Day With Darden

We encourage prospective students to attend one Day with Darden event. While each program includes the same core experiences, such as a classroom experience, student engagement and opportunities to connect with the Admissions team, the overall agenda is designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to the Darden experience in a single visit. If you are unable to attend all the programming or have a significant change in circumstances, please contact the Admissions Office to discuss your options. 

To help make visiting Charlottesville more accessible, Darden offers a travel subsidy for eligible prospective students. Reimbursement amounts vary by geographic region and are provided after the event. If you are eligible, you will receive detailed instructions after your visit explaining the reimbursement process, required documentation and submission deadlines.  

We encourage all Day with Darden attendees to review the Darden Visitor Guide when planning their visit to Charlottesville. The guide includes recommended hotels near the Darden School, transportation information, parking details, dining recommendations and other helpful resources to make your visit as seamless as possible. 

Day with Darden is designed for prospective MBA students who want a deeper understanding of the Darden experience before applying or making an enrollment decision. Whether you're just beginning your MBA research or have already started your application, the program offers an opportunity to experience Darden's distinctive case method, meet current students, engage with faculty and Admissions staff and determine whether Darden is the right fit for your personal and professional goals. 

Both a mock case and class observation introduce you to Darden's renowned case method, but they serve different purposes. In the mock case, you will participate in a case discussion led specifically for prospective students. Faculty will provide context and guidance, making it an interactive introduction to the case method. In the class observation, you will observe an actual Darden class in progress and experience the pace, energy and rigor of the classroom firsthand. 

Yes! We welcome guests to join you for portions of the Day with Darden experience. If you plan to bring a guest, please indicate this during the registration process so we can plan accordingly and ensure the best possible experience for everyone. Please note that some sessions, specifically the classroom experience, are reserved exclusively for prospective students.  

We strongly encourage attendees to participate in as much of the program as possible to get the full Day with Darden experience. That said, we understand travel schedules and personal commitments may occasionally require you to arrive late or depart early. If you anticipate missing a portion of the program, please let us know in advance so we can help you make the most of your visit. 

Absolutely. If you're unable to attend Day with Darden, we offer a variety of other opportunities to experience the Darden community throughout the year. These include Class Visits and Friday Chats & Tours. We encourage you to explore the full On-Grounds Events Calendar and choose the option that best fits your schedule. 

Visitors can park in the Darden School Parking Garage, which is the covered garage to the right of Saunders Hall. Parking is paid through ParkMobile. You can choose to utilize their app or webpage to set up parking. The UVA Darden Garage D-10 is Zone 5516 for ParkMobile. Review the parking map in the Darden Visitor Guide. 

Business casual attire is appropriate for Day with Darden. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes, as you'll likely spend time walking around the Darden Grounds and the University. Since you'll be visiting active classrooms and interacting with students, faculty and staff, business casual strikes the right balance between professional and comfortable.