Frequently asked questions about the Strategy program.

Yes — you can apply while still enrolled in prerequisite coursework. We expect prerequisites to be complete by the end of the semester before you start Junior Core. If you are mid-course when applying, list it as “in progress” and we will review your final grade once posted.

No. Whatever score got you into BYU is the score we use. Strategy does not accept ACT or SAT retakes for admission purposes. Focus your energy on prerequisite grades, essays, and case prep instead.

Admitted students typically have a 3.7+ overall GPA and strong grades in the three prerequisites (ACC 200, IS 201, ECON 110). GPA is one factor among many; a slightly lower GPA paired with a strong case, essays, and prerequisite grades is still very much in the running.

Yes. Reapplication is welcome — many admitted students apply twice. If you are reapplying, use the essays to address what has changed: stronger grades, deeper exposure to consulting or strategy, new experiences. Repeat applicants who show clear growth are taken seriously.

Yes, provided you are admitted to BYU and have completed (or are completing) the three prerequisites with grades transcribed to your BYU record. Transfer credit must be evaluated and posted before the application is considered complete.

Decisions are typically released within three to four weeks of the application deadline. We notify all applicants by email; admitted students receive instructions for confirming their seat and enrolling in the first Junior Core block.

Deferrals are granted on a case-by-case basis — most commonly for medical, missionary, or military service. Submit a deferral request to the program office once you have been admitted; we will respond within two weeks.

Junior Core runs roughly 15 credits per semester, taken as a fixed cohort schedule. Most students describe it as the hardest two semesters of their undergraduate degree — substantial reading, case prep, and group work — but also the most rewarding. Plan for it to be your primary commitment during those two terms.

No. Junior Core is a fixed cohort program; classes are taken together in a specific sequence so that case discussions, group projects, and capstone teams can build on shared content. Students who need to step away typically defer to the following year’s cohort.

Most students work 10–15 hours per week at most during Junior Core, often as TAs or research assistants for Marriott faculty. Full-time work during these two semesters is strongly discouraged — the case load and recruiting timeline together leave little margin.

Failing a Junior Core class is rare. If it happens, the program office works with you individually — typically you would retake the course with the next cohort and rejoin the sequence the following semester. Speak with your advisor early if you are concerned.

No — Junior Core must be completed on campus. Study abroad is most commonly done before the major begins or during the final senior semester. Several Marriott programs offer summer options that fit between Junior Core and senior year.

Tracks (Consulting, Corporate Strategy, Product Management, Research) are declared at the end of Junior Core. By that point you have seen the case method in practice and know which lane fits your strengths and recruiting goals. Faculty advisors hold one-on-ones to help you decide.

Yes — track changes are allowed up through the first two weeks of senior year. After that, course conflicts make changes difficult. The four tracks overlap significantly in curriculum, so a change rarely costs more than one elective swap.

The senior capstone is a semester-long, team-based consulting engagement with a real client — typically a corporate partner, family business, or non-profit. Teams of four to five students scope, research, and present recommendations under faculty supervision. Several teams have had recommendations adopted by the client.

An internship is not formally required, but the vast majority of students complete at least one between Junior Core and senior year. Strong internship placement is one of the program’s most reliable predictors of full-time offer outcomes.

Top-tier consulting firms (MBB, Deloitte S&O, EY-Parthenon, etc.) recruit for full-time roles in the late summer and early fall of senior year. Internship recruiting begins the spring of junior year. The Junior Core capstone and case interview prep are timed to align with this calendar.

No program guarantees placement, and any program that does should be viewed skeptically. The class of 2025 reached 100% placement at graduation, but that outcome reflects student effort, faculty support, alumni network, and a clear preparation curriculum — not a guarantee.

No. The curriculum gives you the substantive preparation, but securing offers requires active case practice, networking with alumni and recruiters, attending firm events, and treating recruiting as a parallel commitment to coursework. Students who do well treat it that way.

Yes — the Marriott School career office supports all students, and the Strategy program adds dedicated faculty coaching, alumni mentoring, peer case partners through MCA / CSA / PMA, and a job board sourced from consortium partners. See the Mentorship and Job Board pages for details.

Yes, though the Junior Core schedule makes some pairings difficult. Common double majors include Strategy with Information Systems, Economics, Mathematics, or Statistics. Plan early with both major advisors to map out a feasible four-year sequence.

Most students pair Strategy with a minor that deepens a quantitative or domain skill: Information Systems, Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, or International Strategy. The minor often signals industry interest to recruiters — pick one that points where you want to go.

Strongly. Strategy alumni place into top MBA programs at a rate comparable to elite undergraduate business programs nationally — Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, Wharton, Kellogg, and BYU’s own Marriott MBA are common destinations after two to four years of work experience.

Yes, though direct-admit MBA programs are uncommon and most top programs prefer two-plus years of work experience. Direct-to-graduate paths most often go to Master’s programs (analytics, finance, public policy) or PhDs in management, economics, or finance.

Not in terms of eligibility. You can apply during any semester your prerequisites are completed or in progress. We see returned missionaries on every kind of timeline; the question is your readiness, not your age. Plan your prerequisite sequence with an advisor as soon as you return.