joint application

The Lauder Institute is more than a business program. It’s a career-changing, life-changing opportunity.

Are you ready?

Joint Application
The Lauder MBA/MA program shares a joint application with the Wharton School’s MBA program. Lauder Admissions and Wharton MBA Admissions review applications in rounds. Lauder participates in rounds 1 and 2 only, since our program begins in early May. Application deadlines for the Class of 2010 are October 11, 2007 for Round 1 and January 3, 2008 for Round 2.

Language Requirements
The Lauder Institute offers advanced instruction in the following languages: Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Candidates apply to one specific language group and its corresponding world region.

All applicants to Lauder must complete an oral proficiency interview (OPI) in their proposed language with Language Testing International (LTI). The OPI, which assesses oral-aural proficiency, is a 15-20 minute telephone conversation in the target language with a tester certified by the American Council of Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Language test ratings are valid for a single application cycle. (Re-applicants who applied in a previous year must repeat the OPI in the current admissions cycle in order to show maintenance or improvement in their language level.)

To schedule an OPI, call LTI at 1-800-486-8444 (domestic) or 011-914-948-5100 (international). The OPI may be completed any time prior to submitting the Wharton/Lauder Application, but must be completed within two weeks after submitting it. (This will ensure that the results are available when the Admissions Committee reviews the complete application.)

You may listen to sample OPI clips from our entrance and graduation requirements here.

Over the course of the 24-month program, students are expected to advance their language skills to attain the Superior rating, which is one of the requirements for the M.A. in International Studies.  

The ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for the OPI range from Novice to Superior. An Advanced rating is the expected level for admission to Lauder, preferably Advanced-Mid.  The OPI is only waived for native speakers of Spanish interested in the Portuguese program or native speakers of Portuguese interested in the Spanish program.  

These students are expected to attend a 30-hour language enhancement program in the week prior to Lauder matriculation. This program, more fondly known as Language Boot Camp, will start on April 28, 2008; the Lauder Program begins on May 5, 2008. Additionally, applicants whose OPI rating is Advanced-Low may also be considered for admission with the expectation that the candidate will participate in the language boot camp.

Exceptions:

“Native" means someone who was born, raised and educated in a Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, or Italian-speaking country.

For Native Spanish and Italian speakers interested in the Portuguese program:
Applicants interested in the Portuguese/Latin America program but without prior (or sufficient) background in Portuguese will be considered for admission if they are native speakers of Spanish or Italian. Students who are not native speakers of Spanish and Italian who score a Superior on the OPI will be considered for the Portuguese program on a case-by-case basis.

For Brazilians or Portuguese interested in the Spanish program:
Similarly, applicants interested in the Spanish/Latin America program who are native Brazilians or Portuguese are eligible for the Spanish program.

Arabic:
In an effort to build the new Arabic program, and in recognition that English is used widely in business in the Middle East, applicants for the Arabic program will be considered starting at the Intermediate level.

International Experience
The Lauder Community is comprised of people devoted to International Studies. Most students entering the program have previous experience working, studying, or living outside the boundaries of their home countries. Approximately 1/3 of our students are non-US nationals.

Managing Two Degrees
Time is an asset, and learning to manage it is a valuable lesson you will use time and time again. 1,000 alumni have successfully met this challenge by completing the joint-degree program.

Here are some time management links we think you’ll find most helpful:

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_HTE.htm
http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/timemanagement/a/timemgttips.htm
http://stress.about.com/cs/timemanagement/a/aa041601.htm

MA Thesis
A requirement for graduation, the thesis is both an integral part of the Lauder learning experience and a unique opportunity to pursue academic research.

Re-application
Candidates who submitted an application in a previous year are welcome to reapply. Individuals who intend to reapply may contact Lauder Admissions at 215-898-1215 to schedule a feedback session about their application. Lauder re-applicants are also encouraged to schedule a feedback session with Wharton MBA Admissions.

In addition to the Wharton MBA Admissions Re-application Procedures, Lauder requires that re-applicants complete the following:

1. Form 7 - Lauder Supplement to the Application - This form confirms the candidate's proposed language and region of study and provides the current oral proficiency interview rating (see no. 2 below). Information about language proficiency and international/cross-cultural experience is also provided on this form-please provide this information again, even if it is the same as a previous application. Any additional language study and international and cross-cultural experiences, since submission of a previous application, should be listed here.

2. Current Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) - A current OPI is necessary in order to ensure maintenance or improvement of language rating. (We regret that we cannot accept ratings from a previous admissions cycle.)

3. Lauder Essays - All applicants to the Lauder program are required to complete two Lauder essays:

Describe a cross-cultural experience in your adult life that was challenging to you. How did you meet this challenge and what did you learn from the experience? (1000 words)

Please explain why you are currently applying to Lauder. How do you expect the Wharton/Lauder joint-degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and personal level? (1,000 words)

Evaluation Process
Candidates are encouraged to review Admissions pages on the Wharton MBA website and consult the sections on Preparing a Successful Application and the Admissions Process as they compile their application materials.

Interviews
The Wharton/Lauder Admissions Committee interviews by invitation only, inviting candidates to interview after a complete review and evaluation of their application. Although interviews are not conducted prior to submission and evaluation of an application, we encourage candidates to collect information about the program through Student-2-Student, recruiting events, or during a Lauder visit.