Applying to business schools is all about balance. Credit: Steve Hardy via Flickr cc
These days, as candidates consider their strategies for the coming MBA admissions cycle, many have a logical question in mind: How many business schools should I apply to?
The answer, of course, varies considerably from applicant to applicant, but the golden rule is that you should only apply to an MBA program if you have enough time to make your application the best it can be.
How many schools should you be applying to?
In other words, if you have time to “perfect” only three applications, then you should focus on applying to just three schools—and not consider submitting five “average” applications. Know your limitations.
In terms of a target number—assuming that time is not a factor and you can commit yourself to all of your applications—five or six is generally optimal. With five or six applications, you can apply to a mix of reach, competitive, and safe schools and can thereby truly cover your bases.
What’s your MBA admissions risk profile?
Each applicant has his or her own risk profile and timing to consider, but for most candidates, applying to too few schools can increase the risk of not being admitted, and applying to too many can be overkill.
The key to getting your application past the gatekeepers of MBA admissions at one of your target business schools is to strike a balance between quality and quantity. Identify which applications will demand more of your time and budget accordingly, but don’t let an inferior prospect detract from your priority applications.
To get some professional advice on applying to business schools or how to conquer the MBA admissions process, contact mbaMission for a free 30-minute consultation.
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