Requesting Profile Evaluation

Hi there,

Fantastic GPA and GMAT – congratulations! It also sounds like you’ve had a high impact career so far. So I’m wondering why you’re set on applying for Round 3 this year as opposed to waiting for Round 1 next year, particularly since you’ve been in your current role for <1 year and you’re on the young side for the top programs (in the US, at least). As I’m sure you know, chances of admission go way down in Round 3 for all of the top programs as most of the class has been admitted in the prior rounds and the adcom is in “refinement” mode, which means they use Round 3 to fine tune the final class composition. Many programs also consider waitlisted applicants alongside Round 3 applicants. That’s not to say that candidates aren’t accepted in Round 3 (I’ve seen it happen!) but the bar is set that much higher. But perhaps most importantly for you, the timing for securing a visa will likely be challenging if you're admitted in Round 3 and most schools discourage international applicants from applying this late in the year. (I'm assuming that you are Indian so I apologize if I'm mistaken.) So for you, I see only upside to waiting until the following application year If that’s what you decide, you’re generally competitive for the top 15 programs – I would encourage you to consider a couple of reach programs (Tuck, Kellogg, perhaps MIT or Haas) along with your target schools (Tepper, Fuqua, UCLA, etc.) If you’re set on applying for Round 3, then aiming for the lower end of the top 15 and even the top 25 will be your best bet in terms of chances of admission. Schools like Tepper and UNC have seen higher admissions % in round 3 in prior years. But again, I suggest reaching out to the schools and asking about their reception to international applicants this late in the year before you begin your applications.

No matter which round you apply in just a bit of advice for you in closing-
- As a younger applicant, be sure to clearly and directly explain why now is the right time for you to be pursuing an MBA. Couple that with clearly defined career goals and a compelling reason why you need an MBA (since you intend to stay in tech) and you’ll be well on your way to a strong application.
- Extra-curriculars – you don’t mention anything beyond undergrad but these are also an important part of your applications, not only as an additional opportunity to demonstrate leadership but also to show that you have diverse interests and passions outside the office. The adcom is truly interested in getting to know you on a personal level. It’s never too late to get involved.

Best of luck! Happy to chat further if you’d like to discuss the specifics of your situation.

Kindly,
Melody