Close Application Fee

  To process each application for admission to the SMB-A program, we charge a non-refundable fee of $60 for domestic applicants and $70 for international applicants.

  Paying the application fee must be made with a credit card, as part of the application process.

• Open/Close Accomplishments to Date

  We have found past performance to be an excellent predictor of future performance.

  To ensure that we recruit students who will help us continue to grow our base of successful alumni, we want you to tell us about your experiences to date and how those experiences have made you a better manager or leader.

  • An understanding of math is an important component of this degree. Ideally, SMB-A candidates would have a calculus class on their academic transcript.
  • Your resume will provide us with a sound overview of your past accomplishments.
  • Experience in fields such as; IT, computer science, or engineering - looking to move out of a technical role and use analytics to move into business management is valued, however, no work experience is required.
  • Be sure to offer concrete examples in your personal statement to demonstrate things like how you plan to utilize the degree to enter into or accelerate your career, how you landed that first job, used analytics within a team project, worked your way through college, or started a family and want to get back into the workforce.
• Open/Close Leadership Potential

  Fisher is dedicated to developing business leaders who will make a difference, and our SMB-A Admissions Committee is charged with determining your leadership potential.

  • We will look at your past leadership experiences (or potential) and refer to your personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation. Leadership's many facets include integrity, empathy, curiosity, endurance, vision, communication skills, decision-making, and self-awareness.
  • We will look for examples from your life, as well as insights into any leadership experiences, potential, and experience beyond your immediate responsibilities.
• Open/Close Smarts, Savvy, and Teamwork Abilities

  Joining a group of highly qualified individuals requires that you have strong academic capability, too.

  We will examine your overall academic ability, based on prior university records (GPA, etc.) and the results of the GMAT (optional for autumn 2021), as well as the quality and nature of your work experience. Your success is our goal and we want to ensure that you will be able to excel in our curriculum.

  However, having "smarts" goes beyond analytical abilities and a strong academic record.

  • We are interested in your ability to grasp complex concepts and models, your curiosity, and your passion for learning and expanding your horizons.
  • We are also interested in understanding how you interact with others. Team spirit and competence are critical to succeeding during your studies and in business.
  • Show us that you have the ability to be in touch with your own and others' emotions, that you are an able communicator who recognizes opportunities when they arise through interaction with others, and that you can stimulate the flow of ideas.
• Open/Close Personal Qualities and Characteristics

  Because Fisher is a close-knit community, your personal qualities and contributions will have an immediate and visible impact on your classmates and the school’s environment.

  • We want to understand the characteristics that have contributed to your accomplishments to date and what experiences have made you the person that you are today.
  • We also want to understand the principles and ethical standards that are part of the intricate mix that makes you "tick" as an individual.
  • There are a number of qualities that we hope our students share, including being driven and hardworking, as well as having high ethical standards and a deep respect for others. However, we are not looking for conformity.
  • We strongly believe that diversity and differences in personality are critical to the dynamic and stimulating exchanges that are characteristic of our community. Be sure to share with the admissions committee what makes you, your background, and your accomplishments unique.