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Simon Early Leaders Award

The Simon School actively seeks nominations from administrators/faculty/staff at any undergraduate institution for current undergraduates or recent graduates (with less than 3 years experience) interested in pursuing graduate business studies. Nominations to the Simon Early Leaders program are to be based on an individual’s academic success in addition to intellectual potential for graduate business study and future management leadership.

Once nominated for the Simon Early Leaders Award, nominees will receive a follow-up requesting a copy of unofficial transcripts and a current resume to complete their award nomination as well as an application fee waiver. Those nominees subsequently selected as award winners and admitted to full-time M.B.A. or M.S. studies under this program will receive a guaranteed Early Leaders scholarship of at least $5,000 per year (good for up to five years after the nomination date). Students admitted to the M.B.A. program who have profiles significantly above the existing student profile will receive merit-based awards of up to $30,000 over the duration of their studies, and exceptional admitted students to a designated M.S. program will receive awards of up to $20,000 over the course of their studies.

The admissions decision and the amount of merit-based scholarship offered by the Simon School to full-time M.B.A. and M.S. applicants are based on criteria that include:

  • Strong written and oral communication skills,
  • Exceptional academic performance demonstrated by undergraduate GPA and GMAT results (the entering averages at the Simon School are currently 3.52 and 673, respectively),
  • Leadership ability - as evidenced through undergraduate extra-curricular involvement, as well as one or more summer internships and/or summer, part-time or full-time job experiences, and
  • A positive, can-do attitude – a willingness to work hard, contribute to the life of the School and derive the maximum benefit from all aspects of this educational experience.

To learn more about the Simon Early Leaders Award Program, please contact Rebekah Lewin, Director of Admissions at the Simon School, (585) 275-3533 or rebekah.lewin@simon.rochester.edu