Last visit was: 12 May 2026, 06:26 It is currently 12 May 2026, 06:26
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
751
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 751
Application Round Strategy 08 May 2008, 00:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
As a general rule, NEVER apply in the final round at a school unless you have a very unique background to contribute.

i.e.

It's BAD to apply:

2nd round of a 2 round school (MIT)
3rd round of a 3 round school (most schools)
4th round of a 4 round school (Haas, Anderson)

Simple, eh? :wink:
User avatar
gixxer1000
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Last visit: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 357
Own Kudos:
426
Concentration: Real Estate Development
Schools:Stern, McCombs, Marshall, Wharton
Posts: 357
Kudos: 426
Application Round Strategy 08 May 2008, 05:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I'm trying to figure out my stategy now and I'd like to know what you guys think.

RD1 Late Oct
HBS
Wharton
Stanford

I'm definitely applying to Wharton but will probably choose only one between H/S.

RD1 Early Nov
Haas
Columbia

RD1 Early Jan (All on same Application)
USC (MBA/MRED Dual Degree)
NYU
McCombs

RD1 Mid January
Cornell (MBA/MRED Dual Degree)

My back up plan if some how I strike out in each of the 3 groups is to move to just MRED programs that aren't due until Feb-Mar.

It's a total of 8 schools but because 3 are on the same application it will only be 6 applications. They are all round 1 but they are spread out over 3 months. I started this process last year but decided to hold of because I moved into a better position at work and was elected to vice president of a local organization that I'm involved in and felt the extra time would really help me improve my application.

So I've started a lot of the legwork already. I've visited half of the schools already and will be able to visit all of them before I apply. I'm also in a program that has allowed me to meet with adcom's from multiple schools.

So while I think 6 RD 1 applications sounds crazy, on paper it seems possible. I just don't want to bite off more than I can chew and hurt my chances instead of helping them.
User avatar
terp26
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Last visit: 06 Apr 2020
Posts: 1,210
Own Kudos:
390
Given Kudos: 12
Schools:Chicago Booth '11
Posts: 1,210
Kudos: 390
Application Round Strategy 08 May 2008, 06:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What do you mean applying on same application? Doesn't Columbia's reg decision begin in Jan?
User avatar
gixxer1000
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Last visit: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 357
Own Kudos:
426
Concentration: Real Estate Development
Schools:Stern, McCombs, Marshall, Wharton
Posts: 357
Kudos: 426
Application Round Strategy 08 May 2008, 07:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
terp26
What do you mean applying on same application? Doesn't Columbia's reg decision begin in Jan?
Show more

I will be applying through the Consortium. There are 14 member schools (Yale just joined this year). You can submit one application and they will then submit it to up to 6 schools of your choice. You just have to write one specific essay for each school. So in my case I will write 3 main essays that will go to all the schools and then write one specific essay for each of the 3 schools that only they will see. So 6 essays for 3 schools instead of 9-12. You need recommendations from 3 people but again those 3 recomendation would go to all the schools, so my recommenders will have to write less recomendations as well. And you only need to fill out the application information once.

Many people believe that it is for minorities only but in fact it's open to everyone as long as they can show support for minorties.

As far as Columbia the way I understand it is that they are on a rolling basis and their early decision round starts in August. The next date they show is January 9th if you want to be considered for merit based fellowships.
User avatar
sm332
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Last visit: 26 Apr 2011
Posts: 449
Own Kudos:
39
Given Kudos: 16
Schools:F2010 - HBS (R1 - denied w/o interview ), INSEAD (R1 - admitted), Wharton (R1 - waitlisted & ding), Ivey (R2 - admitted w/ 60% tuition)
GPA: 3.8
WE 1: 3.5yrs as a Strategy Consultant - Big 4
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 449
Kudos: 39
Application Round Strategy 08 May 2008, 07:32
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
what does show support for minorities mean? Previous engagement with them .... ? Just wondering since this seems to be an excellent way to try and limit the number of essays one writes leading to better essays by saving time and agony

gixxer1000
terp26
What do you mean applying on same application? Doesn't Columbia's reg decision begin in Jan?

I will be applying through the Consortium. There are 14 member schools (Yale just joined this year). You can submit one application and they will then submit it to up to 6 schools of your choice. You just have to write one specific essay for each school. So in my case I will write 3 main essays that will go to all the schools and then write one specific essay for each of the 3 schools that only they will see. So 6 essays for 3 schools instead of 9-12. You need recommendations from 3 people but again those 3 recomendation would go to all the schools, so my recommenders will have to write less recomendations as well. And you only need to fill out the application information once.

Many people believe that it is for minorities only but in fact it's open to everyone as long as they can show support for minorties.

As far as Columbia the way I understand it is that they are on a rolling basis and their early decision round starts in August. The next date they show is January 9th if you want to be considered for merit based fellowships.
Show more
User avatar
gixxer1000
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Last visit: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 357
Own Kudos:
426
Concentration: Real Estate Development
Schools:Stern, McCombs, Marshall, Wharton
Posts: 357
Kudos: 426
Application Round Strategy 08 May 2008, 07:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sm332
what does show support for minorities mean? Previous engagement with them .... ? Just wondering since this seems to be an excellent way to try and limit the number of essays one writes leading to better essays by saving time and agony
Show more

While African-American, Hispanics and Native-Americans make up about 26% of the population they only account for about 8% of top business programs. But in most cases they account for about double that in law programs, medical programs etc. It's clear that these communities don't see business school as a viable option and don't pursue it.

The Consortiums mission:
The mission of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an alliance of leading American business schools and some of our country’s top corporations, is to enhance diversity in business education and leadership by helping to reduce the serious underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both our member schools’ enrollments and the ranks of management.

We will achieve this mission by recruiting for graduate business education qualified U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents from these underrepresented groups, as well as other persons who can demonstrate a commitment to The Consortium’s mission and can best assist The Consortium in pursuing this mission.

I'm an executive board member of a volunteer organization that helps minorities professionally. There are non-minorities that serve on the board with me. They would be just as eligible to apply and receive the scholarship as I would.

But not to get to far off topic, does anyone see and serious flaws in my application strategy?
avatar
kalia2480
avatar
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Last visit: 14 May 2008
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 22
Kudos: 1
Application Round Strategy 08 May 2008, 10:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Just wanted to share my thoughts on this because I REALLY wish I had done things differently although it ultimately all worked out. I highly encourage applying to a safety in R1 because it will keep you sane if you get in. For me, one of my safeties was the only R1 school I got into so it made the R2 wait process less painful (altho not a ton).

In addition to a safety, make sure to apply to at least one of your dream/reach schools in R1. I actually focused on my safeties in R1 so while I was happy I got something, I had to wait until the spring to find out about the schools i REALLY wanted. I ended up getting into my dream school in R2, which I attribute to the huge improvement in my essay writing. So again, also make sure you apply to a dream school in R2 because your application will be a LOT stronger with practice.

Finally, if you would go to Columbia if admitted, APPLY EARLY DECISION!! Your chances are MUCH better, regardless of what you hear otherwise. So many qualified people got W/Led or rejected partly due to the fact that they applied later and there were less spots available.

Good luck!
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
751
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 751
Application Round Strategy 09 May 2008, 20:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gixxer, i think that will work, since you're technically only applying to 4 schools for "R1" (2 in October, 2 in November). The other "R1" schools are due when most R2 apps are due, through the Consortium, so it's as if you're doing one extra application in R2 and a couple of backups after that.

It'll be a lot of work and hopefully you're planning on taking your GMAT in May/June and already started preparing your recommender package and essays... you can do it if you start right now. :)

Good luck!
User avatar
gixxer1000
User avatar
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Last visit: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 357
Own Kudos:
426
Concentration: Real Estate Development
Schools:Stern, McCombs, Marshall, Wharton
Posts: 357
Kudos: 426
Application Round Strategy 12 May 2008, 11:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
kryzak
gixxer, i think that will work, since you're technically only applying to 4 schools for "R1" (2 in October, 2 in November). The other "R1" schools are due when most R2 apps are due, through the Consortium, so it's as if you're doing one extra application in R2 and a couple of backups after that.

It'll be a lot of work and hopefully you're planning on taking your GMAT in May/June and already started preparing your recommender package and essays... you can do it if you start right now. :)

Good luck!
Show more

Under your advice I started Fri May 09, 2008 11:21 pm. :wink:

I actually got a year head start on my recommendations and essays because I asked them last year but then pulled out and decided to wait for this year. So I've done plenty of research for my essays and should be fine as long as the questions don't change to much.

The downside is that being in application mode for over a year now has become very stressful. I've forgotten what its like to have friends. If this year doesn't work out for me I can't imagine doing it again.
User avatar
ncp
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 08 Nov 2006
Last visit: 13 Feb 2023
Posts: 1,414
Own Kudos:
326
Given Kudos: 1
Location: Ann Arbor
Concentration: Health Care Marketing
Schools:Ross '10
Posts: 1,414
Kudos: 326
Application Round Strategy 12 May 2008, 11:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
So true.

gixxer1000
The downside is that being in application mode for over a year now has become very stressful.
Show more

I unfortunately wrote my GMAT in Feb 2007. So, I had to wait until Fall 2007 to apply. While the headstart is good, it is insanely stressful to spend nearly 2 years obsessing about the MBA(I started preparing for GMAT around October 06). I was atleast lucky enough to be admitted at one of my R1 schools(Jan). Waiting for R2 results would have been unbearable, otherwise.
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
751
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 751
Application Round Strategy 12 May 2008, 23:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
wow... 10 months was bad enough for me, I can't imagine being in this mode for 1-2 years!

Good luck gixxer, i think you'll be able to get the apps in on time!
   1   2