FAQ
- About the Terry MBA
- Program Structure
- Qualifications for Admission
- Applying to the Terry MBA Program
- Career Management Center
- Tuition and Financial Aid
- Visiting the Terry College
- International FAQ
1. About the Terry MBA
1.1. Which departments in the Terry College are nationally recognized?
Terry is proud of the national recognition that many of its academic departments have received over the past year. Insurance/Risk Management is ranked at #2 in the nation by US News and World Report, while Real Estate is ranked as the #3 program nationally by US News. MIS is ranked 9th nationally, while the Terry Accounting department is ranked 8th among US public institutions. Among public business schools, the Terry MBA Program has been consistently rated a top 20 program. In addition, Terry's program has been labeled a "Best Buy" by The Financial Times of London.
1.2. Will I be able to specialize in an area?
Yes. Students have the ability to declare a concentration, while allowing for customization in the chosen field.
Students may choose from the following concentrations:
- Corporate Marketing
- Marketing for New Business
- Corporate Finance
- Capital Markets
- Entrepreneurship
- Operations Management
- Real Estate
Requests to take additional courses outside of the regular course of study will be considered and must be approved by the MBA Program Director.
1.3. How many students are typically in the incoming MBA class?
Approximately 75 students are admitted each year to the two-year program.
2. Program Structure
2.1. How is Terry's two-year program structured?
Designed for students possessing a four-year baccalaureate degree, the two-year program consists of 61 hours of full-time graduate study over four semesters. In addition, students implement a Leadership Development Plan with the assistance and guidance of a personal coach, while participating in Terry’s MBA PLUS program to develop "soft" skills that are critical in the business world.
The first year of study consists of foundation business courses that lay the groundwork for developing students' abilities to comprehend, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate business problems and solutions. By the end of the first fall semester, students declare a concentration and take two elective courses in the spring. A summer internship is strongly encouraged.
Students continue in their chosen program of study in the second year, completing the required core courses and a total of six elective courses prior to graduation.
2.2. Does Terry offer opportunities to study abroad?
The Terry MBA program offers international exchange programs as well as international trips ranging from 7-14 days in length (scheduled at spring break or at the end of spring semester). Study abroad trips include company visits, lectures, and cultural exposure. Participation satisfies the global business course requirement.
3. Qualifications for Admission
3.1. How do you evaluate candidates for admission?
Admission is highly selective. Terry seeks individuals best able to meet the academic challenges of the program as well as the professional demands of the business community.
The MBA program seeks to bring together a student body whose members cover a broad spectrum of skills, backgrounds, and experiences. Terry evaluates each applicant on his/her individual merits as they relate to the goals and purpose of our program. Each applicant is assessed relative to the overall pool of applicants.
Selection combines an evaluation of an applicant's scholastic ability, interpersonal skills, career performance, and management potential. This includes a review of academic transcripts, essays, GMAT and TOEFL (or IELTS) scores, work experience, collegiate/professional honors and activities, recommendation letters, and the interview.
3.2. What is the average GMAT?
667
3.3. What is the average undergraduate GPA?
3.36
3.4. I do not have a degree in business. What prerequisite courses must I take prior to applying?
The Terry MBA program does not require that you complete prerequisite courses in business prior to applying to the program. Although formal courses are not required, it is encouraged that students familiarize themselves with basic business math functions such as accounting and statistics prior to attending.
3.5. What is the average work experience, in years, of admitted candidates?
4.9 years
3.6. Do you require previous business work experience?
Yes, we continue to place increased importance on work experience. Candidates with less than two years of full-time post-baccalaureate work experience should expect their chances of admission to be very limited.
3.7. Does co-op or internship experience count towards professional work experience?
While co-op and internship experiences do not count towards the traditional work experience requirement, these experiences can certainly enhance the profile of those applicants with limited work experience.
3.8. What is the average age of admitted candidates?
28 years
3.9. How many applications do you receive each year?
It varies each year. Over the past two years we have averaged approximately 375 applications per year.
3.10. To qualify for admission, how well must international applicants score on the TOEFL exam?
International applicants must achieve a minimum total score in the 85th percentile, approximately 100 on the TOEFL. In addition, section scores must be as follows: listening, 90%; writing, 85%; and reading, 85%. This, however, is not the sole criterion for admission, and receipt of these scores will not guarantee admission.
If such an applicant received his/her degree more than two years prior to application to Terry and has been residing or working in a country where the primary language is not English, he/she will be required to submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Students who are currently enrolled and have been enrolled at least one year at a regionally accredited U.S. institution may have the TOEFL or IELTS requirements waived if their work shows a strong quality of performance.
3.11. Can I waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement?
Applicants who have received degrees from accredited institutions in the U.S. or from institutions in countries where English is the primary language (e.g., the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand) usually are not required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
If such an applicant received his/her degree more than two years prior to application to Terry and has been residing or working in a country where the primary language is not English, he/she will be required to submit current TOEFL scores.
Students who are currently enrolled and have been enrolled at least one year at a regionally accredited U.S. institution may have the TOEFL requirements waived if their work shows a strong quality of performance.
Some departments may require the TOEFL regardless of previous educational experience. In such cases, the department will notify the applicant directly.
3.12. What if I have taken the GMAT or TOEFL/IELTS more than once?
Terry will consider the higher of your scores for those tests taken within a year of the semester for which you are applying.
3.13. Can I transfer into your full-time MBA program?
Terry's full-time program does not accept transfer credit. You may apply to our program, but you will be starting the program as if no previous MBA coursework was completed.
3.14. Do I need to own a computer?
Yes, all students are required to own a laptop computer. Because all seats in the MBA classrooms have wireless connections, students will find this requirement to be of great benefit. The portability of a laptop facilitates teamwork and enables students to acquire mobile computing skills.
Buying New
Almost any new laptop will meet the requirements of the program. Please see the table below for used specifications.
The University of Georgia has a vendor relationship with Dell and Apple that will offer you a competitive price alternative on a new laptop. Visit the UGA Bookstore web site for information on a laptop configured and priced for UGA students. You may also visit the Dell Higher Education or the Apple Higher Education web site for more flexible configurations and pricing specific to higher education.
A Windows platform is standard for the program. Windows XP and Windows Vista are both accepted Operating Systems at this point.
Students considering buying an Apple computer are advised that there may be programs provided by faculty for instruction that will not run on the Mac platform. Microsoft Office for the Mac also has some differences that may cause issues for you if you are new to the Mac platform. Running your Mac with either a dual boot option (Mac and Windows) using Apple Boot Camp or installing and licensing Windows through VMWare Fusion or Parallels are both good solutions to these issues.
Minimum requirements
If you already have a laptop computer, you will need to determine whether it meets the minimum requirements listed below. Generally, you will do a significant amount of work through the web or using Microsoft Office software. We no longer require the Professional version of Microsoft Office. You will not need Microsoft Access for class use. You will need Office 2003 or 2007 and both are available at the UGA bookstore at deeply discounted prices for students. Microsoft has also started running a program for current students that, if still valid, you can find on their Ultimate Steal site.
There may also be additional software that will be provided for you to install in some classes, so you will need to make sure that you have available hard drive space.
Finally, TEC Services, a service center for the University of Georgia, based on the Athens campus, is a certified warranty center for Apple, Dell, Gateway, and IBM. More information can be found on the TEC Services web site.
| Minimum Requirements for Used Laptops | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Single 2.3Ghz or faster Processor |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Hard Drive | 40 GB |
| Optical Drive | CDRW/DVD-ROM Drive |
| Network Card | We use a wireless network on UGA campuses. You are required to have a wireless B/G/or N network card built-in to your laptop or as an add-on when classes start. |
| Productivity Software | Microsoft Office 2003 or 2007 (see above) |
| Operating System | Terry College requires Windows XP or Windows Vista. |
| Network Connectivity and browser for home | Any Internet Service Provider and the latest version of either Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.. |
| Other options you may need/want to consider | A three-year warranty covering parts and on-site labor (next business day) A "complete care" type warranty that will repair or replace your laptop regardless of type of damage. Lithium battery as primary battery and a secondary back-up battery USB memory stick or USB backup hard drive Surge protector DVD-+RW Drive High speed internet service (cable modem or DSL) USB 2.0 recommended |
4. Applying to the Terry MBA Program
4.1. How do I apply to the Terry MBA Program?
Candidates can apply online through the Terry MBA web site. In addition to submitting their application and essays online, candidates are responsible for forwarding the following information to the Terry MBA Admissions Office:
- Two sealed copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (two copies degree granting only, one copy for all others)
- Two recommendations, using the form provided in the online application
- Official GMAT score report
GMAT codes: Z95-H2-78 - TOEFL score report for international students
TOEFL code: 5813
Please specify the program to which you are applying for on all mailed documents (ex: transcripts, GMAT, TOEFL).
4.2. Are there any advantages to applying early?
Gain a competitive edge! Terry begins awarding assistantships and scholarships as first round decisions are processed. We encourage you to apply early before funds are gone!
Applications received in our fourth round may be at a competitive disadvantage and will be considered for admission on a space available basis.
4.3. What are the deadlines for admission to the full-time MBA program?
| Round | Deadline | Complete Application in by: | Interview Completed by: | Decision Issued: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 Early Action |
Oct 15 | Oct 15 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 |
| Round 2 Priority Deadline for Merit Aid Consideration |
Dec 1 | Dec 1 | Dec 18 | Jan 15 |
| Round 3 Final Deadline for International Applicants |
Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 1 | Mar 15 |
| Round 4 Space-Available Basis Only |
Mar 1 | Mar 1 | Apr 1 | May 3 |
4.4. Do I need to interview?
We invite candidates to interview on an invitation-only basis after submission of a completed application. This is an excellent way to get to know Terry; there is no better way to judge an MBA program than by seeing it for yourself. Candidates will be scheduled to sit in on a class and to have lunch with an MBA student on the day of their interview.
Applicants invited for an interview but unable to visit campus will be provided the opportunity to complete a telephone interview as part of the admissions review process.
4.5. After completing my application, how long will it take for me to receive a decision?
Decision notification corresponds to the admissions round in which your application was reviewed for (see above).
4.6. How do you inform candidates of your admission decision?
Once decisions have been made for your designated application round, you will receive an email directing you to log into your application through your MyTerry portal to view your decision online.
4.7. How do I request a brochure?
To request a brochure, use our online information request form.
5. Career Management Center
5.1 What services does Terry offer to assist graduating MBAs in their job search?
The Terry MBA Program's Career Management Center partners with Stanton Chase International, ranked in the top 1% of executive search firms.
Together they serve as the primary liaison between MBAs and the business community and work with each individual MBA student to develop an effective personal marketing plan that targets the companies and positions in which the student seeks post-graduate employment.
5.2. What is the average salary for this year's graduating class?
The mean base salary for the Class of 2008 was $72,804 with an average signing bonus of $12,870.
6. Tuition and Financial Aid
6.1. What is the cost of the full-time Terry MBA Program for Georgia residents?
The cost of the full-time program for Georgia residents for 2009-2010:
- Tuition and University Fees - $5,595 (per semester)
- PreMBA Coursework - $275 (One-time non-refundable fee)
- MBA Program Fee - $500 (One-time non-refundable seat fee)
Two-year program total cost - $22,380* (four semesters)
*The cost reflected only includes tuition and fees.
6.2. What is the cost for out-of-state residents and international students?
The cost of the full-time program for out-of-state residents for 2009-2010:
- Tuition and University Fees - $15,380 (per semester)
- PreMBA Coursework - $275 (One-time non-refundable fee)
- MBA Program Fee - $500 (One-time non-refundable seat fee)
Two-year program total cost - $61,520* (four semesters)
*The cost reflected only includes tuition and fees.
6.3. How do I apply for financial aid?
Students requiring need-based financial assistance should contact the University's Office of Student Financial Aid at 706-542-6147 or visit their website at www.uga.edu/fas/.
In addition, information on assistance in the form of student loans, both public and private, is available through MBA Loans Programs (Sallie Mae and Nellie Mae, Inc.). They can be reached at 1-888-440-4622 or 1-800-634-9308.
6.4. How do I apply for a graduate assistantship?
Terry assistantships are merit-based and awarded on a competitive basis to newly accepted students. All accepted students are automatically considered for Terry graduate assistantships, as long as funds remain available.
6.5. Are scholarships available?
Approximately one-quarter of full-time MBA students receive scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $12,500. All admitted candidates are automatically considered for scholarships.
7. Visiting the Terry College
7.1. How can I schedule a personalized visit to campus?
Prospective students are encouraged to visit Terry and The University of Georgia campus. Due to limited availability, you may not have the opportunity to meet with someone regarding your interest in the school. For futher information regarding availability, please email MBA Admissions or call 706-542-5671. Please note: Admissions interviews are conducted on an invitation-only basis.
7.2. What are Terry Third Thursdays?
Terry Third Thursday is a breakfast speaker series held at the Terry Executive Education Center in Buckhead for Terry alumni and friends on the third Thursday of each month.
Third Thursday programs feature business leaders speaking on a wide range of cutting edge business issues. Reservations for these events are required.
Make your reservation to Terry Third Thursday »
7.3. Does the Terry College have facilities in Atlanta?
The Terry College of Business offers a Fast Track Professional MBA program at the Terry Executive Education Center, on Lenox Road, across the street from Lenox Mall, as well as the UGA Gwinnett Campus in Lawrenceville, located at 2530 Sever Road. Terry also offers an Executive MBA program at its Executive Education Center in Buckhead.
7.4. Driving directions to Terry College of Business
I think you have to be passionate and enjoy what you do. The Terry program was the best fit for my personal needs and career goals."
