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Alumni Profiles
Picture of Nainish Dalal '06

"Acton was the only program I found with such a tight focus on entrepreneurship with real entrepreneurs to teach it." - Nainish Dalal '06

How to apply

"When you finish the Acton MBA program, you'll realize that character and hard work matter more than a fancy pedigree."
- Rebecca Esposito, President and CEO, Esposito Communications

Application Deadlines

We are no longer accepting applications for the Fall 2008. The Fall 2009 application deadlines and online application will be posted this summer.

The complete application package for the 2009-2010 class includes:

Completed Online Application Form
All candidates are required to complete our online application form. Applications that are completed by hand and mailed as a hard copy will not be considered.

Essay Questions
Essays should be single-spaced, limited to the word count indicated and the question you are answering should be indicated on the top of each page.

  1. Why do you want to attend business school? Is Acton your top choice? If so, why Acton, and why now? (Up to 500 words)
  2. How would you prove to someone you are an entrepreneur by nature? (Up to 350 words)
  3. An accomplishment can be the simple attainment of a goal, or an extraordinary feat. Discuss your three greatest accomplishments. How do you characterize them? (Up to 500 words)
  4. Choose a topic (Up to 350 words):
    1. Consider a time when you failed publicly at something very important. Why did you fail, and what did it teach you?
    2. Consider a time when you faced great adversity. How did you overcome it, and what did it teach you?
  5. Tell us about a situation in which you unexpectedly had to take on a leadership role and how you handled it. (Up to 350 words)
  6. Read one of the notes below and answer the corresponding question (Up to 350 words):
    1.       "Every Entrepreneur Needs a Little RLC." How has practicing RLC in business helped or hurt you?
    2.       "Stars, Steppingstones and a Hero's Journey: Finding Your Calling in Business." How has your own life been like a "Hero's Journey?"
  7. Optional: What else would you like us to know about you? (Up to 200 words)

Letters of Recommendation
Your application should include three letters of recommendation, all of which must be submitted online through the online application system. Prior to requesting that your recommendation providers complete their recommendation online, confirm that they have a personal email address and access to the Web.

Current Resume
Please submit your current resume detailing your educational history, work experience (including roles and responsibilities), community involvement and extracurricular activities. Please limit your resume to 2 pages.

GMAT Scores
Acton requires all applicants to complete the GMAT before applying and self-report their score on the application form, as well as include an unofficial copy of the score report when they submit their completed application form*. Except in rare occasions, an application will not be reviewed if GMAT scores are not included.

You may submit GMAT scores from the past, but they should not be more than 5 years old. Submit only the single best score report you have.

In addition to your self-reported score on your application, please submit your official score report to Hardin-Simmons University, code N0H-2D-88.

TOEFL Scores
All Acton applicants must be able to fluently read, write and communicate in English. International applicants who were educated in a language other than English must show a fluency in English by scoring a minimum of 620 on the paper-based TOEFL or a minimum of 260 on the computer-based TOEFL. The Admissions Committee discourages any candidate with scores below these minimums from applying. You may submit TOEFL scores from the past, but they may not be more than 2 years old. A copy of your TOEFL score report must be accompanied by your completed application form. In addition to these self-reported scores, please submit your official score report to Hardin-Simmons University, code 003571.

Official Transcripts
You must submit official paper transcripts from all undergraduate and post-graduate (full- or part-time) institutions attended. These transcripts will be verified.

If you were educated at an international institution, you must have your transcripts evaluated by an international academic credential verification agency to confirm that your degree is equivalent to a degree from a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. institution.

Non-Refundable Application Fee
A nonrefundable application fee of (U.S.) $150 can be paid by check or money order (payable to Hardin-Simmons University) or by credit card through the online application system..

Application Fee and Official Transcripts should be mailed to the following address. All other application materials must be submitted through the online application.

Acton School of Business
Admissions Office
515 Congress Avenue, Suite 1875
Austin, Texas 78701

If you have other questions, .

* In certain situations, other standardized tests, such as GRE, LSAT or MCAT, may be accepted by the Admissions Committee in lieu of the GMAT.

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