Tips on Application Timeline for Future Applicants

Hi Kryzak

I have seen a lot of timelines threads which you have aggregated in the vault, although they are helpful for applicants I still have some doubts hoping you could give some advice.

I am aiming at Jan/Sep 2011 courses and have started the application process, many schools do not change there essays radically from one year to another year so I am working with Sep 2010 essays and trying to figure out my story. What I am really confused about is the app strategy as I think I have the time to prepare essays for all of my target schools come R1 should I go ahead and apply to all of them in R1 ?

Also since I have all this time on hand I am also looking at early decision rounds like Columbia (does any other school have a early decision round?)

Hi crackfire2003,

I think practicing essays on this year's topics is good, and the essays don't change that much. Even if they do, you can use the stories for other schools or other essays, so it won't be all moot.

If you are ready for R1, I would recommend doing that. You find out earlier (in January) and can relax (or quit your job) earlier.

I don't think any other school has ED like Columbia, sorry.

Cheers!

For future applicants, I just wanted to throw in my two cents and say I don't think this is true. I definitely agree it's less than ideal, but, if you are at all confident in your reasons for getting an MBA, are proactive about exploring your past for essay topics (i.e. do it while you're GMAT prepping) and you smartly budget your time, you can apply to as many schools as you want in R2 with a mid-November GMAT. Of course, you won't have time for much else, besides maybe a school visit or two, but you can do it. I took mine on November 13th and still hit deadlines of Dec 1, Dec 15, and several schools this week and next. Whether they're admits or dings, I couldn't say. Even if they were all rejected, I wouldn't be so sure the reason was sub-par essays; there are other things in my profile that might give an adcom pause. However, if you start with your biggest application and flesh out your essay material from there, you'll be in good shape. I do also second the point regarding the applications themselves, though. The background B.S. will take you hours longer than you expect. Good luck! Hope everything goes well for you all.

Hey thanks for this post guys, I was just trying to figure out whether I need to be saving my vacation time this year for interviews, or if the interviews would be beginning of next year.

It sounds like if I apply R1 2011, then the interviews will most likely be in December 2011. Which means no exotic trips this year... oh well :D

Excellent post! Thanks for sharing these valuable tips!

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