Any R1ers contemplating some R2 apps?

Question

By the time R1 is over, I'll have 6 apps in to schools that rage from "no f-ing way will they take me" to "they better pay me to go there." I have it in my head that I'll be in B-School by this time next year and my R1 applications virtually guarantee that.

I'm starting to regret one or two of my R1 schools and wish I'd applied someplace else instead. Maybe it's hubris, but as my application has evolved and as I learned more about the process and the schools, I've come to feel that I am a stronger candidate than I had originally given myself credit for. As such, I regret not applying to a few more top schools.

I'm curious: Have any of you R1 guys made a late-breaking decision to apply to other schools in R1? The only real issue I face is asking my recommenders to do a few more recs. These guys have buster their butts to get in 6 R1 apps and I'd feel like a dick asking them for much more. I'm sure they'd do it and all but...

dabots · Answer

i did 3 R1 apps to schools i have little chance of making it to. ive planned to do R2 apps all along. right now im only sure of Ross as an R2 school.

gmatclb · Answer

The only reason you apply for R1 is so you have time to do R2 as well.

If you already did R1 applications, you might as well do R2 instead of sitting around.

Toploader · Answer

I applied R1 because I need to know where I'm going ASAP. I'm in Germany now and would like as much time as possible to plan a move back to the US. The 2 month notification delay between R1 and R2 isn't a deal-breaker, it's just not preferred.

I've heard from current students at Stanford and MIT that R1 is the way to go. Adcoms seem unwilling to admit that though!

adcxaway · Answer

I too have been planning R2 apps from day one. R1 was decent, but I have to be realistic and have a backup plan too.

However, I didn't firm up on my R2 schools until I completed my R1 schools. It took some time to decide on which R2 schools to apply to.

I was tempted to squeeze in Ross as an R1 after I realised that I had finished Tuck way early. But decided against it simply because I would not have had been able to guarantee my recommenders completing it on time. I usually give a 2 month lead time to my recommenders.

bsd_lover · Answer

After 4 R1 applications, one ding and no news on any other submitted R1 apps, I have decided that I can't just sit around and wait. My application has gotten stronger over time and I believe that I can make it even better. Hence, I will start on some R2 schools while I am waiting to hear from R1 interview decisions. It can't hurt ...

lumone · Answer

Well, Stanford kind of admits that:

gmatclb · Answer

I already assumed that R2 was harder, but I'm a little surprised that Stanford admitted this.

I guess they hated the bumrush in R2.

kryzak · Answer

I did all my research back in June/July, and picked the 4 schools I wanted to apply to. The only reason I have a R2 right now is because Stanford took a lot more time than I thought, and I couldn't get Kellogg's in before the earlier deadline. 

Other than that, I don't plan on applying to any R2 schools other than Kellogg (which slipped from R1). Hopefully I get into one of the 4 I apply to...

BTW, I also applied to R1 because I wanted to know as early as possible so I can sell my place and maybe take a few months off to travel.

lepium · Answer

At some schools, applying R1 is better than R2. At others, it is considered equal. 

From the Ultra - Elites the ones at which you may want to apply in R1: MIT and Stanford, plus Columbia's ED. The rest are assumed to be R2 neutral.

L.

riverripper · Answer

MIT they pretty much said your chances are 50% better first round.

kryzak · Answer

especially since MIT only has 2 rounds, and the 2nd round is really tough to get in.

For Stanford, if you check admissions411, a slightly higher (~5%) people get admitted in R1 than R2.

kidderek · Answer

I guess if delaying a round improves your app by more than 5% it's worth the delay.

dabots · Answer

the acceptance rates for r1 and r2 were 19% and 14% last year... the acceptance rates differ by 35%, so you better improve your app by 35% :-D

kryzak · Answer

haha, a classic example of statistics "lying".

But yes, dabots is right, the raw increase in acceptances is 5%, from 14->19%. BUT the improvement of your chances is 35% (19/14 - 1). So if you can get your application 35% better in R2, then it's worth the wait.

gmatclb · Answer

That would be a great first question on the GMAT quant.

I probably would've got that wrong too. lol

Any R1ers contemplating some R2 apps?

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