Advantages of R3/R4?

Question

Schools do refrain applicants from applying in the last round - but I dont understand the logic? Why have R3/R4 when you don't want candidates to apply in that round! I understand that international candidates might have a problem with VISA or any last-minute issues, but the overall sense of applying in the last round is considered a strict no-no - its a taboo, and in some schools frowned upon.

Are there any advantages of applying to b-schools in R3 or the last round, for some R4?

Thoughts.

Are there any advantages of applying to b-schools in R3 or the last round, for some R4?

Thoughts.

GoBruin · Answer

Why have R3/R4 if you don't want candidates to apply in the that round. Like you said, it's the LAST round. If their were only 2 rounds than R2 would be the last round. The best way I can explain it is with a food analogy (The way I explain everything). When you make a prime rib the end slices have to be well done and over cooked so that the middle is just perfectly pink. Under the logic that no one wants the last slice we might as well cut it off before roasting... No matter how you slice it, you're always gonna have that last slice that's all over-seasoned and over cooked. Not that there aren't gonna be people who like it... (IE people with unusual profiles that get in R3) but those people are few and far between. Moral, if you have 5 rounds, you don't want to apply in the 5th. If you make it 4 Rounds, you don't want to apply in the 4th, then you get down to MIT and only have 2 rounds. Maybe someday there will only be 1 round.. Note: odd questions get odd answers

lagomez · Answer

Nicely put. Now I am hungry.

go2bizSkool · Answer

i would *speculate* that some students would have an advantage in the later rounds but almost by pure chance of that cycle.

for example, suppose a school realized that they f'ed up their gmat profile this year, and many of the 700+ scores are matriculating elsewhere. they would be more likely to admit a "boring" high scorer in the later rounds to compensate against a well-rounded star-studded resume 680 scorer.

but it seems that circumstances like that would be accidental, so not worth counting on!

pm4553 · Answer

Good analogy! I agree, if you have 2 rounds, R2 will be the last round, just like MIT has; but it's not frowned upon. May be, the MIT approach *can* be emulated by other schools

WillisFabros · Answer

I will be applying as a long shot for R4. Can those who have been admitted talk about which of their strengths they believe led them to success with Haas?

And for those rejected by Haas, what do you attribute your it to?

Thanks,

jko · Answer

It's not that they dont  want  people applying in that round, it's that they know they select fewer people from the last round, and offer less scholarships.

So when you ask the adcom 'which round is best to apply in' they truthfully tell you to apply in an earlier round, not because they don't want people to apply in the last round, but because the question you asked was 'which round is best  for me '.

Admissionado · Answer

Well, from what I've seen, usually people who get in last round are very strong candidates. The thing is by then, the schools have slotted out everybody in waitlists cause they know they'll be getting fewer applications. So you are running up against all of those who have almost gotten in in the first two rounds, which means they gotta have a preeeeeeetty compelling reason to take you on. For example last year we had a client whose family owned a huge copper production company. Applied to one school he wanted to go to in last round, got accepted and went. The big family biz helped for a lot of course.

StacyBlackman · Answer

Hi,

We strongly recommend that applicants do not aim to apply in the last round. Final rounds for a given school (be it round 3 or round 4) are often a bad strategy. For many schools, this is the time they are focused on completing their class and picking very specific profiles. In addition, if you submit an application in March and are not admitted, you do not have much time to regroup and improve your profile before reapplying in October for the next season.

Best,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

HaasEWMBA2015 · Answer

While not related to getting accepted or not, when applying to the last round most schools have already had their dorm lottery. Scholarships will also be very difficult to come by.

gmatpapa · Answer

I think during the last rounds, a school will primarily look at picking very strong applicants. If they are not able to find such candidates, they'll fill the remaining seats by picking from the waitlist..

Advantages of R3/R4?

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