Not so with many MBA programs, where work experience is generally considered the most important selection criteria and every part of the application is considered. MBA students are selected for who they are and where they want to go professionally. However, much of who you are is evaluated based on past successes. Yale admissions does focus on academic achievement, both historical and potential, work history, and personal qualifications. Although the admissions criteria are somewhat flexible, Yale's standards are very high.
Work experience is a universal theme of admissions criteria.
On balance, students find that having such experience is an important asset in their pursuit of an MBA degree. The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University pays equal attention to all parts of the application and treats each applicant as a separate case. If a student is weak in one area, undergraduate grades for example, then we examine their work history. If they have many years of solid work experience, then those undergraduate grades are not as important. This applies to a prospective student's background as well.