Ideal time to start working on applications for R2 deadlines

Question

Hello everyone,

I have planned to apply to 10-12 MBA colleges for R2 deadlines. I have started preparing for GMAT before a few days. I'm planning to give the exam in mid-november, so that I can give TOEFL in the end of November and start working on my applications from December. I have already started making drafts for the essays. (I take out 2 hours every week for the same.)

Do you think it will be okay if I started with my applications from December? Is it late? What is the ideal time to start working on applications for Jan 5, 2015 deadlines?

Kindly reply as soon as possible.

Regards,
Shweta

CriticalSquare · Answer

So two things:

1) That is WAYYYY too many schools. Our international clients apply to 5 - 7 and that's over two rounds. Anything more than 4, potentially 5, is going to be close to impossible even with professional help

2) Yes, that's pushing the timetable - even if you choose to apply to 4 schools, getting all of them done in a month or so is a tall order

If you can, move the GMAT and TOEFL up and think really long and hard about that school list of yours!

Bhavik

Shwetaa · Answer

Hello,

Thanks a lot for your reply and suggestion.

Yes I agree, applying to 10-12 schools in a month is next to impossible and that's why I needed an expert advice. But I would like to tell you that I won't be working full-time in December. So I can give 80% of my time to applications. Is it possible in that case?

Also, I realize that I should not apply to so many colleges, but I would like to have options. Because as an early career candidate / college senior, I really can't decide which schools are the best fits for me.

Awaiting your reply.

Regards, 
Shweta

CriticalSquare · Answer

Wait, let's take a step back here. Why are you applying as a college senior? And if you are, almost no top ranked program is going to let you in unless you are AMAZING. Your better bet would be deferred programs but, once again, you have to be amazing.

Shwetaa · Answer

Thanks.

I know that, but I have really taken some time to decide what I should do. I won't be applying to top 10 (USA) programs, just 1/2 from 11-20 and rest from 21-80. But I know what my goals are and I just can't wait and gain experience in some other field for some years and then apply. Moreover, at this stage I don't see any good opportunities in the field that I'm interested in. Because I'm not from that particular background. Thus I firmly believe that this is the right time for me to get an MBA.

CriticalSquare · Answer

If that's the case - I won't say much beyond what I already have. A month CAN be enough time but it really depends on you and your support network. Can you write some amazing essays in a short period of time? Can you burn the midnight oil and crush these apps? Do you have professional help? Equally importantly, can your recommenders do the same? I'd say, max, go for 6 / 7. 10 to 12 is just...a lot. Even if you don't have a lot going on in December.

Bhavik

Bhavik

MBAIvy · Answer

I would start now. At least with the first school. It gives you time to have someone look at your essays and application (if you want) to make sure you're on the right track. You don't want to wait too long and only then discover you don't know what you're doing.

Starting earlier is always better, again, at least with the first application so you'll know how to pace yourself. My clients usually take 2 weeks per school.

[I'm a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard grad and currently run the MBA firm "MBA IVY LEAGUE" out of New York]

Jillian
MBA Ivy League

www.MBAIvyLeague.com

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi Shweta,

I agree with the comments here - applying to 10-12 b-schools is just too many- theoretically possible, but not very practical!

The reason is, once you get down to doing the apps you will realize what a huge effort each one requires. Even if you spend your entire December writing essays, you are likely to burn out much before you reach the 7-8th app.

You should not compromise the quality of any app because of the quantity - because in that case, it will not yield any positive results.

Shwetaa · Answer

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for your guidance. I am trying to narrow down my list of colleges as per your advice. But I am really unable to finalize my list. Are there any top colleges (Top 20/30) that accept applicants who do not have work experience, but who have good academic records (Engineering undergrad from one of the prestigious universities of India, with 3.5 GPA), high GMAT score (expecting a good score keeping in mind my practice test scores), good extra curriculars (dance, music, etc) and good event management experiences? 
I realize that my profile is not that AMAZING, as I did not get opportunities to intern at some multinational companies or be a part of one of the biggest NGOs or something like that. And my list of colleges is long because I would still like to apply to 2-3 colleges from top 30, because I believe that I have strong post-MBA goals and reasons to justify my decision of taking MBA at this point of my life. So if you could help me decide some colleges based on my profile, then I would be very grateful to you. (I really understand that it is difficult to predict something because I don't even have my scores. But if I want to narrow down the list, then I HAVE to do it NOW! So, please help me decide, if you can.)

Thanks again for your previous responses, and hoping to get your response again.

Regards, 
Shweta

MBAbot · Answer

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Ideal time to start working on applications for R2 deadlines

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