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The Entering Neeley Experience is one of the first steps you will take to develop your professional skills. To declare a business major, you must formally apply for admission to upper-division courses (3000 and above), usually during your sophomore year. We would like to accept every TCU student who is interested, but admission is very competitive.

First, make sure you have read, understood and met the requirements listed below. 

These steps are required to continue as a pre-business student beyond the first year. 

  • Come equipped with a PC laptop or notebook. More about our PC policy below.
  • Complete these required courses by the end of your first year (note none may be taken as pass/no credit): 
    • BUSI 10153
    • BUSI 10151
    • ENGL 10803
    • MATH 10283 or MATH 10524
    • ECON 10223
    • ECON 10233
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above. If you don’t meet the minimum 2.75 GPA at the end of your first year you cannot continue as pre-business and must select a major other than business. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above is required to declare your major in your second year.
  • Complete 24 credit hours by the end of your first year. 
  • Pass Microsoft Office certification tests for PowerPoint and Excel. More about Microsoft Certification below.   
  • Attend Group Advising. Watch your email for information about freshman group advising at the Neeley Academic Advising Center in early March. 

How Will You Know You've Made It? 

Complete all the steps. We can't say this enough. Skipping even one step will disqualify you. 

These steps are required to be eligible to apply to the Neeley School of Business. 

  • Attend Group Advising. Schedule your appointment with the Neeley Academic Advising Center as soon as possible. You must be advised before you can enroll, and your advisor's calendar will fill up quickly.  
  • Complete the following required courses:  
    • ENGL 20803
    • INSC 20153  
    • INSC 20263  
    • ACCT 20353  
    • ENTR 20153 
  • Maintain an overall 3.0 TCU GPA; 2.75 for Lower-Division Requirements. 
  • Apply to the Neeley School here. 
  • Complete the following requirements through the TCU Online course Experience Entering Neeley after an application is submitted:
    • Neeley formatted résumé
    • In-person Interview
    • Virtual Interview

Neeley Fellows and BNSF Neeley Leadership students: Please follow advising information provided to you by your program. 

How Will You Know You've Made It? 

Complete all the steps. We can't say this enough. Skipping even one step will disqualify you. 

Once you have completed all of the requirements, you will be notified before enrollment for the next semester opens. Please remember, completing all the steps does not guarantee admission. We would like to accept every student who applies, but business is a popular major so admission is competitive. 

See your third-year requirements 

Microsoft Office certification is required for all business majors to provide you with advanced skills employers want.  

You must pass PowerPoint and Excel in your first year by the published deadline to continue as a pre-business student beyond the first year. Excel is a prerequisite for INSC 20153.  

All students entering Summer/Fall 2021 must pass the PowerPoint Exam by Dec. 8, 2021 and the Excel exam by March 23, 2022.

Testing Schedule/Registration 

  • Tests are offered on weekdays only. Prep classes are offered weekly. Sign up for either through your account at my.tcu.edu, Academic Progress, Neeley, Microsoft Test/Prep. Read the add/drop policy carefully. 
  • You must sign up once for each test. 
  • Each test takes approximately 50 minutes. 
  • You will receive your results immediately upon completing each test, along with a printed score report. 

Cost 

  • $75.00 per test per attempt. 
  • $125.00 for each prep class. (If you fail the test after taking a prep class, you may retake the class at no charge within 30 days of your original class. Call 817-257-5220 to schedule your retake.)  
  • If you cannot make it to your test appointment, cancel at least 48 hours in advance by calling 817-257-5220. If you fail to cancel in time, you will be billed for the test.  

Scholarships 

Scholarships are available to cover the costs of the prep classes. Call 817-257-5220 for more information. 

Special Accommodations 

You must provide documentation from a physician detailing the extent of your disability and requirements for accommodation. Learn more by calling 817-257-5220. 

Military Reimbursement 

Service members and veterans may be eligible for military reimbursement for Microsoft Office certification exam fees. Learn more by contacting VA Education Customer Service at 888-442-4551. 

Other Testing Centers 

If you want to take your exams outside of the TCU area, locate a testing center in your area. Contact the Neeley Academic Advising Center at 817-257-5220 for instruction on submitting your online Microsoft Office transcript. 

Only after you have fulfilled the requirements, fill out and submit the application through your TCU portal. 

Additional admission requirements* must be completed the semester you apply: 

  • Entering Neeley and Professionalism Modules
  • Neeley-formatted Résumé
  • In-Person Interview
  • Virtual Interview

* These requirements may be completed virtually or in-person depending on the situation. More information on how to complete the requirements will be in the TCU Online course for the Entering Neeley Experience once a valid application has been submitted. You will be notified if any changes occur throughout the semester.

Deadlines:

Fall 2022

  • Online Application: August 15, 2022 – August 31, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
  • Entering Neeley Experience and Professionalism Information: August 22 - September 2, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
  • Schedule and complete an in-person interview based on your group through TCU Online.
  • Complete a virtual interview based on your group through TCU Online.
  • Microsoft Office certifications are due on November 30, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. 

For more detailed information on deadlines: Admissions Deadlines PDF 

Requirements listed do not guarantee admission to the TCU Neeley School of Business. The admissions committee will consider each applicant's academic record, completion of tasks through TCU Online, résumé, interview performance and the information from the online application. Students who fail to meet deadlines may reapply the following semester based on eligibility.