{"id":57328,"date":"2023-02-16T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/applying-in-round-3-everything-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2023-02-16T04:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T11:00:00","slug":"applying-in-round-3-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/applying-in-round-3-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Applying in Round 3: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"round<\/figure>\n

We\u2019re here to figure out the ins and outs of applying Round 3 to business school.<\/p>\n

Well, if you\u2019re looking to ensure a positive outcome, then the answer is clear\u2026 never! Do it? Don\u2019t do it? Do it if certain conditions are met? Never ever do it no matter what? It\u2019s an application round that exists, schools offer it, so why all the controversy? Well let\u2019s start with the basics.<\/p>\n

MBA Round 3 Acceptance Rates are \u2013 SPOILER ALERT \u2013 Not Great!<\/h2>\n

That\u2019s our starting point. If acceptance rates were even close to normal, then the discussion isn\u2019t so much whether to do it, it would be more \u201cshould I apply Round 1, or Round 2, or Round 3\u201d? But whereas acceptance rates for Round 1 and Round 2 will account for the vast majority of admits to top business schools, we find ourselves in this awkward place of needing to determine WHETHER applying Round 3 makes sense as a sound proposition, at all.<\/p>\n

Should I Apply in Round 3?<\/h2>\n

Rather than get fluffy, here\u2019s a smart way to think about it: Generally no. You should wait to matriculate one year later, spend a ton of time doing everything in your power to mount the most kickass application you possibly can to as many schools during the next Round 1 phase, and then relegate a handful of \u201chedge\u201d options for Round 2 to cover your bases in case you\u2019re not successful in Round 1.<\/p>\n

If your circumstances are such that you can\u2019t wait that extra year, or things are just uncertain enough that doing so is not bulletproof, or if you have zero intention of applying ever again and have nothing to lose, now we\u2019re getting to a place where you may as well throw the Hail Mary and see what happens. Because folks DO get accepted during the Round 3 cycle every year, yes, even at many of the most elite schools.<\/strong> Remember though, the classes are mostly set, and there\u2019s a waitlist from Round 1 and Round 2, so the odds have shifted away from how amazing are you in general as a business school candidate and how much can you contribute to the incoming class\u2026and is now much more about what the gaps are given what the class is shaping up to be. What strange (and few) pieces are missing that might \u201ccomplete\u201d this puzzle? Looked at in that sense, you may not have stood a chance in Round 1 or Round 2, but have\u2013\u2013just like that\u2013\u2013gone from longshot to frontrunner. The problem is, you\u2019ll never know what the gaps are (it changes every year), so you don\u2019t know whether the thing you\u2019re selling is what the adcoms are looking to buy. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s okay though. Let that liberate and not frustrate you. Because we\u2019re here anyway, and no one wants to be applying for round 3 if they can help it\u2026let\u2019s focus on optimizing your round 3 MBA application!<\/p>\n

How Do I Get Accepted in Round 3?<\/h2>\n

Like we\u2019ve said, there\u2019s no bulletproof path. However, there are a few smart things to keep in mind to maximize your chances of getting accepted in Round 3.<\/p>\n

1. You need a killer reason for \u2018Why, when all the smart planners applied in Round 1 or Round 2, did you wait in Round 3?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Suppose you live in Los Angeles and a friend in New York says \u201cI\u2019m coming to visit you, I\u2019m dying to see you, and I\u2019m going to make sure I get there as fast as I possibly can! I leave tomorrow at 9am EST!\u201d If they then follow it up and say \u201cIf all goes smoothly, I should be there in about seven days\u2026\u201d your response should be something like \u201cWait, if you can afford to fly, which I know you can, then\u2026 why\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u201d The point here is that, unless and until they provide a reason why it would take them seven days when it SHOULD take no more than six hours on a direct flight, ten hours with a stop, it raises a red flag.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s you, applying in Round 3. \u201cEveryone else is flying direct you ninny, why did you choose the option that takes seven extra days.\u201d Is there a reason? Sure. Lots of em. Here\u2019s three:<\/p>\n