MBA Application Deadlines for a 2017 Start: The US West

It’s never too early to get started on MBA admissions, especially now that MBA application deadlines keep creeping up earlier and earlier. Even though 2016’s round three deadlines have just passed at many schools, there are a handful of schools that have already released their MBA application deadlines for programs starting in 2017.

The trend towards earlier round one deadlines – first reported by TopMBA.com back in 2014 – has continued into the 2016/17 application season. Harvard Business School’s first MBA admissions deadline now stands at September 7, making it the earliest MBA application deadline this time round. The Wharton School's deadline has also changed from a previous slot of October 1 to September 29. Over on the west coast, Stanford GSB’s deadline has moved by more than a week since 2014 and now sits at September 21.

Below, we begin a series of articles listing MBA application deadlines by state in the US West for full-time programs, unless otherwise noted. The US regions (as designated by the country’s Census Bureau) of the Northeast, Midwest and South will follow this list. But first, a look at business schools in the states of California, Washington and Arizona.

A note for international applicants: Many business schools in the US require international students to apply at least a month earlier than their US counterparts and/or only accept applications from international students during earlier rounds. That’s why it’s a good idea to check the website of each school to see what their guidelines are when it comes to applying from outside the US.

Application deadlines for business schools in California

As stated above, Stanford GSB’s round one deadline falls on September 21, 2016. Applicants will receive a decision notification by December 2016, but you could hear back earlier as Stanford says admissions decisions will be communicated ASAP. When it comes to application timing, the Stanford admissions site offers the following advice: “Though you may apply in any one of the three application rounds each year, we suggest you apply only when you feel your application is as strong as it can be… We do typically leave some spaces to allow for a rolling admissions process after January 12, for exceptional candidates that can only apply later. However, these spaces are limited, and it is especially difficult to take international applications because of the additional time required to fulfill all visa requirements.”

Also in the Bay area, Berkely-Haas' round one deadline is September 29 -- eight days after Stanford's. Decisions will be posted on December 15. 

Over in Los Angeles, UCLA Anderson’s round one deadline is October 15, with decisions released two months later, on December 15 2016.

Elsewhere in Los Angeles, there’s a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo deadline for a fall MBA program on April 1, 2016, and a round one deadline for Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics on November 1, 2016.

The applications UC Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business are evaluated as they are received, however, the first target deadline listed on admissions website is November 1. The fall 2017 MBA application will be available starting in Mid-September.

Application deadlines for business schools in Washington

The round one deadline for the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business is October 15.

Elsewhere, Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics has deadlines for fall 2017 admissions, on August 20 and April 1, 2017, for domestic and international students, respectively. These dates are the same each year.

Application deadlines for business schools in Arizona

The early decision deadline for Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business is October 3, 2016, followed by a priority consideration deadline of November 28. The decision notification dates for these rounds are December 16 and February 10, respectively.