How many students are expected to be admitted, and does availability vary by major?
We anticipate that up to 50 students may be admitted each academic year across the two admission cycles combined. Availability will vary by major, with very limited space expected in Finance and Accounting.
Are there spaces available in Finance and Accounting every cycle?
Capacity is extremely limited. Finance may have few or no available spaces in some admission cycles, and only a small number of students are expected to be admitted to Accounting each semester.
If I retake a predictor course and earn a higher grade, which grade will count?
The higher grade will be used to evaluate your application.
How is the five-semester eligibility cutoff calculated?
The cutoff is based on the number of semesters you have been enrolled in college, not your class standing or the number of credits earned through AP, dual enrollment, transfer credit, or other sources. Students are eligible to apply only before the start of their fifth semester. Semesters when a student did a co-op or studied abroad are counted as they are active semesters.
Does it matter which order I take the predictor courses in?
Yes, interested students should take calculus first and then select among economics or statistics, then the accounting course.
Will my AP exam credit count as a predictor course?
Yes. Predictor courses completed by AP exam credit will factor into your predictor course GPA as a letter grade of A.
Will predictor courses I’ve taken at another school be accepted for my application?
Yes. Transfer courses are accepted and the grade earned will be factored into the predictor course GPA with the grade earned. We’ll also accept AP credit, high school dual enrollment credits, and community college coursework, as well as coursework taken at UMass Amherst including winter/summer through U+.
May I apply as a first semester freshman if I will have the necessary predictor courses completed?
Yes. Students should plan to have completed, or be in the process of completing, one semester at UMass Amherst before applying. Review the course requirements.
When and how will I be notified about the status of my application?
Admissions decisions are determined after grades are posted for the fall and spring terms. Notifications are sent to a student’s UMass Amherst email in mid-January for spring admission and mid-June for fall admission.
How do I know which classes to enroll in if I don't know whether I will be admitted to Isenberg?
Students should plan their subsequent course schedule based on their current (or secondary) major.
If I am accepted, how will I know which Isenberg classes to take in the following semester?
Admitted students will be eligible to self-enroll if they meet enrollment restrictions. Decision notifications will identify how to connect with an Isenberg academic advisor who can assist with course planning. Isenberg curriculum plans can be found here. What happens if I am not admitted to the BBA? Can I apply again?
What happens if I am not admitted to the BBA? Can I apply again?
If you are not admitted, you may reapply in a subsequent admission cycle as long as you meet the academic and predictor course requirements and submit your application before beginning your fifth semester.
If you apply during your fourth semester and are not admitted, you will not be eligible to apply again, because you will have reached the application cutoff before the next admission cycle.
Students who are no longer eligible to apply should continue toward completion of their current undergraduate degree. Depending on your academic record and goals, you may also consider the Isenberg business minor and 4+1 pathways for graduate business education.
What is the application process, is there an essay?
The application link on our website will become available to open during the timeframe when we are accepting applications (Nov 1-Dec 1 and April 1-May 1). The application will collect academic and demographic information, confirm the predictor courses, and has open ended questions about campus involvement and future career goals. Leadership, involvement, research, service, and other achievements from any area of campus or community engagement may be considered.