Ritz1 wrote:
Hey everyone,
I am new to the MBA Application journey and would really appreciate your help here.
I am an Indian Female Engineer. Currently working as an Advanced Analytics Consultant at one of the biggest management consulting firms. I have been thinking about applying for an MBA this year. However, I am immensely under prepared to apply in Round 1, don't even have my GMAT score yet. During my research I came across two lines of thought:
1. Round 1 and Round 2 are equivalent
2. People from over represented Applicant Pool should apply in Round 1 for better chances
I don't want to rush my applications and send out a half baked version but I am skeptical that this might affect my chances of admission at the top schools.
Now that we have some context of my dilemma, I have few questions which I need help with
1. Being an Indian Engineering Female, do I fall in the over represented applicant pool?
2. Is there any difference in applying in Round 1 vs Round 2 for me? Are there any advantages of applying in Round 1 over Round 2?
3. Are there any specific schools in T10 which give preference to R1 over R2? (just to help me split applications across the two rounds)
I would ideally like to send all applications in Round 2 but if there is some merit to sending out applications early, I'd try to send at least 2-3 applications in Round 1. I still have to chalk out the best schools for me depending on my GMAT score and goals, connect with people from those schools, understand my best fit before I can even start with apps..etc. So, I want to time box this and create an application timeline for myself.
Thanks for your help. Cheers!!
Hi
Ritz1,
Which round to apply in is one of the most common conversations
Personal MBA Coach has with applicants. There is no easy answer to this question, and it will vary considerably based on personal circumstances and target school lists.
However, in general, the best time to apply is when your application is the strongest. A rushed application is rarely the strongest application.
Some questions to for you consider:
-
Do your target schools have a strong preference for R1 vs. R2? (Most do not, unless you are considering one of the few schools that leaves a smaller number of slots for R2 applicants.)
-
When are your target schools’ deadlines? Some R1 Deadlines are nearly a month before others.
-
How many schools are you applying to? -
How much time can you dedicate to your applications?Since you have yet to begin the testing process, this may have a strong bearing on your decision to wait until R2. Getting even just 20 points higher on the GMAT by R2 eliminates any R1 advantage that may be present at most schools. Splitting applications across rounds is also a viable strategy.
Feel free to reach out to
scott@personalmbacoach.com to discuss your situation in more detail. We work with a lot of applicants from India and would be happy to
provide guidance throughout the application process.
Best,
Personal MBA Coach