I regret not involving more people in the process from the beginning. By and large, I did things in solitude: studied for the GMAT, wrote essays, researched schools, etc. However, I have one close friend who is also applying to business school, and we started sharing ideas more and more, and even just vented when we were frustrated. We also traded essays. I also started sending essays to my parents and girlfriend for proofreading, because I wanted their input but also because I wanted them to better understand exactly how I was spending all this time. It's all helped keep me sane.
If I had the whole process to do over again, my very first step would be to find everyone I knew applying to b-school that year (local friends, friends on facebook, etc.) and bounce ideas off of them early. Just basically build a support network.
1) I wish I had asked a wider group of my network about MBA programs. I found out after decisions had been rendered that I had colleagues who had MBAs from Kellogg and Booth, and they would have been another great resource during my school research and applications.
2) I wish I hadn't stayed at the Congress Plaza hotel on my first visit to Booth.
3) I wish I had discovered GMATclub earlier on.
PleaseSleep
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
I wish someone told me that for many of these schools - we have to either visit them personally or meet them at local MBA fair - before we can even start our application.
Otherwise, they won't consider your app seriously...
BearStearner
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:49 am
Manager
Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 Posts: 111 Location: New York Schools: Kellogg, Emory, Booth, Yale, Cornell, Duke Followers: 1
I really wish I would have applied to all 4 schools that I was targeting in Round 1. I ended up moving one of them to Round 2 because I ran out of time. While this isn’t the end of the world, there are two main issues:
1) If you get into a school in Round 1, your motivation for writing anymore applications will be very low. 2) Since I got into one of my Round 1 schools, my deposit is due before my Round 2 school’s admit weekend (assuming I get into the Round 2 school).
Save Round 2 for either your safety school(s) if you don’t get in Round 1 or your super-reach school(s) if you do get in Round 1.
Raabend
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
I wish I had not decided to accept my GMAT score since it was 30-40 points below my practice test range.....this could have made the difference between Waitlist and Admit.
_________________ "George is getting upset!"
cereal255
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:11 am
Manager
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 Posts: 185 Location: Buffalo, NY Schools: Simon '11 Followers: 1
I would have been less on the borderline with my WE and would have had more time to really write more convincing essays. My lack of clearly defined career goals hurt me in my opinion.
nink
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:15 am
SVP
Status: Burning mid-night oil....daily Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 Posts: 2400 Schools: Yale SOM 2011 Alum, Kellogg, Booth, Tuck WE 1: IB - Restructuring & Distressed M&A Followers: 51
I would have been less on the borderline with my WE and would have had more time to really write more convincing essays. My lack of clearly defined career goals hurt me in my opinion.
Don't think that way.
You have bschool app experience under your belt now. You can learn from your mistakes and make your application stronger - should you decide to reapply next year.
Also, many adcoms look at re-applicants favorably.
cereal255
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:26 am
Manager
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 Posts: 185 Location: Buffalo, NY Schools: Simon '11 Followers: 1
On a related note, I also wish I had discovered this forum a lot earlier so I didn't have to gain the application experience the hard way.... I could have just used everyone elses experiences from prior years that I found when browsing the archives after my apps have been submitted.
I haven't given up on myself yet ninkorn, it's just been a rough couple of weeks (outside of application land) so I have a giant black cloud over my head. Being buried in 18 inches of snow doesn't help that either haha
agold
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:28 am
SVP
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 Posts: 1750 Location: Southern California Schools: Chicago (dinged), Tuck (November), Columbia (RD) Followers: 6
1) I wish I spent more time on the GMAT and took it more seriously. A 710 is seemingly no longer very competitive unless you have other things in your profile that are locking you in.
2) I wish I spent more time on the essays and took them more seriously
3) Last, but certainly not least, my biggest regret of this year was not applying to Columbia Early Decision. If I have to re-app next year, this will be at the top of my list of things to do.
I don't have too many regrets about this process. The only one would be that I wish I had done more (any) research on backup options for people with <3 yrs WE who don't get into consulting.
young_gun
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
If you're reading this thread, this is what you're missing in GMATClub Chat <butt_penetration>: what's the topic in this room
hahah hilarious
I just saw that too, LOL. I can't say I've ever run into that fellow while in chat. Maybe I need to chat more...or less if I value my butt
Anyway, my regrets:
1. Not doing my Kellogg application FIRST. It's the longest and most time consuming set of essays, so it would have been nice to get it out of the way and to be able to edit the content to shape my other, shorter applications.
2. Not backing up my data. I basically set myself up so that one computer crash crippled my chances of submitting Haas for R1. To all you future applicants: back your data up on a memory stick, email, Google Documents, work computer, and/or even by hand if you really have to!!!
FN
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:47 am
Current Student
Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 Posts: 3932 Location: New York City Schools: Wharton'11 HBS'12 Followers: 9
1. Trying to apply to 10 schools (6 in R1 and 4 in R2). I had to move 1 school to R2, but I got totally burnt out after squeezing 5 schools. Haven't done anything since my 5th application which was submitted on 10/29
2. Along this line, I should have secured more time for my essays. I got dinged early for schools where my application was rushed. Especially, essays for Kellogg, my top choice, turned out be the weakest.
jb32
Re: Year End Regrets from Your BSchool Journey (So Far) [#permalink]
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:06 am
Director
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 Posts: 806 Location: Texas Schools: Kellogg Class of 2011 Followers: 4
Submitting Chicago and UCLA as my first two schools - my essays have gotten phenomenally better for Kellogg and Texas, and I've already been dinged from my top two choices
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