Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 00:17 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 00:17

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
SORT BY:
Date
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 14 Oct 2009
Status:Current Student
Posts: 353
Own Kudos [?]: 244 [0]
Given Kudos: 53
Concentration: CPG Marketing
Schools:Chicago Booth 2013, Ross, Duke , Kellogg , Stanford, Haas
 Q41  V42
GPA: 3.8
Send PM
VP
VP
Joined: 08 Apr 2009
Posts: 1186
Own Kudos [?]: 765 [0]
Given Kudos: 20
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: Duke (Fuqua) - Class of 2012
Send PM
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 14 Oct 2009
Status:Current Student
Posts: 353
Own Kudos [?]: 244 [0]
Given Kudos: 53
Concentration: CPG Marketing
Schools:Chicago Booth 2013, Ross, Duke , Kellogg , Stanford, Haas
 Q41  V42
GPA: 3.8
Send PM
User avatar
SVP
SVP
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
Status:Burning mid-night oil....daily
Posts: 2396
Own Kudos [?]: 779 [0]
Given Kudos: 548
Schools:Yale SOM 2011 Alum, Kellogg, Booth, Tuck
 Q44  V50
WE 1: IB - Restructuring & Distressed M&A
Send PM
Re: Am I lacking a safety with these school choices? [#permalink]
You don't need a safety school right now. This is a wrong way to look at things. Of course you would like to get in somewhere, but in the end, you want to apply to schools based on important factors.

It is too early to look for safety schools because you haven't even applied to any bschools yet. I am also assuming that you haven't started most of your essays. (if not, my apologies) It's important to draft strong applications to your ideal choices and see the results (interview invites are pretty good indicators of the strength of your application in many cases).

Once your R1 apps are out, I would look for alternative options but I would still pick out schools based on your fit, not because you would consider them a "safety school".
User avatar
Stanford School Moderator
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 184
Own Kudos [?]: 38 [0]
Given Kudos: 68
Schools:Booth
 Q48  V45
GPA: 3.39
Send PM
Re: Am I lacking a safety with these school choices? [#permalink]
I agree with Nink. You should focus right now on making your GMAT retake worthwhile, plus knocking out a couple stellar Round One apps. Those two tasks should keep you very busy for the next month and a half.

Also, I read somewhere that a good rule of thumb for a safety school is to be in the 80th percentile for GPA and GMAT scores compared to that school's student body. Since you're retaking the GMAT, you may want to wait until you've gotten that second score to assess how competitive your profile may be at any given "safety" school.

I understand your anxiety, though. My list right now is Chicago, MIT, Stanford, Kellogg and Wharton. Not a safety in sight, and I'm not about to wait another year to reapply. I am really trying to just take this process one step at a time and get an application or two completed before finalizing round two school selection.
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 39
Own Kudos [?]: 9 [0]
Given Kudos: 5
Concentration: International Business
Schools:Wharton, Chicago, London Business School
 Q48  V39
Send PM
Re: Am I lacking a safety with these school choices? [#permalink]
Just wanted to add another perspective - Given the current economic scenario, I believe that graduating from the best schools would be more valuable than applying to a safety school. Since you are not a "career changer" per se, it would be make sense to apply to the best schools. In the worst case scenario, that you do not get into any of the top schools you apply to (unlikely), you can always look for an opportunity in the area/company you want to work for directly since you have relevant transferable work experience.

Just my two cents! Good luck with your GMAT and applications!!
GMAT Club Bot
Re: Am I lacking a safety with these school choices? [#permalink]

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne