Funding your GMAT school applications

No one in their right mind should apply to 16-20 schools... You are much better off picking 5-6 so that you can really do a good job

Posted from my mobile device

Man this is not law school where you apply to 20 schools.. Pick about 5 schools and you should be good

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

I'm going to repeat what the other posters have mentioned because it bears repeating. Do not apply to 16 - 20 schools. Even for applicants where we see lower chances but a high need for conversion, we tend to cap recommendations at 8.

I don't know your profile but the other posters are right - 5 - 6 on average is fine for the average applicant.

To your second point - it is not at all common for others to fund your applications. Nor will they do so - there is no return in it for them unless you were to crowd source your education itself (this is actually a thing but that's not for this thread).

If you're concerned about the ~$200 application fees, you should have a long think about how you'd finance the actual program. Loans are, of course, options but you should be able to fund part of the program yourself.

Bhavik

I can only imagine having to ask 3 people to write 16 to 20 recommendations LOL! I had a hard enough time getting my boss to write 4 I couldn't imagine having him writing 16!

Not to mention that each school require on average 3 essays.. Imagine you writing about 40 to 50 different essays? lol! Impossible

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

firstly, i am applying for a Ph D, so please do not use my example for your study. Secondly, my research shws that you cannot assume your chances anywhere or convert even if you select only your 1 in 3 or best chances esp if you apply to only 5 or 6 schools, No one in their right mind would conduct such an exercise as a hoby only with 5-6 applications and a serious top school applicant who is academically he est also should not apply to less than 10. Take it from me, i have both research and experience in the subject. Also, I am an international applicant and would not have the luxe of visits and face to face interviews and i am returning to academics after a long time but those eigenvalues can get easily accounted for in any and every aplication overall.

Major problems:

1) A Q59 is quite an impressive, albeit impossible score.
2) Application costs are high, but they are possibly even higher than you've predicted since I'm sure some schools will want to do interviews.
3) Banks will give loans for anything if you can convince them you're good for it. But I can't imagine anyone "expecting" anything in return other than their money back, and in the case of banks, interest.
4) PhD programs are even more competitive than MBA programs, so I agree that you can and should apply for more. The applications are probably more generic. That said, you're in for a tough year...

My friend, it's not only the money issue, you won't have time to prepare so many applications... it's a lot of work.