Manager
Joined: 09 Oct 2011
Status:Celebrating!
Posts: 54
Given Kudos: 11
Location: United Kingdom
Concentration: Operations, General Management
WE:Operations (Manufacturing)
When to apply? Is R3 really too late for international apps?
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09 Dec 2012, 10:25
I'm currently studying at the moment for the GMAT and achieving strong scores - I scored 710 on my first official GMAT prep this morning, this is backed up with a few consistent scores from other practice tests. I'm keen to make sure I have a 7 at the front so I'm currently planning a few more weeks studying over the holiday break and then taking in January.
I have a real dilemma, and this is a real plea for advice - should I rush to take my test earlier or take later in January/early Feb? (Earliest date possible would be first week in January). I want to get to the best school possible but waiting for 2014 intake seems a very long way away!
I was planning to take on the later date, but I am an international student (UK based) with a strong desire to study in N America or Europe. I'm really surprised to see how early deadlines are - R2 seems to be passed by mid-January in the majority of places, which tends to be the expected point for international students to apply. If I apply later I'm concerned it'll be too late for Visa applications and I'll have missed the majority of scholarship opportunities. Is this scare-mongering by the schools to encourage an early application?
I expect to have a fairly strong application, UK educated engineer with 5 years of experience now running a high value highly automated manufacturing department with 25 staff, turnover over $30m. 2:1 in Engineering at a top UK university.
I don't know anyone even considering an MBA, let alone anyone with experience of applying! Please help and share experience.