I remember R1 app process from last year. I am pretty sure for most people, it's something like this below:



A) Scored 700+ on GMAT. Extremely thrilled about your chances at top 10 MBA program. Your brain is thinking 24/7 - "Wharton? Haha, even HBS is going to be easy with my GMAT score…"
B) Attends bschool info sessions, on-campus tours, and receives fancy booklets in mail. You already forgot about massive debt that comes with MBA education. You are already sold on bschool.
C) Bschool Essay topics are released. You read them over and thinks to yourself, "Let my inner Shakespeare take over, and my essays are gonna be amazing.."
D) R1 deadline is only few weeks away, and your essays are not even close to completion. Writer's block kicks in. Feedback from your peers and family on your rough draft is mediocre at best…
E) R1 deadline is a week away and your recommenders have not submitted your rec letters….WTF! Your anxiety level is getting out of control
F) Finally submitted your application. You keep calling admissions office to see if they have received it. No answer back…..what a lousy customer service!
G) You see on internet forums that other people are receiving interview invites, and yet, you are not hearing anything back from admissions office…..do they have my correct cellphone number? Did I give them my correct email address?
H) You finally receive an interview invite and during the interview, you are hammered with unexpected questions and your mind goes blank…."Uhhh, what did I just tell that interviewer?"
I) Your application status is complete, and interview was more than couple of weeks ago..yet, nothing from bschools…..You repeat the same questions in your head from "step G"
J) You blame yourself for unworthy GMAT that's higher than 700, but lower than 770….blames your parents for your average IQ…blame your college roommate for your average college GPA, blame your employer for it not being named "Goldman Sachs" or "McKinsey"
K) You finally accept your situation and begins R2 application process…."Man, those Tier 2 schools look so good right now….why did I ignore them before?"
L) You hear back from R1 school on the notification date…you are in!!! You are in!!!! But now you are ticked off because they didn't offer you any scholarship money. Screw school X! I am applying to other schools in R2 for scholarship money!

With Kellogg I'm at J

With Darden I'm at G

With Carlson I'm at E

With Fuqua and Ross I'm at D

With Booth I'm at Z-You're dinged and begin to ponder whether you're cut out for any Tier 1, 2, or 3 schools. University of Alaska-Anchorage is looking pretty good right about now.

I'm at D for Wharton/HBS/Columbia and at F/G for Stern.

Nink--I love that you took the time to put it into an Excel chart. Totally my style.

Hilarious

Don't worry, Darden hasn't sent out any invites yet.

P.S. Didn't know you went to UW. I love Madison, especially love Hoofers Sailing.

I am in G with Tuck (international applicant, did not go to the on campus interview). And I know that they already sent interview invits
For me the curve will continue to go downward...

lol~
the write up is funny.
+1

Hilarious! I'm an I / J, unfortunately. Sigh...

hehe! +1 for the graph!
Invited to interview is like invited to the Prom - there is a possibility that the night may go well but there is a better possibility that I might end up with pig's blood all over me... (That is a Stephen King reference for those young enough to get a HBS admit).

Definitely at J/K:P Also you forgot to mention that you recite your interview answers to yourself that you had at the last interview and cringe at the absolute stupidity coming from your mouth at times. Are there sub stages to each of these stages by any chance?

J/K with Chicago and F/G with Stern!

This was a brilliant post - it is nice to know I'm not the only lunatic having an unnecessary self-confidence crisis!