Hedging between R1 and R2

Question

I am applying to six schools - 4 in round1 and 2 in round2. My "dream" schools in R1 and safety schools in R2. Is there any benefit to "splitting" my application between rounds? Im thinking of doing:

R1-dreamschool1, dreamschool2, safety school
R2-dreamschool1, dreamschool2, safety school

I was thinking that most adcoms say it is best to apply in R1.. but in Poets and Quants, i read applicants are splitting their target schools between 1and2. Not sure what the rationale is for that...

What do you guys think?

cheetarah1980 · Answer

I split my applications between R1 and R2. Most admissions officers say that R1 and R2 are pretty much the same. Stanford is the only school I can think of that explicitly encourages applicants to apply in R1.

People have different reasons for splitting up their apps between R1 and R2. The most common are:
1) To lessen the workload for any particular round. Even putting one application together takes a lot of work and while it usually takes less effort to complete future applications they are all a time intensive project. Many people split the rounds so as not to wear themselves or their recommenders out.

2) Applications get better as you go. Each subsequent application is better than the one before it (up to a point where you reach diminishing returns). Many people save their dream school for R2 in order to capitalize on the benefit of having previous applications and possibly interviews under their belt.

3) Splitting rounds can offer a second chance. Some people like to test the waters in R1 and put out applications to a safety school as well as one or two reach schools. If R1 ends with 0 admits (or worse 0 interviews) there is enough time between R1 and R2 to regroup and hit the next batch of schools. For example, let's say a person has a borderline GMAT score. The R1 picture starts to shape up about 3-4 weeks after submission deadlines as interview invites roll in. If by November R1 is looking like a bust then there's still time for a GMAT retake and to hit 1-3 more applications in time for R2 deadlines in January.

Splitting up rounds is a personal choice. If you're planning to only apply to 3-4 schools it's doable in one round. If you feel the need to apply to 5+ schools and haven't started working on apps now (like right, right now), then it may be best to spread the work between rounds. Be mindful that if you do apply in R1, get accepted, and still want to shoot for additional schools in R2 then you will likely have to pay a deposit to your R1 school BEFORE you know if you've been accepted anywhere in R2. Deposit and decision days can be weeks apart so I do not recommend choosing this route with the expectation that you can get an extension (especially in R1 since that yield impacts R2 decisions). Hope this helps clarify things somewhat.

ebonn101 · Answer

Personally, if I could do it again I would've done all my top schools R1. I didn't find that my own applications got any "better" or more polished by R2 - if anything by R2 I was tired of the whole process and less motivated to put forth the effort I did in R1.

I have heard a few things about R1 applications going up in volume this year due to people scrambling to take the pre-IR GMAT, so that's also a consideration that might warrant splitting your apps up if you want to get really neurotic about it.

https://gmatclub.com/static/posted_from.png     Posted from    GMAT ToolKit

scorpionz · Answer

I think your split is just fine.

Personally, I did see a reduction in time and simultaneously an improvement in the quality of my apps as I progressed through the season. If I were you, I would rank the schools in order of priority and then apply to 1,4 & 6 in R1 and then 2,3 & 5 in R2. But that's just my way of thinking..

Also, am curious about your categorization. Usually schools are classified as Reach (Dream), Par & Safety. I hope you're also taking some "Par" schools into consideration..

str1der · Answer

I guess you meant Stretch for the dream school? Reach sounds too positive for a dream school - haha

I too am in the dilemma of how to space out the applications. I have been through the grind once so I dont think postponing applications to another round will be too beneficial for me. For first timers, I do believe that a lot of people apply to dream schools in Round 2 as a) You are better at writing your essays as you have gone through a through introspection phase, and b) you (hopefully) have an admit in round1 and you are now in that zone of being able to experiment more with your essays, be more creative, and thus maybe making a stellar app to your dream school.

Many people might not agree that going through ROund 1 helps polish Round 2, but a lot of my friends from last year did feel this in fact and recommended to me to keep my dream schools (like Harvard) to Round 2.

Cheetarah is right - if you're applying to Stanford, apply round 1. However, do note that Stanford's admission team (in my opinion) is also using this as a tactic. Stanford is the most desirable school for most applicants due to its elusive nature. So people who want to give it a shot, would want to have maximum chances. The team says max chances are in ROund1. So Round 1 volume goes up. a) they get a higher applicant pool and thereby more selectivity thereby reflecting better in rankings/aspirants eyes/hallowed portals (Read GmatClub, blogs etc.), and b) higher yield - seldom will anyone who gets into stanford even want to apply elsewhere. maybe HBS for 'fun'

finmaster · Answer

I'm going to apply to the upper half schools and one par school of my target schools in R1. I want to get an admit by December/January so that I can relax and start thinking about the other aspects like money, visa, and resignation etc. I also feel that I'm the kinda person who will give it all in a burst and then I might get burnt out. I just wanna get my top choice schools over before the burn out phase kicks in. I'm reserving the R2 apps for the worst-case scenario. I have started working on the essays and I feel that about three months from now for writing essays for 6-7 programs should be enough for me. In fact, if I get some time left, I might even pull some of the schools from R2 to R1.

I think the logic of delaying the app to R2 for dream schools holds good only for people who start working on their app somewhat late, as in late July-Early August or even later. This also holds for reapplicants who have already been through the grind.

For those starting the work in May-June like many here, the best app should be up and ready by R1 deadlines, that's still a good 80-90 days away.

I think the logic of delaying the app to R2 for dream schools holds good only for people who start working on their app somewhat late, as in late July-Early August or even later. This also holds for reapplicants who have already been through the grind.

For those starting the work in May-June like many here, the best app should be up and ready by R1 deadlines, that's still a good 80-90 days away.

emmanuelle8 · Answer

Sorry, i am applying in two stretch, two par, and two safety

the stretch and par are all in R1

I would be happy to get into even my PAR schools, hence the term "dream"

Hahaha Anyway, still deciding how to split up my apps. Personally, I feel that if I postpone my "dream schools" to R2, I wont be able to concentrate as I'll be nervous during the interview season!!! Ugh STRESS.

scorpionz · Answer

One more point for pushing your dream school to R2.

If you do land some interviews in R1, and I hope you do, you'll realize that the interview discussion will help you introspect far better than all the prior months of self introspection put together. There's nothing quite eye opening as an experienced interviewer who's been there, done that, question you and subtly (or explicitly) poke holes in your logic and find gaps in your reasoning..You feel terribly exposed and see the chinks in your candidacy laid bare. My interviews helped me refine my thought processes tremendously and my subsequent apps were significantly better..

pearljam · Answer

I don't get how people apply to so many schools. I don't think I could have physically done it. I would recommend evaluating whether you  really  want to attend #5 and 6 (or #4 and 5 if 6 is your safety). Cutting down the number and making sure to visit the four you do apply to and increasing the time you spend on each app by 50% might be your best option. Make each essay for each school really customized and personal rather than a bunch of recycled boilerplate.

Francesc · Answer

I am applying to 4 in R1 and hoping I will get in on atleast one of them ... If I don't get in on any(which I will know early Dec) I will apply to 2 safe schools in R2... Ideally I would have liked to have an admit by December but there is the deposit that needs to be paid and I not keen on parting with more money before the enormous loan I am about to take

cheetarah1980 · Answer

I understand that sentiment. But seriously, when you're about to spend $100K+, forfeiting $1-3K is like a drop in the bucket. The cost is negligible in the grand scheme of things.

Hopefully you won't need R2 and get into one of your R1 schools, so it's a moot point anyways.

Francesc · Answer

I agree with you that it is not a significant amount of money... I am just really hopeful about Tuck as I am a reapplicant from last year and have addressed all the weak points mentioned to me by the ad com in the feedback session. This coupled with one more year of work ex ( I just had 3 last year) and an improved GMAT score should see me through! I might have gone for a safe school if that wasnt the case... In the end I think its whether you really want to get atleast one admit by R1 or are you willing to fight it out in R2 :-D

emmanuelle8 · Answer

Thanks guys for all the advice!

Will definitely think about it. What i'm trying to do now is just work out my essays as best as i can; i will send them when i think they are good enough.

this process is so stressful and burns me out!

Hedging between R1 and R2

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