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Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

• What is the status of the Bridge program in light of COVID-19? 

  Barring any unforeseen circumstances or dramatic shifts in public health, we will be holding programs in-person, with the exception of the Winter Bridge Session II held in January which is designed to be fully virtual.

  
Should you decide to cancel your registration in Tuck Bridge, please know that cancellations must be made at least 30 days prior to the first day of the Tuck Bridge program in order to be refunded. The $1,000.00 deposit is non-refundable.

• If I graduated college more than a year ago, can I still apply to Bridge?

  Yes, we accept recent graduates with less than one year of business-related experience.

  
  Anyone who has more than one year of business-related experience is considered overqualified for the Bridge Program. 

• Can I receive course credit for attending Bridge?

  The Tuck Business Bridge program does not award attendees academic credit on completion of the program. Attendees would need to discuss the possibility of obtaining course credit with their undergraduate institution.

   

  We will provide a letter of completion for each student with a summary of course objectives and hours completed.

• What is the time commitment during the Bridge program?

  Participation in the Business Bridge Program is more time commitment than a full-time job, expect 50-60 hours of program involvement per week. Typically Bridge runs 6 days a week; M-F classes are held for 6 hours, with approx 3 hours of group work nightly. Weekends have 3-4 hours of classes with additional time dedicated to group and project work. All Bridge classes/events are scheduled in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Students are required to be present for all synchronous (live) programming. Here is a breakdown of the program schedule (subject to change):

  
  8:30–11:45 am: Morning classes (with AM break)
  12-1 pm: Lunch and Career Development Programs
  1:15-4:30 pm: Afternoon classes (with PM break)
  5:30–9 pm: Study Group meetings/Capstone work

  View a sample residential program schedule

  
  For a virtual, program schedule, please scroll to the bottom of the FAQ page.

  BRIDGE COURSE OVERVIEW
  Bridge Academic Class Hours: 74
  Instructional Career Development Hours: 14
  Instructional Capstone Project Hours: 6

• Can I apply to Tuck Bridge if I am a rising sophomore?

  We accept rising sophomore applicants for our Summer Bridge program only. First-years are not eligible to apply for Winter Bridge programs.

• Who may apply?

  Please review our participant eligibility information.

  We are now accepting a limited number of high-achieving first-year students in our summer program. There are specific application requirements for applying. First-year applicants are not eligible to apply for Winter Bridge sessions.
  
  Business majors, and graduates with more than one year of full-time business-related experience, will not be considered.

• Do you accept business majors?

  No. Bridge courses in accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and communications are intended for non-business majors. We do accept Economics majors from liberal arts and sciences institutions.

• What type of students attend Tuck Bridge?

  Bridge students are liberal arts and sciences majors at small colleges and large universities who want to gain the competitive edge in their career development by acquiring fundamental business skills.

  View additional student demographics

• When are applications due?

  Each program has multiple rounds of application reviews. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible to secure a spot in your preferred program/session.
  
  All application materials must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for that particular round.

• What do I need to submit for admission to the Bridge Program?

  Please review our application requirements.

  PLEASE NOTE: Your application is not considered complete until ALL the required materials have been submitted. Please plan accordingly when you request Letters of Recommendation and give them ample time to submit before an application deadline.

• Should I wait until I have all my admissions materials—my letter of recommendation, unofficial SAT/ACT scores, and transcript—before submitting my Bridge application?

  All application materials must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for that particular round. Please plan accordingly when you request Letters of Recommendation and give them ample time to submit before an application deadline. Candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible to secure the program of their choice.

• I took the SAT or ACT a long time ago and do not have a copy of my scores. How do I retrieve and send them to the Bridge Program?

  Applicants may provide unofficial SAT or ACT scores by simply uploading them in your application.

• Do I need to take the GMAT to apply to Bridge?

  No, Bridge only requires SAT or ACT scores unless you are an international student, in which case we need your TOFEL scores.

• Is there a recommendation letter form that I need to give to my professor?

  No. Please have your professor write a general letter of recommendation for the Tuck Business Bridge Program. You can also request a letter through the online application.

  All applications require one letter of recommendation from a faculty member. Additional recommendations may be submitted, but are not mandatory.

• Can you send me a hard copy of the Bridge application?

  We do not offer hard copies of the application. You must complete our online application.

• Do I need to submit another online application if I have applied to the Bridge Program in the past?

  Yes, if you applied to the Bridge Program in the last two years you will need to start a new application. You will also need to submit an updated transcript (unless you had already graduated before your original application). You do not need to submit additional SAT/ACT test scores or new recommendation. 

• Should I have a minimum GPA or SAT/ACT score?

  Although there is no minimum GPA or SAT/ACT score requirement, GPAs of 3.30 or higher are considered competitive. Review our student demographics.

• When will I know if I have been accepted to Bridge?

  Applicants are notified of admission decisions approximately 1-3 weeks after an admissions deadline.

  Once accepted and enrolled, we require a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 to secure your place. This deposit will confirm your session.

  You may pay the deposit by credit card online in the student portal or by sending a check, made out to Dartmouth College, to Tuck Business Bridge Program, 100 Tuck Hall, Hanover, NH, 03755.

  Once tuition has been paid, any cancellations that take place within thirty (30) days of the start of the accepted program will not be refunded.

• When do you review applications?

  Please review the application rounds for Summer Bridge and Winter Bridge programs. 

  For your application to be considered for an admissions round, you must submit all required application materials by the deadline for that round.  

• Do you offer financial aid?

  Bridge offers need-based scholarship and aid in the form of loans and scholarships. Aid applications will be made available once applicants are admitted to the program. Full scholarships are available.

   

  Aid given from the Bridge Fund has no correlation to any institutional or federal funding you may receive for your degree and is given as a discount based on need. The average aid package covers 30-40% of program tuition.

• Can I apply if I am an international student?

  Yes, international students may attend Tuck Bridge.  If you are an international student applying from outside the U.S., you will have to submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score.  If admitted to the program, you will work with Tuck and Dartmouth’s Office of Visa and Immigration Services to obtain the documents needed to apply for an F-1 visa stamp in order to enter the U.S. and participate in the program.

  International Dartmouth students: International students on Dartmouth F-1 sponsorship may be eligible to apply to participate in Tuck Bridge during a session immediately following degree completion, or during an earned leave term.  Interested students should consult Tuck Bridge Admissions for more information as well as their OVIS advisor.  International students in J-1 status should consult their OVIS advisor.

• Is there a program cancellation policy?

  Once tuition has been paid, any cancellations that take place within thirty (30) days of the start of the accepted program will not be refunded. The $1,000 deposit is non-refundable.

  Should the Tuck Bridge program be cancelled, we will process all refunds in full.

• I'm interested in an MBA from the Tuck School of Business after completing the Tuck Bridge program, can I get the MBA admissions fee waived?

  Tuck Admissions will waive the admissions fee for any Tuck Business Bridge alumni applying for an MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

• Is there a difference between the Summer Bridge and Winter Bridge sessions?

  Top-rated Tuck MBA professors teach the same course material in each session. The same career development programs are also conducted.

  The Winter Bridge includes the same core courses as the Summer Bridge Program. Most additional sessions are offered during Winter Bridge. The career development stream does not include on-campus recruiting. 

  Review the Virtual Program FAQs for Winter Bridge Session II below.

On-Campus Program FAQs

• What career development resources are available through Bridge’s on-campus programs?

  Bridge offers a career day that includes career panels to provide insight into the industries to which MBA and Bridge graduates typically gravitate. Interactive panel discussions and a networking event features topics from consulting to investment banking to marketing and the nonprofit sector.

  Tuck's Career Development Office provides workshops on writing résumés and cover letters, improving interviewing skills, and networking. Workshops will also help you tackle the tough analytical questions recruiters might ask. Our Tuck MBA Career Development Advisors offer resume reviews, mock interviews, and general career guidance for Bridge participants.

  Bridge also offers access to its valuable corporate recruiting contacts with our online résumé book, which is sent to recruiters. Once you have perfected your résumé, it will be included in this book.

  During Summer Bridge, we will have recruiters on campus interviewing and meeting Bridge students.

• I've been accepted and have enrolled in an on-campus Tuck Bridge program, when will I hear what I need to bring to campus?

  We will send all enrolled in-person Bridge participants a Resource Page that will contain information regarding arrival to and departure from Tuck, housing and dorm amenities during the program, items to bring with you to Tuck, and local resources.

• Are non-Dartmouth students eligible to apply to Winter Bridge?

  Yes, we will accept applications from non-Dartmouth students as long as their institution is not in session during the Winter Bridge Program dates.

• Can I use the Tuck and Dartmouth facilities?

  You will have access to most of Tuck's facilities, including its business library, computer labs, study rooms, exercise room, and dining hall. In addition, you will have access to Dartmouth's dining halls.

• Where will I live and eat?

  Summer Bridge
  All Summer Bridge participants will live on the Tuck campus, in the same air-conditioned residence halls Tuck MBA students use during their school year. All residents will have a single air-conditioned room with private bathroom. You will be provided with a meal card, which can be used at the various eateries on the Dartmouth campus. The Bridge Program is a total-immersion program, so you will experience Tuck as our MBA students do: by living and learning alongside your classmates.

  Winter Bridge
  During Winter Bridge, Dartmouth students with approved fall and/or winter housing will apply for interim housing on DartHub’s Housing StarPortal to stay in your undergraduate on-campus housing assigned by the Dartmouth Housing Office. For those students not confirmed for living on-campus in the fall and/or winter, you will stay at the Hanover Inn for an additional charge, unless you have made alternative housing arrangements.

  Non-Dartmouth students, and Dartmouth students not living on-campus in the fall and/or winter, will have lodging coordinated through Tuck Bridge at the Hanover Inn for an additional subsidized fee of $3,000. Most meals will be served in the Byrne Dining Hall or other Dartmouth Dining Services locations. 

Virtual Program FAQs

• What is the cost of the virtual program?

  The cost of a virtual Bridge session is $7,300. Virtual Bridge will deliver a high-quality, community-based program with access to rich learning, top-ranked MBA faculty, and impactful career resources. The online format does not minimize the high-touch and rigorous nature of the program.

• What are the technology requirements and recommendations for Virtual Bridge?

  Virtual Bridge uses Zoom video-conferencing to facilitate the co-learning and collaborative nature of our program.

  Required:

  • Computer with Windows 10 or MacOS High Sierra, or newer operating system
  • Integrated camera for videoconferencing or an external camera that can be plugged in  

  Recommended: 

  • Headset with a dedicated microphone

  • Earbuds with a standard 3.5mm plug for audio 

  • Wired connection to the internet 

  • External monitor that is large enough to comfortably watch lectures for extended periods of time 

• What will the virtual format be like?

  We know that making connections with your fellow classmates and Tuck faculty, staff, and MBA students is a unique and important aspect of the Business Bridge Program®. Our online program provides virtual opportunities for you to have those interactions through group team-building activities, and space to work directly with faculty, Bridge alumni, and current Tuck MBA students.

• How will the virtual business curriculum be structured?

  Our virtual curriculum includes all of the same comprehensive business topic areas as our traditional residential program.

  Academics will be delivered virtually with synchronous (live) content.  Asynchronous content will be made up of readings, and both individual and group assignments.

  The program will be delivered in eastern daylight time (EDT). Students are required to attend all live programming, including evening study group time.

  Participation in the Business Bridge Program is more time commitment than a full-time job, plan on 50-60 hours of program involvement per week. The virtual January Bridge program runs 5 days a week; M-F classes are held for 6 hours, with approx 3 hours of group and project work nightly. The weekend commitment consists of a 30-minute capstone team check-in with the Faculty Director, held each Sunday.
   

• How will I interact with the Bridge MBA Fellows?

  Carefully selected Tuck MBA program teaching assistants (Bridge Fellows) support participants in all areas during the program. Bridge Fellows play a key role in the success of the program by managing study groups, being content experts, and mentoring students. They work closely with program participants to help students understand the course material and manage the workload. In addition, they assist faculty members in organizing the classes and evaluating the students' performance.

• What will a typical day at Virtual Bridge look like?

  The program will be delivered in eastern daylight time. Students are required to attend all synchronous (live) programming.

  The Business Bridge Program is the same time commitment as a full-time job, plan on (at least) 40 hours of work per week. All Bridge classes/events are scheduled in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Students are required to be present for all synchronous (live) programming.

  This is a breakdown of the virtual January program schedule:

  9am–12:15 pm: Morning classes (with AM break)
  12:30-1:45 pm: Lunch Break and Career Development Programs
  2-5:15 pm: Afternoon classes (with PM break)
  6–9 pm: Study Group meetings/Capstone work

  View a sample virtual program schedule

• Will there be opportunities to interact with faculty members?

  Virtual Bridge will include live classes led by faculty with opportunities to ask questions and contribute to class discussions. Students will also have the opportunity to interact with faculty during labs held throughout the program.

• How will career aspects of the program take place virtually?

  Business Bridge continues to collaborate with the Tuck Career Development team to deliver content in both industry exploration and skill development. In addition, we work closely with our corporate partners to provide a virtual Career Bridge recruiting day, including alumni discussion panels, networking opportunities, and distribution of our Bridge resume book. Our Tuck MBA Career Development Advisors offer resume reviews, mock interviews, and general career guidance for Bridge participants.

  We will provide live virtual alumni discussion panels and networking opportunities, as well as distribute the Bridge resume book to corporate partners. 

• Will the capstone project be included in Virtual Bridge?

  Working in study groups, all Bridge students will complete a capstone project by selecting a publicly traded company and analyzing it using skills acquired during virtual Bridge class sessions. At the end of the Bridge program, each team will present its findings to experienced professionals and members of the Tuck faculty for feedback. Student teams will work closely with designated Bridge MBA Fellows, who provide guidance throughout the process.
   

• Will I be assigned a study group?

  Yes, study groups are paramount to the Bridge experience. Study groups will work together on class assignments and the capstone project. 

  Students will meet regularly with their study groups and assigned Bridge Fellow via Zoom.