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Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 9216
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Location: Chicago, IL
Schools:Brown University, Harvard Business School
Round 1 vs. 2 Strategy
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17 Jul 2011, 16:06
Okay gang, here is a point we have made in the past but I wanted to repeat it. Ive heard myself saying it to clients on the phone quite a bit this weekend...
Conventional wisdom is to apply to aaaall your toughest schools (your stretch programs) in R1 because you have the best chance to get in, right? Well Im here to tell you that that is the WRONG way to go about it. Follow my logic here:
We guide all our friends to apply to a mix of stretch AND safety schools in R1, and in R2. Mix it up. Why? Well, because that way you get the best of both worlds. Take advantage of the "R1 benefit" with your stretch schools, sure. Maybe that extra edge will help with HBS. But also take advantage of it with your SAFETY schools too, gang. Those schools will THROW themselves at ya. Let them offer you some money, and GET INTO SCHOOL EARLY. Whew, that will feel preeeetty good wouldnt you say?
Now, youve followed our advice. Youve gotten into school number 5 on your list of 7. Now for round 2, you dont need to worry about 6 or 7, you can just go out to BEAT your safer program. And trust me folks, it will feel GOOD to get into a program...
So thats our advice, hope it helps yall...AND GOOD LUCK!
JDF