2023 Master’s Admission Data Revealed: What Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford & MIT Look For in Applicants

发布时间：Date: 2024-01-19 返回新鲜资讯Back to News

This article examines the latest 2023 master’s admission statistics from top US universities like Harvard and Stanford, analyzing the applicant profiles favored by elite institutions. Data shows that these schools demand exceptional academic performance—average GPAs above 3.7 at Harvard and Stanford business schools, for instance—and place great weight on substantial industry experience, particularly in consulting, venture capital, and private equity. The article also underscores the indispensable role of GRE scores in US graduate applications. With Harvard Business School’s median scores of 163 on both sections and Stanford’s average of 327, a highly competitive GRE score can significantly boost admission chances. CheersYou（清柚教育） advises students planning to apply to US graduate programs to start preparing early and achieve a strong GRE score, adding a core advantage for pursuing admission to the world’s top universities.

Recently, top US universities have quietly begun releasing last year's admission data, including applicants' average academic backgrounds such as GPA and GRE scores.

Today, BiKaoTi compiles the GRE score requirements for applicants to popular programs at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT, giving you a taste of the pressure from America’s top-tier universities!

Harvard University

Harvard’s graduate schools almost all have GRE score requirements (Required / Optional) when admitting students.

1. Harvard Business School

Among them, the Harvard Business School (HBS) MBA program received a total of 8,149 applications worldwide in 2022–2023, admitting 938 students, with an acceptance rate of 11.5%, a decrease from the previous year. International students accounted for 39%.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

Among admitted students, those with undergraduate engineering degrees were the largest group at 28%, business majors made up 24%, and humanities and arts majors accounted for 5%. The average GPA was 3.7.

MBA students had an average of 4.9 years of work experience, with most backgrounds concentrated in consulting, venture capital, private equity, and technology. High GPAs and rich work experience undoubtedly form an extremely strong foundation for applicants.

But applicants are not satisfied with just that. According to GRE data disclosed by Harvard Business School: the median scores for both Verbal and Quantitative are 163.

69% of the Class of 2025 submitted GMAT scores, 34% submitted GRE scores, and some even submitted both exam scores.

Most applicants agree that a convincing GRE score can enhance their application competitiveness, so it is strongly recommended that students with plans for US graduate school start early to achieve a satisfactory GRE score.

Stanford University

1. Stanford Graduate School of Business

In the past year, Stanford GSB’s MBA program received a total of 6,190 applications, with 431 students enrolling. Nearly 36% were international students from 55 countries.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

Applicants’ academic backgrounds are also very strong: the average undergraduate GPA is 3.77, and 17% of students hold advanced degrees.

In addition, applicants generally have about 5 years of work experience across various industries. The largest number came from investment management, private equity, and venture capital.

It is worth noting that for Stanford’s MBA program, the GRE is indispensable! The average GRE score is 327.

2. Stanford Graduate School of Education

The Stanford GSE received a total of 2,018 applications for 2023–2024, ultimately admitting 160, with an acceptance rate of 7.9%, an increase from the previous year.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

In terms of academic background, the largest proportion of students had undergraduate degrees in the humanities.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1. MIT Sloan Master of Finance

In 2024, the Finance program’s entire class size was 127, with 89% international students. The average work experience of applicants was 12 months.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

According to MIT admissions statistics, 31% of enrolled students had undergraduate degrees in Science or Math, while business-related fields like Business or Economics accounted for 53%.

80% of students held undergraduate STEM degrees.

Admitted students had an average GPA of 3.83, and the median GRE Quantitative score reached 169, with 80% of applicants scoring between 151–170 on the Verbal section. The program’s admission data reflects the growing importance of standardized test scores.

2. MIT Sloan Master of Business Analytics

In 2024, the BA program’s class size was 81, with 65% international students and an average work experience of 8 months.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

Among enrolled students, 30% had undergraduate degrees in Science or Math, followed by engineering-related fields at 26%.

90% held undergraduate STEM degrees, highlighting the program’s preference for students with quantitative backgrounds.

The BA program also has high standardized test score requirements. Admitted students had an average GPA of 3.9 and a median GRE Quantitative score of 168, with 80% of applicants scoring between 158–165 on the Verbal section.

So to stand out among many outstanding applicants, extra effort is required, which also underscores the importance of GRE scores.

Princeton University

According to data from Princeton’s Graduate School, this year Princeton received a total of 14,577 applications and admitted 1,369, with an overall acceptance rate of 9%, a decrease from last year.

In this cycle, 8,521 international students applied, of which 608 were admitted, making the international acceptance rate 7%. Among international students, Chinese applicants were the largest group, with 27,282 applying, yielding an acceptance rate of 6.9%.

Looking at specific graduate program categories:

Engineering had the most applicants at 1,353, and also the lowest number admitted, only 70, for an acceptance rate of 5%.

Anthropology had the fewest applicants but the highest acceptance rate at 16%.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

Princeton did not publish applicant academic backgrounds on its official website, but according to authoritative statistics from US NEWS, for popular programs like engineering, the average GRE Verbal scores range from 160–161 and Quantitative from 166–167.

Image from US News official website

The competition is fierce, and having a solid GRE score will make the application process much smoother.

Yale University

1. Jackson School of Global Affairs

The Jackson School, Yale’s newest professional school established in 2022 after nearly 50 years, had a Class of 2025 MPP cohort of only 34 students, but these students came from 19 countries and regions, with 53% international students.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

Admitted students had an average GPA of 3.7, and the median GRE scores for both Quantitative and Verbal were 163.

2. Yale School of Management

Asset Management is a program at Yale SOM that is very popular among international students but has an extremely high bar. The 2024 cohort admitted only 57 students, with 89% holding international passports.

Applicant Academic Backgrounds

The school stated that 80% of students submitted GRE scores, with Quantitative scores ranging from 161–170 and Verbal ranging from 152–167. Undergraduate GPAs ranged from 3.47–3.99.

Looking at applicants’ undergraduate majors, Economics students made up the largest share, followed by Math and Science backgrounds.

From the data above, it is clear that competition for top schools is getting tougher, and students admitted to these prestigious universities all have very high standardized test scores!

Therefore, to stand out among the many applicants, a strong GRE score is essential. We wish everyone an early GRE success and one step closer to their dream school!