I noticed prior years had some really active general b-school discussions (where everyone got in, etc.) and didn't see any here. Hoping this thread can serve as a general discussion topic for H/S/W & M7 applications from this year's round 2 (or round 1?) for those who would matriculate in 2019 and graduate in 2021. With interview invites fast on their way, I look forward to seeing everyone's results. Please try to include profile details similar to how I've done so. I'll start:
Profile: Undergrad: semi-target (~3.95/4.00 GPA) Work Experience: Classic 2+2 -- 2 years in IB in NYC (at an EB/BB) followed by 2 years in MM PE in NYC (at time of expected matriculation) GMAT: ~750/800 Extra-curriculars: Essentially non-existent unfortunately Brand: Entrepreneurship (loosely) LGBT/Diversity/Hooks: none
Applied: Harvard - Applied R2, haven't heard back yet (invites to go out 1/28 and 1/31) Wharton - Applied R2, haven't heard back yet (invites to go out 2/7) Booth - Applied R2, invited to interview (today) Columbia - Applied R2, haven't heard back yet (invites to go out on rolling basis)
Other:
-Annoyed at writing more essays for Booth (they ask you to write 2 more after you get invited to interview, though at least they're shorter).
-Worried I haven't expressed my interest in Columbia well-enough
-Anyone know when someone who applied towards beginning of January can expect to be interviewed for Columbia (based on last year's trends)?
-Currently planning to only attend some of these schools if they granted me $$; job market is just too hot right now
Having worked with over 100 clients, I firmly believe that there is some gamesmanship going on by the admissions committees at different schools. Other than HBS, every school (including Stanford) tries to manage yield, so they want to be sure you will go if you are accepted. Yield for HBS is 90+%, GSB ~82%, Wharton ~70%, and CBS and MIT below that. So both CBS and MIT really manage yield hard. That is why CBS pushes early decision so much (unlike any other school) because then they get a captive group of acceptees whom they know are coming. Similarly, MIT waitlists a ton of people for the same reason. People will pull themselves off the waitlist if they are going somewhere else anyway. And if you are on the waitlist you better tell MIT you will definitely go.
As schools look to rise in the ranks, they really watch yield, so that is what is happening with Booth now. If you still want to get in, you have to make it clear to Booth you will definitely come.
While I know schools don't exchange lists of accepts, the admissions committee at all schools have a general sense of who is going to be particularly attractive at other schools. So you may not even get an interview at lower-tiered school because they know you are going to HBS or wherever.
This was the first year I ever had a client get into both HBS and GSB. (He was unbelievable.) In fact many of my HBS accepts, never even get interviews other places.