https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-06-16_19-29-30-150x150.png By Adam Hoff, Amerasia Consulting Group As we move through the winter months and host calls with b-school candidates for the upcoming cycle, it's interesting to note that some admissions questions come up a lot more this time of year than they do later. We are going to try to use that as a cue to address these types of issues and concerns here on the blog - and we are starting with a very common question this far out from the process, which is "what round should I apply in?" THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION DEPENDS LARGELY ON THREE FACTORS: Level of readiness (will you have everything done by Round 1, will have you time to put forward your best effort, are there any post-Round 1 events that would strengthen your case such that you should wait) Which schools you are applying to Your level of desire to keep your entire process "in lockstep" (having all your deadlines, interviews, decisions, etc. take place around the same time) We can throw out #1 for the purposes of this post, as each person is different and there is no reason trying to cover every permutation. #3 can be handled quickly. Basically, if you are someone that looks to group things up, or avoid protracted periods of ambiguity, or even just logistically have things organized, you should probably try to pick a round and apply to your schools that round, rather than spread them out or try to "game" things. If you don't care about that, or you even prefer to spread out a process, than a blend of Round 1 and Round 2 may be for you. WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, HOW DO SCHOOLS PLAY A ROLE IN ALL THIS? Basically, you want to think about the schools as belonging to three groups: "Round 1 is better", "Round 2 (possibly) is better", and "It doesn't matter." ROUND 1 IS BETTER In my opinion, there are five schools where it is better to apply to the earliest round (technically, we've been using "Round 1" but what this means is basically the earliest deadline). They are: Columbia Business School Early Decision Duke Fuqua Early Decision Dartmouth Tuck Early Action (Decision) MIT Sloan Round 1 Stanford GSB Round 1 Columbia is a full-on Early Decision, and both logic and stats bear out that it's better to apply early if it's a top choice (and/or you are willing to eat a huge deposit). Duke and Tuck also have early application periods and in the case of Tuck in particular, they like to see real interest given the school's remote location, and applying early can be a good way to show that level of passion. With MIT Sloan it's more of a feel thing - because they only have two rounds, I would much rather see someone apply to the "first" rather than the "last" round. Stanford GSB is the one where it's more nuanced. Because Stanford uses a more curatorial approach to building a class (think of most schools as customs agents stamping a long line of passports, whereas Stanford GSB is someone putting a seating chart together for a wedding reception), it follows that you want to be seen earlier in the process rather than later. This is because you run a larger risk of them already have people "like you" from Round 1 if you wait. We're obviously talking about the margins here, given the school's obscenely low acceptance rate, but then again, winning on the margins is often the key. ROUND 2 IS (POSSIBLY) BETTER HBS EU Schools Let's start with the EU b-schools, because these MBA programs are less controversial. Most people will tell you that being "fashionably late" with the European programs is not only acceptable, but probably better. EU programs have a ton of rounds and to apply in the very first one is not only unnecessary but also carries some risk of looking overeager. With HBS, this take is a little more unique, but I actually believe you have a slight advantage waiting for Rd 2. I wrote about Rd 2 in general here ( https://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/blog/2015/7/15/looking-for-an-mba-advantage-consider-round-2 ), but will quote the relevant part about HBS: "Display of confidence. I have seen more HBS clients of mine get in during Round 2 the last few years, honestly, and I think it's in part because it shows a really assured attitude. It's almost "I don't need to scramble around like a maniac for your increasingly, insanely early deadline. I'll lay back. I'm good." And I truly believe that confidence gets rewarded. Again, I can't prove it, so I'm not going to tell all of my HBS clients to NOT apply Round 1 ... but I truly think they might have a slightly better chance if they wait." The idea here is that as HBS continues to test how confident and self-possessed the applicants are, the more merit there is to possibly waiting. You can let all your Type A peers rush to meet a deadline that gets earlier every year, while you hang back and show a little more confidence that your abilities and accomplishments are more than enough to carry the day. It's once again a battle on the margins, but as with GSB, that can make a difference. IT DOESN'T MATTER All the other schools. Seriously, you will hear them say Round 1 is better if you go to an information session before Round 1, but that is to drive applications. If you go to the same session you will hear a new spin saying how Round 2 is just as good. At every other top school in the world - I have seen no evidence (statistical or anecdotal) that there is a difference between Round 1 and Round 2. So ... "If I am applying to Stanford AND HBS, what should I do?" You should apply Round 1. Unless you are someone okay with spreading out your process and using multiple rounds (which means doubling the length of this ordeal, having two waves of interviews, having competing enrollment deadlines, etc.), you are going to want to apply to your schools in lockstep. And, to me, the upside of of applying Round 1 to GSB is much higher than applying to Rd 2 to HBS. FINAL THOUGHT It goes without saying, but we will say it anyway, that you need to apply with the best possible application. If you submit something mechanical or shoddy or lacking depth or that fails to connect with program DNA, it won't matter which round you apply. No matter the round, we have helped more than 1000 clients successfully apply to top business schools worldwide since 2008. Let us help you figure out your next step. Schedule a complimentary, one-hour consultation with a member of our expert admissions team. Email us at mba@amerasiaconsulting.com or visit us online at www.amerasiaconsulting.com/contact .

https://tuck.dartmouth.edu/uploads/blog_images/mba360-student-computer-writing.jpg

https://tuck.dartmouth.edu/uploads/blog_images/tuck-student-faculty-talking.jpg

https://tuck.dartmouth.edu/uploads/blog_images/blog-get-to-know-the-tuck-admissions-associates-program-header.jpg

https://tuck.dartmouth.edu/uploads/blog_images/blog-applying-to-tuck-through-the-consortium-header.jpg

Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 05:05

It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 05:05

Toolkit

Business School and MBA

Business School Discussions

Tuck

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

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Nov 19
Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with ARINGO
09:00 AM PST
-
10:00 AM PST
What’s in it for you- Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with Jenifer Turtschnow, CEO ARINGO. Come with your details prepared and ARINGO will share insights! Pre-MBA Role/Industry, YOE, Exam Score, C/GPA, ECs Post-MBA Role/ Industry & School List.
Nov 19
ENDS SOON: Get 50% Off My Admit Coach + FREE 1-Hour MBA Consulting Call ($250 value)
10:00 AM EST
-
01:00 PM EST
Get expert MBA strategy, instant essay feedback, and personalized advice on your entire application. Join My Admit Coach, the AI-powered MBA admissions platform built on 10K+ successful application docs for HBS, Stanford GSB, MIT and other top programs.
Nov 19
MBA Round 2: Strategy, School List Size, Scholarships, Low GPA Fixes & Deferred MBA
11:00 AM PST
-
12:00 PM PST
Round 2 is here — and it’s your chance to make your MBA dream happen! Join GMAT Club’s LIVE discussion with two top experts from The Red Pen, Gunjan Jhunjhunwala and Natasha Mankikar, as we break down everything you need to know
Nov 12
ENDS SOON: Get 50% Off My Admit Coach + FREE 1-Hour MBA Consulting Call ($250 value)
01:00 PM EST
-
11:59 PM EST
Get expert MBA strategy, instant essay feedback, and personalized advice on your entire application. Join My Admit Coach, the AI-powered MBA admissions platform built on 10K+ successful application docs for HBS, Stanford GSB, MIT and other top programs.
Nov 20
UCR MBA Impact - Live Q&A with UCR AdCom & Student
07:30 AM PST
-
08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 20
CBS vs. NYU Stern vs. Yale SOM: What Admissions Really Wants
10:00 AM EST
-
10:30 AM EST
If you’re applying to Columbia, NYU Stern, or Yale SOM, you need more than strong stats. Each school defines “leadership” differently, and your essays must reflect that. Join Sia Admissions founder, Susan Berishaj on November 20th
Nov 20
Essay Workshop: Mastering Essay Questions
09:00 PM IST
-
10:00 PM IST
Join our free expert-led Essay Workshops to discover how to choose impactful stories, highlight your core values, and align your background with each school’s distinct culture, making every word truly count.
Nov 21
Emory MBA Info Sessions (Online)
08:30 AM EST
-
09:15 AM EST
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
Nov 21
Live Coffee Chat- The MBA Application Essays: How to Master the 3 “WHY” Questions That Define Your Story
09:30 PM IST
-
10:30 PM IST
Learn how to craft powerful, authentic essays by mastering the 3 “WHYs” every top MBA program looks for: Why MBA, Why Now, and Why This School.
Nov 24
FREE Prospects Evaluation!
08:00 PM PST
-
09:00 PM PST
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!

Back to Forum

Create Topic

Tuck Dartmouth MBA Admissions & Related Blogs

1 ... 17 18 19

newsTuck

Joined: 13 Nov 2013

Last visit: -

Posts: 569

Own Kudos:

Posts: 569

Kudos: 58

30 Jun 2025, 08:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Tuck Admissions Insights: Test Scores

This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB

newsTuck

Joined: 13 Nov 2013

Last visit: -

Posts: 569

Own Kudos:

Posts: 569

Kudos: 58

30 Jun 2025, 10:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Reapplying to Tuck

newsTuck

Joined: 13 Nov 2013

Last visit: -

Posts: 569

Own Kudos:

Posts: 569

Kudos: 58

30 Jun 2025, 14:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Reapplying to Tuck

newsTuck

Joined: 13 Nov 2013

Last visit: -

Posts: 569

Own Kudos:

Posts: 569

Kudos: 58

03 Sep 2025, 10:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Get to Know the Tuck Admissions Associates Program

Devidjhon

Joined: 30 Sep 2025

Last visit: 12 Nov 2025

Posts: 5

Own Kudos:

Posts: 5

Kudos: 1

17 Oct 2025, 02:18

Kudos

Bookmarks

I found this discussion really helpful, especially for those trying to understand how Tuck looks beyond just academics and values genuine leadership qualities. It reminds me of how important planning and coordination can be during the admission process, much like organizing a group trip where timing and preparation matter the most.

newsTuck

Joined: 13 Nov 2013

Last visit: -

Posts: 569

Own Kudos:

Posts: 569

Kudos: 58

17 Oct 2025, 08:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Applying to Tuck through the Consortium?

1 ... 17 18 19

Prep Toolkit

Announcements

How the UC Riverside MBA Helps You Thrive Personally & Professionally

Thursday, Nov 20, 2025
10:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai

Master in Management, Finance, Business Analytics and more Master’s Programs!

Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with ARINGO

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
09:00 am PDT | 10:30 pm IST
Location: GMAT Club Chat

Top GMAT Focus Debriefs

Tuck Dartmouth MBA Admissions & Related Blogs

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards