Who is applying where...?

We sure should. Although both of us are from arguably the toughest demographics, we are atleast not from the same one .. so no head-to-head competition. We should certainly help each other preparing for Stan - Leave one stone unturned and you won't get into Stan .. simple as that. I also like the fact that both of us are doing two applications each before heading for Stan's. Let's hope those applications make us wiser.

true that. Part of me procrastinating with Stanford app is the "What matters" essay... still haven't thought of anything. But someone said that just keeping it in your head for a month or two, you could discover the reason one day without warning!

Anyway, I might be working on Stanford last since Kellogg is in the picture now, and their essays are quite similar to Haas'. Just need to repackage and reword the Haas essays. I have "perfect" examples for each question... at least I hope they're perfect.

R1/ED: Columbia, Darden, Stern, Fuqua
R2: Johnson, Ross

R1: HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Chicago
R2: Yale, NYU, maybe Columbia, maybe MIT

so my only common school with you is UCLA!!!!!

I am thinking about UCLA too. Not sure, but may swap Cornell for UCLA in Rd2.

I am applying to both - so I am in your competitor's boat. BTW have u seen that Cornell has still not opened its 2008 application. Kinda late isnt it

Well avi, we'll just have to make sure we both get into UCLA!

You're only going for Chicago?

My aspirations are humble - Chicago and Columbia

Then UCLA and Cornell

Then NYU - which has some truly ridiculous essays. I am sorry to say but their essays sound more like a cult joining application. The essays make it mandatory for a school visit and student networking for them to be answered!!!!!!

Wharton, Stanford and Harvard - next lifetime when I become a presidential aide

yeah, part of my strategy is to find schools where the essays are pretty similar, so minimal new work is needed.

Haas drafts are done.
UCLA is the same except for the "describe your family" essay
Stanford's the same except for the "what matters" essay
Kellogg is the same except for the "difficult working relationship essay"

Except for stanford, the others I have topics and details in mind already, and with only 400-800 words per essay, it won't be as hard to come up with enough examples. Just very hard to get them in the word limits.

I'm applying to three of these schools in Round-1 too. October's going to be one hell of a month for us....

You can get in without a visit before applying - I did.

We are a cult though.

R1:
Carnegie Mellon-Tepper
Northwestern- Kellogg
Austin Texas- McCombs

R2:
Cornell
Georgetown

I prefer small classes, and close community schools

Great. So one small nightmare over. I dont mind being in a cult - its kinda cool. Any rituals that I need to follow?:wink:

I keep thinking about applying to Stanford. I really like the first question. As soon as I read it, I knew what I would write about. My main problem would be not writing 7 pages just about that first essay.

My wife is actually prodding me to apply to Stanford (she may have gone crazy now after 8 months of grad school talk). She thinks that I should drop USC for Stanford. When we talk about schools, shes asks me "if USC is the only school you get into, will you want to go?" My answer is always "I'm not sure." And she's right, that isn't the correct answer.

It isn't that I think I am too good for USC, but I keep hearing somewhat negative things. I talked to a friends of a friend who is a USC alum at a BBQ. He basically told me "I had a good time there, but I think you can do better." I've got a wedding to go to in California in October, so hopefully I can schedule some time to get to USC and see for myself.

If I do drop USC and go for Stanford, I will be applying to 3 UEs and 3 elites. I hope I know what I am doing.

bherronp,

I understand your worries... right now I'm applying to 2 UEs and 2 Elites, so I'm even more at risk than you are. The Stanford essays are brutal, and I still don't know what to write about yet.

As for USC, I've heard the same things before too. I might try to swing by when I'm down there visiting UCLA, but most likely I won't be applying. Not quite sure why they're ranked so high...

Save your money instead of applying to USC - UCLA is a far better school, if the only reason you are applying is to move to LA.

USC Marshall school is ok but not good. The only reason it is high up is coz of the USC brand image. The school has been poached enough and most of the academia is either in UCLA or in some other better school. Recruiting sucks big-time so if and only if you are cash loaded and already have a few million in your account and ready to open your company, should you go to USC.

If I were you, I would apply to UNC, Georgetown, and Duke, as they are better choices than USC.

kryzak - when you come to LA, holla me up. Will be fun to meet up and grab some drinks.