From Aringo: *Awesome* Application Self-Assessment Tool

This is very similar to the Vocaz application assessment tool for engineers.
Assuming strong essays, and recommendations, this puts me in the ball park that I would expect.

The 50% admission chance for competitive candidates feels high (for most schools thats more than 2x the admission rate).
According to the GMATclub applicant threads and spreadsheets, the average GMATclub applicant meets the median admit GPA/GMAT/age/WE almost everytime, but the GC admit rate is not nearly as high as 50% (at every school anyways)

How can you assume strong essays and recommendations? according to that tool, these are big parts of the score, but you can't know their strength for sure, you can only assume (and might be wrong). So what does it tell you about your chances? not much in my opinion.

I completely agree with you that the weightings are a bit whacky. To put things in perspective, 30 additional points on the GMAT ~3pts carries more weight than receiving MVP for winning the Superbowl ~2pts or winning a Nobel Prize ~ 1.2. Of course winning a Superbowl MVP AND a Nobel prize are together worth less than strong essays + strong recos by a long shot~6pts , but keep in mind this is a tool designed to sell a consulting service that focuses on essay + reco coaching (ie assign an objective value to a subjective measure).

The point I'm trying to make is that the chances indicator is more ball-park than anything (no different than a "What are my chances?" admission consultant thread) based on your GPA/GMAT/WE. Truth is these are all data points - both subjective and objective - but at the end of the day all that matters is what the Adcoms decision - no other chance indicator really matters.

With my score of a 69 and being invited to an interview with Columbia.. I'd say it's not that far off... this isn't an exact science but it does make some sense.

This means you are competitive at Columbia, so it can go either way. Good luck on the interview!

Why is there such a big difference between round 1 and round 2?
I thought they're both equally competitive, no?

NO! everybody knows that round 1 is less competitive than the others, since the class is still empty and you can't be rejected due to lack of space.
If you apply in 2nd round, the class is already partially full so you compete for less seats. That's why everyone is trying to make it for round 1.

This is not completely accurate, usually there is not much of a difference between round 1 and round 2. you should submit your application when it is ready and not rush it. good luck!

Are you sure? it's not what i've heard. Does it apply to all schools? Anyone else knows something about it?

Got admitted to CBS.. so tool was close. Look in regards to RD1 vs RD2.. yes it's best to apply when you have the ability to put forth your best application. There are innate benefits to applying early (especially Tuck/CBS) that come along with a limited applicant pool and no preset demographic or class profile to make. As the seats get taken by admits... the class starts to define itself and therefore the future admits may have a "tougher" time getting in if they are from an overrepresented group of that admit class. If the school wants roughly 25% consultants... and they've gotten a flux of consultant applications in RD1... and admitted 17%... that means in RD2 a consultant applicant will find it tough to get a seat as they're more picky with those they admit under that profile now. Make sense? You don't know the specific split or how many they've accepted in each "bucket"... which is why the sooner is better than later scenario plays out for most. The counter argument is that all the eager and top performers apply in RD1 so RD2 will be less competitive.. if you want to take that chance... go ahead and roll the dice, but I would feel better about applying early.

Congrats on the CBS admission! Thanks for sharing and for the important info. Columbia is probably a known example of a school where there is a difference between the application rounds, since applicants who apply in early decision have an advantage.

The best thing was subtract points if you are an Indian. Hillarious but correct.

Absolutely

Did you see they made it automatic? now there is a calculator that adds your points and carry them with you to the end!

Yes, I tried it, very nice! now it is entitled to be called awesome I just hope it's accurate for my sake.

This is nice, and fun... although i'm not sure i did it right, i wasn't sure how many points should i give myself in some sections.

Yes, I wasn't sure about some of my points too. Which sections did you have trouble with? did you go up or under?