how long does it take to complete one business school app start to finish?
A deadline for a school is coming up but I still haven't taken the GMAT yet (last minute type decision to try for MBA this cycle). Is it possible to complete an application in 3 weeks (starting right after GMAT if score is high enough) for round 2 or should I try to round 3?
Possible? Yes. High quality? Less likely. More than one school? Even less likely. Also depends how polished your story is.
I found my first set of essays to be absolutely brutal. It seems really easy if you've thought about b-school, and why you want to go, etc., but it's actually pretty hard to get that all on paper and not sound like shit. Would highly recommend having someone that can provide quick turnarounds on edits.
Also, to save time, while at work/studying for the GMAT, take a few breaks to do the online application. Little things like job and extra curricular descriptions take awhile to get right, so worthwile to start that early so you can focus on essays in the time crunch.
Plus there's your resume, which if not in up to date (and b-school specific) form, could take awhile to get right (probably the most important part of your entire app outside of stats).
This is the big one: recommendations. You have to manage the recommendation process by explaining in detail what you need from your recommenders, and then helping them think about their letter in a way that will be meaningful and favorable to you. Then, like any project management, you need to chase them and make sure they get it in on time, all while juggling your own deadlines.
In addition to getting the GMAT down, there are lots of moving parts like getting your official transcript, getting your resume together so that it makes sense for a business school, and doing the serious thinking that connects you, your leadership stories, you achievements, and your goals with the school. Sounds like a tall order by the January deadline if you haven't gotten the GMAT out of the way.
I'll throw in a sample data point:
I was in a similar situation last year - I got my desired gmat score in December, and Booth's second round application was due early January.
I completed the application, and received an interview invite (bombed that though and was outright denied). The people recommending me, however, were seasoned at this game, and had them done within a week.
If you can address the recommendation issue (which you can by getting on them NOW), I would say 3 weeks is ample time for one quality M7-tier MBA application that will get you to the interview stage.
Friends at top business schools and the adcoms themselves have strongly cautioned against round 3; you can verify this yourself by attending info sessions and asking about it.
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