Babson College isn’t just a great business school – it’s the business school if your heart is set on entrepreneurship. Consistently ranked #1 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs, Babson is laser-focused on producing graduates who know how to think, lead, and build. It’s a school where business isn’t just a major, it’s a mindset.
But don’t let its collaborative, innovation-focused vibe fool you. Babson is highly selective with an acceptance rate of 19%. With thousands of driven, startup-minded applicants competing for a limited number of spots, standing out means more than saying you want to run a business someday. You have to prove you’re already thinking like a founder.
Let’s break down what makes a compelling Babson application – and how to start building one now.
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Get the Grades
Yes, Babson cares about entrepreneurship. But first and foremost, it’s an academically rigorous school. That means near-perfect grades and a transcript filled with challenging courses are key
Most admitted Babson students have taken AP, IB, or honors classes and earned strong marks across the board. That means you need to be taking the hardest classes your school offers and getting the strongest grades possible. If you want to be taken seriously, you’ll need to show you can handle a fast-paced, numbers-driven business curriculum from day one.
While Babson is test-optional, strong SAT or ACT scores (think 1500+ or 34+) will give you a competitive edge, especially if the rest of your application is strong and consistent with your academic performance. If lots of students are applying without test scores, submitting a strong score helps set you apart.
Build a Niche
Babson isn’t impressed by vague “I love business” statements. They want to see what kind of business you want to be interested in. What kind of leader will you be? What kind of impact do you want to have?
Maybe you started a dog-walking service, got curious about customer retention, and started getting serious about market analysis. Or you worked at a local café and began tracking inventory trends, then dove into supply chain strategy. That’s the kind of intentional development that gets noticed.
Your goal is to go from “I’m interested in business” to “Here’s the direction I’m already exploring.” The more clearly you can define your niche, whether it’s entrepreneurship, marketing, fintech, or sustainability, the more compelling your application will be.
Courses and Reading
One of the best ways to deepen your interest is to go beyond the classroom. Babson wants students who seek out knowledge independently.
Take online courses on platforms like Coursera, Open Yale Courses, or edX. Look for classes in leadership, data analytics, branding, financial literacy, or business strategy. Then, complement that with reading: books on entrepreneurs you admire, studies on small business growth, or case studies from Harvard Business Review.
Also: stay current. Read business news, subscribe to startup-focused newsletters, and follow entrepreneurs or VC firms on social. Babson students are expected to be plugged into the world around them, not just reading textbooks. And while there might not be a place for you to list all the ways you’ve expanded your mind, this will help you find your niche and will help you sound more confident and knowledgeable when you write your essays.
School Extracurriculars
If your school has a business or entrepreneurship club, get involved. Clubs like FBLA and DECA are great, and so are student-run orgs. If not? Start one.
Maybe you build a mini accelerator for student-run ventures. Or launch a mentorship program for younger students interested in finance. Or organize a community service initiative that uses social enterprise to fundraise.
You can also pursue in-school activities that complement a business-minded application. Be student body president. Write a column in the school paper about fellow student entrepreneurs or small local businesses. Join the debate team or Model UN to brush up on public speaking, critical thinking, and fast-paced decision-making. The key is leadership and follow-through. Babson is looking for builders, so show them that you don’t wait around for opportunities – you make them.
Out of School Extracurriculars
There’s no substitute for real-world experience. Get a paid job. Any job. Whether it’s working the register at your local coffee shop, stocking shelves at Target, or managing check-ins at a community center, what matters is that you’ve stepped into the world of business from the ground level. That kind of experience shows maturity, work ethic, and most importantly, that you’re not just reading about business, you’re living it.
Beyond jobs, Babson loves to see students who have explored business in structured, intentional ways. Look into pre-college programs focused on entrepreneurship, management, or innovation. Bonus points if they offer hands-on experience – think startup labs, business plan competitions, or pitch events. These programs help you build vocabulary around your interests, connect your goals to real-world frameworks, and prepare you for Babson’s action-based learning model.
Internships are great, too, but only if they fit into your broader story. Don’t toss in random experiences just to fill space. If your application is centered on sustainability and entrepreneurship, an internship at a local nonprofit focused on environmental impact makes sense. A one-off stint in high-end fashion retail? Not so much. Babson wants to see a clear, thoughtful progression. Your job is to make sure your experiences reinforce your niche and contribute positively to the story you’re trying to tell.
Start a Company
This one’s practically a rite of passage. At most colleges, saying you want to be an entrepreneur can be a bit of a red flag (Zuckerberg and Gates might be iconic entrepreneurs, but they did drop out of college). At Babson, it’s a requirement.
Here, entrepreneurship isn’t hypothetical – it’s a lived experience. If you’re applying to a school that literally requires every first-year student to start a business (hello, Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship course), you should already be showing that entrepreneurial spark.
Maybe you launched an Etsy shop. Started a tutoring service. Built a freelance graphic design hustle. Helped your parents grow their side business. These don’t have to be flashy startups, they just need to be real. What matters most is that you can demonstrate initiative, risk-taking, problem-solving, and (ideally!) a little bit of profit. That tells Babson you’re ready for their hands-on curriculum and startup-oriented culture.
Apply Early
Babson offers both Early Decision and Early Action. If it’s at the top of your list (and you’ve got your materials ready), applying early can absolutely work in your favor. Babson’s ED acceptance rate is 35
Like most selective schools, Babson uses early admissions rounds to identify strong-fit applicants who are genuinely excited about their program. Applying ED sends the clearest message, but even EA shows you’re organized, motivated, and serious. However, Babson is a private college, so if you’re applying REA to schools like Harvard, Yale, or even Notre Dame, you cannot throw out an EA app to Babson since they’re a private college.
Just remember: applying early doesn’t compensate for a weak profile. But if you’ve done the work, and your application is tight, applying early can tip the odds in your favor.
Babson wants students who aren’t just dreaming about launching a business “someday.” They want students who are already thinking, experimenting, building – and who are ready to level up.
So if you’ve got the vision, the stats, and the hustle, we’re here to help you take the next step. Reach out today if you’re ready to get started.
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