All,
I see on Stanford's page for example that their round 1 deadline is the start of October. I'm still trying to get my gmat score up and work on my essays.
My question is how much does the application round matter, whether it's 1, 2, or 3?
Trending Content
| +42 | UC Berkeley (Haas) vs Cornell Dyson vs Columbia vs Dartmouth | 19 | 6h | |
| +26 | Should I take on 100k in loans to go to Emory? | 27 | 4h | |
| +24 | MSF Rankings 2024 | 14 | 11h | |
| +21 | Imperial MSc Economics and Strategy for Business for London consulting? | 11 | 1d | |
| +20 | Got admission to ESCP MiM - now what? | 14 | 11h | |
| +17 | Clash of the MSFs, Georgetown vs Nova | 4 | 22h | |
| +17 | Full-Ride at Nontarget or Full Price at Target? | 8 | 1d | |
| +17 | Is it impossible to break in to IB without a MBA? | 3 | 5d | |
| +15 | Barnard vs. UC Berkeley (L&S) | 10 | 49m | |
| +15 | Has anyone ever seen a MSF success story? (US) | 10 | 10h |
Career Resources
Very much depends on the school and the individual round structure. For example, it's pretty widely known that the final round puts you at a disadvantage for most schools. Typically, that's round 3, but some schools have 4 rounds (Tuck), while others have just two (Sloan). Try not to apply in that final round (makes Sloan especially tough because of their 2 round structure and early round 1 deadline).
Additionally, some schools have early rounds that put you at a significant advantage, like CBS Early Decision, or Tuck Early Action. Both schools report slightyl higher acceptance rates in those rounds. The general consensus is that it's especially valuable to apply earlier if you're part of a highly represented group (white male banker), because the quota for those can fill up pretty quickly.
Most important for you though is to nail the GMAT, and then do the essays well. Don't discount the amount of time they will take. There is minimal difference between rounds except for the final round, and certainly not enough to make up 20+ points on the GMAT, or a rushed application. Stanford has a pretty standard three rounds, with the second deadline in January. I would just do that.
Great answer by BGP2587. I agree with all of it.
Thanks for the info. I can definitely get a good application for second rounds, but first round would be a squeeze. I had a feeling that there would be an increase in competitiveness between the 1st/2nd round and the final around, but I was curious about the difference in 1 and 2. I could just be over-analyzing it.
You're thought process is reasonable, and to be honest, my thought process as a current applicant has been to apply round 1 everywhere, because why wouldn't I? I took the GMAT a year ago, and got my visits done in the spring/summer. I was able to get going as applications were released. Really though, I highly doubt I'm putting myself at any sort of advantage that will make up for any shortcomings that AdComs see in my profile. Maybe at Tuck, where I'm applying EA and have already visited, because they care so much about fit, but besides for that, can't imagine that it will really matter.
Biggest advantage for me is that it gives me a chance to do 2-3 more apps round 2 if I strike out round 1. Even as early as I started, it's proving to be a challenge to get five apps done by the early deadlines. And even moreso for my recommenders.
Everything I've seen, read, and heard says apply in rounds 1 or 2 (generalizing here, of course) but not round 3.
Not only are your chances of admission greater, but you also have to think about scholarship implications. A lot of places have a second-round cut off for merit-based aid.
For schools with 3 rounds, NEVER apply to round 3. The vast majority of the slots go to the first 2 rounds. Between those, there is very little difference, although from what I've observed, the super strong finance and consulting applicants tend to apply round 1. A lot of admission consultants also urge re-applicants to apply round 1, but I have not seen any hard evidence that it really makes a difference (I think why consultants do this is to make more money since if the re-applicants apply round 1, get dinged, and apply to other schools for round 2, that's extra fees if the applicant decides to stick with the consultant).
Then there are schools with non-traditional structures. Columbia for instance has binding early decisions and ROLLING regular admissions. If you're doing regular there, it's highly advisable to submit by New Year's.
Tuck has october early action (non-binding), november round, january round, and april round. If you're serious about tuck and live in the U.S. I HIGHLY advise you to visit campus, do an on-campus interview with a 2nd year student, and apply in either october or november. The acceptance rate goes down a lot for january round.
MIT Sloan has only 2 rounds. Try your best to apply round 1 because round 2's acceptance rate is a lot lower due to their unique interview structure (no alumni interviewer, adcom travels all over the world to conduct interviews and FIXED # of interviews for each round, although round 2 gets way more applicants).
Duke, Cornell, and I think Berkeley have 4 rounds, so the last round is out of the question, and even round 3 is a bit iffy. Try to go for rounds 1 or 2 at those schools.
Hello all, I'm taking a quick afternoon break between students, and thought I would weigh in. Agreed with everyone above that R3 is usually the death round. I have worked with candidates who have gotten into top schools (the best was Wharton) in R3, and met (but not worked with) some Stanford GSB types who got in R3, but it's just a bad risk strategy.
Now, between R1 and R2, admissions officers like to encourage people to apply in R1 because it is easier on their processes. And it's better for you because they are looking at an empty classroom to fill. Think of yourself as an investment manager putting together a terrific portfolio: the first few stocks you choose will define the portfolio, and everyone else's profile will have to complement those stocks. By the second round, if the PM, or adcom, or whatever, has already figured out what characteristics they already have and need no more of, then it's harder for you to make your case.
But not impossible. Because if you are good, you are good. The GMAT score should be within a relatively narrow range of the average for the school you are looking at. Stanford says on its website that the average GMAT is 729, so think of a band of 20-30 points around that. Remember that they are looking for decent quant, and I would recommend 48 and up.
BTW I am in for the next hour or so, so come on by to my thread.
Application rounds?? (Originally Posted: 02/15/2011)
I was hoping some folks could explain the deal with the application rounds for bschool.
Is it as straight forward as it seems (fewer spots in later rounds so more competitive) or is there something wacky going on? I tentatively plan on apply to bschool for fall 2012 and want to know now how I should approach the application process.
Additionally, could someone elaborate on Early Decisions as well? I know there is a verbal commitment on the part of the applicant to stop apply to schools and go with the one that selected them in the ED process, but is there anything to stop/deter you from applying ED to the schools of your choice, theoretically getting the acceptances back around the same time and then choosing?
Sorry for my ignorance. Any advice would be helpful.
Regards
i think everyone would say that early rounds have a higher hit rate, but from my experience and friends' experience i think there is more waitlist risk in the early rounds as well. they still want to see who comes down the pipe. I applied on the 2nd round deadline to all of my schools and had great results and have met several people who applied really late in the process and still came out ok (obviously i met them in school, so a bit of a survival bias there).
My one anecdote regarding early apps is a friend who was going through the app process last year. 3.9 finance from a solid regional school, 760 GMAT, 3 years solid work experience, applied 1st round to uva, hbs, wharton, booth, UT, UVA...got dinged from HBS, wharton...waitlisted at UT (then dinged in early spring), waitlisted at Booth...and got in off the waitlist in April or so. Don't know about UVA.
So point is, the process is really random, essays play a huge part and because of that it is better to be later with solid essays than early with marginal essays.
I personally didn't apply ED....Columbia is the only school I can think of off hand that even has that, but I didn't my GMAT until October so I might not have even noticed.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think with Columbia once your accepted in their ED you have to pay some sort of earnest money which they'll keep if you decide to go to another school.
Hey, this was the info I gathered looking through websites, etc. Basically if you are accepted in the ED round, you have to submit a deposit, which I believe is a few thousand dollars, and withdrawl your applications from other schools.
I'm in the south and will likely stay in the south so don't mind going to school down here. Though I haven't visited the campus, I've gathered that I would fit in at Duke very well and would like the program and thus, feel like I would want to submit my application when it had the best chances of getting selected (probably goes without saying, lol.). However, I think I could potentially be a candidate for HBS and feel like I should at least give it a shot. I'm from a non-target private school and I'm basically near the bottom of their 80% ranges when it comes to GPA and work experience (have not taken the GMAT yet) but I have 4 years of military experience, great leadership skills and team building experience and feel those could be a defining characteristics and help put my application on top. Who knows, maybe not.
I'm sure some people would consider me crazy, but if I was accepted to both, I don't know that I would necessarily pick HBS over Duke. Not that I am trying to spend a bunch of time debating hypothetical but as I learn more about the admissions process, I'm slowing realizing that I might have to game theory some of my possible decisions in an effort to figure out where to apply during which round.
Thanks for the help guys. If anyone else has some insight please feel free to chime in. Like I mentioned previously, I'm so early in the process I don't know what's going on. The one I have discovered is it truly is a very random process and that nothing is a guarantee, either way (yes or no).
Regards
Great post and great contributions so far. I don't have anything to contribute, but I am all ears to the advice.
What do you guys think about final round apps to programs other than the MBA? With the MBA, you usually find a much larger class thus later applications rarely disadvantage you. I'm applying to MSF/MMS programs and have delayed my application because I wanted to get it just right as this is my only shot. I am working at Frost Sullivan, a business strategy firm and have been advised to remain there and apply for an MBA, a few years down the line but ideally I would like to start work in the US immediately following graduation and not wait until my late 20s to get my dream job. What do you guys think? Am I at a disadvantage applying late? I'm British, so the only thing I can see myself having a problem with is a student visa!
Any advice??
B-School application rounds (Originally Posted: 03/23/2012)
I've heard of people applying to their dream school in later rounds....am I missing something or does this seem to be a very risky move?
I understand that the first round is more competitive and I know the later rounds have less quality applicants but they also have LESS spots.
What is the rationale for applying in later rounds? I would like to hear the opinions of current and prospective MBAs since I will be applying to b-school in a few years.
Thanks.
Reason people apply later is because you tend to get better at applying as you do more and more applications. Largely I think it's BS. I applied to Columbia first and got in so saved the cost of applying elsewhere. The earlier you apply is typically better. Some will argue against that point as you indicating saying it's more competitive.. well lets put it this way.. a top applicant who doesn't get in RD1 will get waitlisted... so you will still be measured against those who were on the 'brink' of the earlier rounds if you apply later. Goodluck.
People do get in 3rd round. That said, the schools are done painting their class profile by 3rd round. They might add some "embellishment" to the painting in 3rd round but you really have to be exceptional. I'd stay away from 3rd round unless you: - cured cancer through financial engineering - are Obama's son - started your own religion and have at least 1 million followers by the application deadline
Also, definitely DO NOT apply to your dream school in 3rd round. Assuming that you are an applicant that normally would have a 30% shot at being admitted in earlier rounds, your chances of getting in 3rd round is probably 5%. And if you don't get in (95% probability) then next year you'll have a meager 10% chances just because you're a re-applicant.
Nemo consectetur ut ut ut aspernatur praesentium tempora nihil. Dicta dolor doloribus libero ex. Nihil maxime ipsam hic culpa.
Quam non iure autem aut magnam. Ut est et ex veniam. Fugiat quia aut quas doloribus id quia molestias.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...