Q&A with Ethan: How to Get Into Babson College

A: Babson has become increasingly difficult to get into. Last year, they had an increase in applications of 12%, and they ended up on #2 of WSJ’s college rankings this year. Their acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 16%. The school is also particularly competitive for business applicants—it is well-known for emphasis on hands-on education in entrepreneurship and receives thousands of applications from students who hope to pursue business as a career field. Students who are interested in finance, business, marketing, or entrepreneurship would be a good fit for the school’s curricular focus—but they should be strategic about distinguishing themselves from numerous other applicants who share their interests.

A: Students can demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit in a multitude of ways, but in particular, they can venture outside the norms of traditional activities like school clubs to build a unique and independently-curated profile. Business is a hands-on discipline—Babson admissions officers will want to see that an applicant has meaningfully engaged with business outside of theoretical or hypothetical knowledge, and that they have shown their unique niche within the very broad and diverse field. You can showcase this kind of specific, tangible knowledge by pursuing independent coursework and certificates outside of school, kickstarting independent projects that help your local community, or identifying internship/shadowing opportunities with local business leaders.

A: With only 2,800 undergraduates and 1,100 graduate students, Babson is a small, close-knit community where students can develop strong bonds with their peers and professors. Given the institution’s focus on practical, hands-on learning, the academic experience at Babson is particularly collaborative and encourages innovation. It’s an ideal setting for students who want to put their ideas into action and those who learn by doing.

Outside of the classroom, students can expect to be heavily involved in a series of professional development-related activities, including startup incubators, seminars with industry leaders, and externship programs. The school’s close proximity to Boston not only offers social and cultural opportunities for students beyond those offered on campus, but it also provides students with rich professional opportunities to pursue internships, employment, and professional mentorship with industry leaders in the metropolitan area. It’s a great place if you want to actively be pursuing your undergraduate degree while also immediately getting started on building your professional resume.

A: With Babson’s focus being so concentrated on business and entrepreneurship, they want to see students who are thrifty, willing to take risks, and have the initiative to go out and pursue their goals independently. Additionally, they have a pretty unique approach to academics that places heavy emphasis on experiential learning and workshopping with fellow peers and industry leaders. If you’re someone who wants to simultaneously be growing your professional knowledge while also taking action, Babson is likely a great fit.

A: Notably, Babson has an academic interest essay that can be submitted in either written or video format. The best way to make this essay stand out is to get specific about your particular sub-field, the guiding reasons for your interest in studying at Babson, and the ways in which you will use your Babson education to pursue your future career goals. Submitting this essay as a video is a great way to add a personal touch to your application, give a little more context about yourself, and showcase your personality.

They also have an essay which asks about how you’d contribute to the diverse community on campus, and for that reason, it’s important to show how your accomplishments up to this point have made a difference in your individual community. It’s not enough to state your intentions or ambitions—you should compellingly show that you are already the kind of student they’re looking for. They like to see changemakers, and if you’ve made positive change in your community, it’s likely you’ll do the same when you arrive in Boston.

A: One of the most important things that I have helped students prioritize when navigating the Babson application was going beyond the actual Common App itself to show direct engagement with the university. Babson, like many other schools, considers demonstrated interest. This means they take into account whether a student has visited the school, attended to information sessions, spoken with regional admissions officers, or participated in a campus tour where they could engage with current students. These considerations are particularly important to Babson admissions officers, and we’ve seen students actually get deferred from Babson and later accepted because they made every effort to engage with the university thoughtfully between January and March.