CBS early decision or not?
Hi monkeys, I'm looking to apply to b-school this fall, but am contemplating CBS early decision.
For some background, currently at a tier 2 (non-big 4) consulting firm with a promotion under my belt. Post mba looking to get into equity research and/or investment management. Schools I would apply to if I didnt do ED: HBS, Wharton, CBS, London Bschool.
The trade off is that if I were to apply ED to CBS I would do it early summer and get back results by Fall without having to waste time on multiple apps. Odds are also much better of getting in. However, I wont get the opportunity to throw in an application at HBS or Wharton.
I think my chances are low - medium at HBS/Wharton mainly because I have a good story (international experiences, lots of social sector work, strong GPA and GMAT etc.) but obviously not a shoe in.
What would you do in my situation? Appreciate any input.
Thanks -
What would I do? I'd apply to all of those schools and not feel even remotely bad about it. CBS isn't calling up the admissions offices of HBS and Wharton to rat on those admitted ED. Has anyone heard of this ever happening?
Three things happen:
1) You get denied to CBS ED and have to apply to HBS and Wharton in R2.
2) You get into CBS early, eat the $6000, then get into HBS/Wharton (I'd certainly pay $6k to attend HBS, and I imagine you would as well)
3) You get into CBS early and attend CBS after not getting into HBS/Wharton
Hmm, that may be possible but Ive read that the Dean takes ED very seriously and I wouldnt put it out of the question that they would call up other schools to tell them of a candidates unethical nature. Or maybe Im just naive...
edited
I also struggled with the same decision, and because of my desire to give H/W a shot, I decided not to do it, and am very happy I did not. While I didn't get into H or W, I ended up realizing after applying that other schools were a better fit. CBS is great, and I was certainly feeling risk averse and excited by the option of being done earlier (and improving my chances slightly), but I don't think either of those were a great reason to go early and lock myself in.
I really think you should only apply early if you feel strongly that Columbia is your first choice, either because you don't think you have any shot at HSW, or because you really want to be in NYC/the Value Investing Program/whatever else. From what I've seen, I don't think the difference is all that great between applying early and applying regular (albeit early in the process). so long as you can prove that you really want to go there in your essays/interviews for RD. It sounds to me like you simply want to do it out of convenience/better odds, but if you're really qualified, you'll get in to CBS or equivalent anyway. Give yourself a chance at the places you'd rather go to.
Finally, and I tend to be a it naive/utopian, but I felt 100% uncomfortable applying ED if I wasn't going to definitely go. Not only are you lying to the school, which I think is bad enough and sets a bad precedent for you career, but I also think you're basically knocking out a qualified applicant that may get in early, but get's dinged/WLed because they accepted you. Sure, if it was a perfect process, they would immediately get in if you pulled out, but I don't think it works quite that perfectly, so I still feel like you're possibly boxing someone out that was willing to play by the rules. Really, you can do what you want, and I know people that have done it and were fine, it's just not something that I would want attached to my name.
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