I will answer your questions in line.
jimmy86 wrote:
Hi bakfed and MBAIsrael,
It has been a while since i am working on the essays for R1 and doesnt seem that i am getting the right direction, at this rate i feel i`ll be late for the R1 deadlines.
I would be glad if you could answer a few questions
1. In what round and at what time did you start you application process? i mean how many days before the round deadline did u start from scratch. I started my application process for Darden roughly 1.5 - 2 months before. I forgot exactly when, but I remember that as soon as I can "start an application" for Darden, I started going through the easy stuff - personal information and such. I started way earlier than most (probably) because I was targeting a number of schools, which lead into my answer to question 2.
2. How many other schools did you apply to in R1 and R2? I applied to 5 schools for round 1, including Darden (I excluded Columbia's ED from the "5" because Columbia's application was opened way earlier and I had garnered a response before I started work on any other application). My round 2 had 3 applications.
3. What are the number of iterations in getting the essays reviewed? how much time should i be spending on the process? I think this is really just a trial and error type of deal. I can't say the number of iterations, per se, but I can say that I've scratched an entire essay and started anew for Darden. This year, Darden's only asking for one essay, but last year there were 2. One of the essay prompts asked you to describe how a certain event in the last two years had affected your view on leadership (along that line). This essay called for some creativity and I first wanted to talk about the subprime mortgage and the housing bust. Then I realized that all I wanted to do was sound 'smart', and up-to-date. It didn't reflect what I really want to say. Ultimately, I scratched the entire essay and really just put in my own thought and perspective on a certain event that changed my view on leadership. But even then, every time that I go back to my essay, I feel a need to change something. I think this mentality is imbued in most people that by not changing anything, you're admitting that everything's right in your essay, which is impossible. I've changed my essay here and there countless times. While I technically had my application for Darden completed at least a couple of weeks prior to the deadline, I still waited until a couple days before the deadline to submit it. In those two weeks, I had continued tweaking my essay to my liking. Not sure if that actually helped...
4. What is the average time needed to get the recommendations ready for one school? This one is really out of your hands. I would say that if you know who you're going to ask about letters, go ask as soon as possible. Then put in their contact information on your online application for them to submit their letters online. Most people who write these are senior level managers (or even C-suite executives) who are busy. And honestly, even if they're not busy, they'd like to enjoy their off times as well. Between the two recommenders I had, one was always very fast at getting them done and the other one basically will play the clock much like the way that the US government is doing with the debt ceiling. So in my opinion, better ask early than late. Plus, if you ask early, you always get the cushion room to 'remind' them again after a couple of weeks. And of course, don't forget some thank you presents.
5. Any Specific advice for Darden Applications? Darden prides itself on certain aspects - small class (tight-knit community) and superior case methods. For you to be able to identify yourself whether implicitly or explicitly on your application that you can fit in with the rest of the school will definitely be of help. By saying that you prefer lecture-based classes over case methods is a application-suicide to Darden. If you ever get a chance to visit the school, I say go for it. Darden is a lot like Tuck, location-wise (I think Tuck is still worse in location than any other peer school). If you're a big city person, you probably won't enjoy the type of setting that Darden resides in. Also, any and all domestic applicants will have to interview on campus, should an interview be granted. So definitely keep that in mind (I'm sure exceptions can be made, but I haven't heard of any cases).
Waiting for replies from both of you, thanks in advance.
22 Jul 2011, 13:34
... just to know more about people who are there where i aim to be. 
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