Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush?

Oldest

Best Reply

Author

Message

Manager

Status: Never give up!

Affiliations: Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Toastmasters Intl, HHonors

Joined: 04 Nov 2009

Posts: 225

Location: Raleigh-Durham NC

Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 36 [0], given: 27

Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush? [#permalink]

26 Apr 2011, 14:10

Sorry about the style of questioning, but the point is the same. If you've gotten accepted into a top 20 program but not a top 10, but you really wanted the latter.

Please let me explain. I have a friend who got into Kenan-Flagler but got waitlisted at Darden; he wants to go to Darden but figures "why not" at KF simply because it's an accept letter.

I figured I might face the same at some point, so why not ask now >> 2 related questions:

(1) If someone like that chose to try again next year and apply again to KF, would KF simply throw their application away because they didn't accept the first time?

(2) If an applicant is looking at the difference between a top 10 and top 20 school, is it worth it to keep trying for the top 10?

Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks in advance!
_________________

= = = = = = = = = =

If you liked my post, please consider a Kudos for me. Thanks!

Current Student

Status: Chuffed

Affiliations: Tuck - Class of 2013

Joined: 08 Mar 2011

Posts: 96

Location: United States

Schools: Tuck '13 (M)

GMAT 1: Q V
GMAT 2: Q V
GMAT 3: Q V

GPA: 3.93

WE: General Management (Consumer Products)

Followers: 14

Kudos [?]: 33 [0], given: 2

Re: Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush? [#permalink]

26 Apr 2011, 15:59

I'm in a similar position I have a place at a top uk ( roughly the equivalent of Cornell or Haas) school but I really want Tuck.

I asked for an extension at the uk school and now I don't have to tell them until after the Tuck notification date.

To be honest I don't think that top ten and top twenty are really good categories, I think that you have to look at super elite vs elite, and there are maybe 4 or 5 super elite and the rest of the top twenty can be considered elite. I base the super elite on their ability to put people into high power jobs over the course of their careers not just initial salary, More than three times as many CEO's come from harvard than any other school. I see super elites as: hbs, Wharton, Stanford, Booth, and Columbia.

Unless your friend is waiting for one of those then I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Posted from my mobile device

Joined: 08 Apr 2009

Posts: 1025

Concentration: General Management, Strategy

Schools: Duke (Fuqua) - Class of 2012

Followers: 20

Kudos [?]: 275 [0], given: 18

Re: Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush? [#permalink]

26 Apr 2011, 17:54

Advice: pay the deposit. you can always not go to the school if you are accepted to the better one.

All things equal, I would go to Darden over KF. However, if there are money or other considerations involved, the balance may tip the other way.

Personally, there's not that much difference between the top schools. Unless you are trying to go into something super selective post-MBA, you will be fine at top 20 school.
_________________

Diversity

Re: Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush? [#permalink] 26 Apr 2011, 17:54

	Similar topics	Author	Replies	Last post
Similar Topics:	A Bird in Hand or the Falcon in the Bush?!!	Vedeno	2	14 Jul 2004, 02:12
	Top 10 or top 30	GMATcram	6	29 Oct 2005, 06:10
	Dilemma of Dilemmas - free to top 20 or pay to top 10	theacademist	10	02 Dec 2010, 14:17
	Top 20 admit. Top 10 ??	LSEguy	12	03 Mar 2011, 03:54

Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush?

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources

GMAT ® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council ® (GMAC ®). GMAT Club's website has not been reviewed or endorsed by GMAC.

GMAT Courses

Admissions Consulting

Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush?

Is a Top 20 in the hand worth a Top 10 in the bush?

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources