How much $ have you spent on the admissions process?

Question

Obviously, the number of applications is a significant factor here, but it seems most of us are applying to 4-8 schools. How much have you spent, or do you expect to have spent, by the end of the whole process?

:-D

johnnyGMAT2k10 · Answer

Oooof, it even pains me to say it but I'm probably close to 10K over the last 1.5 years with all bschool related expenses.

GMAT Prep Class
3 Rounds w/ the GMAT
School visits: 2 trips to LA, 2 trips to NYC, 2 trips to Ithaca, 1 to DC
Consultant fees
Application fees for 7 schools

All spent before even getting an admit :oops:

2011 was a rough year, but hey, its just money right

method · Answer

That, my friend, is dedication ! :-D

krazo · Answer

ya im $5000+ once you factor in
1) GMAT prep
2) GMAT x 2
3) visits to 4 schools
4) 4 applications

cheetarah1980 · Answer

$10,000!! GOOD LAWD THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY!! Whoa!

Hmmm, my total expenses are reduced by about $1800 because my employer reimbursed me for my GMAT prep class and test fee. But prior to that I think I spent at least $300 on prep materials. Hmm...$980 in app fees. About $100 in train tickets, another $20 for metro cards, $900 for a trip to Chicago. I'll probably spend about $750 for Kellogg's admitted students weekend. Almost $100 on recommender gifts thus far. If have to interview on campus at Booth (which I doubt) or I get in elsewhere (which I hope), the total will easily push toward $5000. I've found that the money adds up quickly on the $20-$100 expenses. You don't notice those as much as the larger cash outlays.

method · Answer

No kidding! Stuff as simple as airport parking fees kills me. I feel like I'm always at an ATM.

MDF · Answer

Good question. I've been keeping a spreadsheet for over a year to keep tabs on my MBA related expenditures. It's really ugly.

I've spent over $7,500 (not including deposits). Roughly, this includes GMAT prep, multiple attempts at the GMAT, application fees, multiple school visits (i.e. airfare, hotel, taxis, etc.), gifts for my recommenders, and essay consultation.

Xabier · Answer

I applied to four schools and took the GMAT twice. I visited four schools, but got free lodging for half that time. One school cost me $1,000 alone. I used a professional editor instead of a consultant, which is much cheaper.

Total is just under $5,000 - but if you include all minor expenses I'm sure it puts me about $5,000.

This poll makes me feel a lot better about how much I've spent!

johnnyGMAT2k10 · Answer

LOL It definitely is, but I did and do feel it was necessary. Maybe one day I'll look back at it and laugh.

I also took some classes to build an alternate transcript so those fees and books are part of that almost 10K as well

scorpionz · Answer

Damn you method!! You just made me sooo sad! I had been somehow subconsciously avoiding getting to the total figure at least until I had an admit..But had to do it now..Definitely close to the $5K mark for me!! :evil:

Please don't come up with any more such polls!! :evil:

(Kidding, of course! :-D

)

hello212 · Answer

Applications: $1250 for five schools
GMAT prep: free (books given to me by friend)
GMAT: $250
Sending official reports to schools: $150 for five schools
Roaming charges for international calls with b-school alumni: $50
Taking recommenders out to lunch to discuss goals, strengths, and weaknesses: $150 for three lunches
Gifts for recommenders after applications were submitted: $600 for six recommenders
Total cost: $2450

Getting into my dream school: priceless

RAS2012 · Answer

.

sometimesitsnows01 · Answer

Not taking into account opportunity cost of projects/work I missed out for essays and travel. I've spent about $750 and will probably spend another $300 or so. 
I didn't spend much on gmat prep, I quite honestly spent 3 weeks studying for it and used it as my gauge for how much potential I had to do in an mba program. I'm applying to top 40 but not top 15 schools, meaning I never had to pay an application fee. If I had gotten less than a 650 I was going to re-evalute my goals.

$250 - GMAT Test
$100- Road Trip to K-Flager to see how I liked the culture.
$200- flight to Phoenix to interview with W.P. Carey, staying with a friend in Phoenix 2 nights and being put up by ASU one night.

Still will need to spend
$100 recommendation gifts
$100 road trip to Vanderbilt to decide if I prefer it to the other schools I've been admitted to. 
$100 bar tab the night I pick my grad school.

gijoedude · Answer

GMAT: $500
Kaplan Prep book: $45
App fee: $1300 (5 schools)

I saved a lot of money on books as the library in my city is well developed. I pretty much got all the standard GMAT prep books.

specialsnowflake · Answer

I feel like I may have actually saved money on the GMAT/application process, LOL. Let me explain. Take away ALL of my time for socializing, dining out with friends, shopping, small trips, etc.....left me with an ok savings

All jokes aside, I applied to 4.5 schools (received acceptances before I could submit the 5th), and spent approx $1000 CAD. No school visits included in that cost, but I did purchase study resources. SO SO SO glad this process is over and I can enjoy some free time before quitting my job and moving provinces to start B school in September!

gablaze23 · Answer

GMAT - $250
GMAT Prep Materials - roughly $100 (used books FTW)

Application fee for 6 consortium schools, Duke and Georgetown - $525
Application books - $30
Essay writing services - $600 for countless reviews

$1505.

I visited a number of campus while on vacation, so that wouldn't count.

Anasthaesium · Answer

So far
GMAT Prep - $300
GMAT books - $250
Playing around with the Book/Reschedul/Cancel appointment buttons - $270 - FML

backliteyes · Answer

I only applied to one school for my first time out of the gate.

Things I spent money on:
1) GMAT Prep class
2) Manhattan GMAT books & other random books
3) GMAT x2
4) School visit is only an hour's drive away - done several times for various events
5) Consulting services
6) Application fee

I'm waitlisted currently, so if I'm not admitted off the waitlist then more money will be spent next season when I'll reapply to one school and be a first-time applicant to some others. Also will probably take the GMAT again in that case.

Now that I actually think about it it has been a good bit of dough.

novanative · Answer

GMAT: $500 for two tests
Applying to three PT schools and spending $175 total on those (one school I apply with a full fee waiver)
Prep: $0.00 (I did $250 for Revolution Prep's GMAT course but I also work PT for them and got a significant discount and then I got a full refund because they changed the format of their classes)
Books: $50 or so for the traditional guides (Official, 2nd edition Q and V, etc).
Transcripts: $35.00 for five copies of my transcript at $7/piece. The University I went to doesn't give any free copies.

rgupta83 · Answer

I never replied but filled out the poll, guess ill include what i spent money on. GMAT Books GMAT Sending GMAT Scores to a bunch of schools Applying to 9 schools last year (6 dings, 1 wl, and 2 note reviewed as my recommender slacked off

) 2 Trips to visit schools Admissions Consultants for this year 7 Applications Luckily this year I was able to work it to get free trips to all my schools

How much $ have you spent on the admissions process?

How much have you spent on the admissions process? (fees, trips, books, consultants, etc)

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