MBA2023applicant
That makes sense, though at the same time, wouldn't they expect that quality R1 applicants have already gotten in / put down a deposit somewhere else? It would seem to look pretty bad (even more than it is anyways) for them to email a bunch of rejected R1 candidates who got accepted and paid a deposit at HBS, and then don't take them up on their interview invite at all. Would think allowing the appeal from the student side avoids a bit more potential embarrassment.
I don't disagree. Looking at the
decision tracker, there are actually quite a few applicants from R1 who got a ding from Sloan but accepted at H/S/W. Theoretically, these people wouldn't want/need to interview at Sloan (though that doesn't take into account personal preference, so it's not necessarily true). You also have a large number of R1 dings who were accepted at Kellogg/CBS/Booth. Assuming some of them have payed deposits by now, a number of them might not switch camps this late in the ballgame.
So, ultimately I think you're right that an appeal system might make more sense. But, then again it's the same thing isn't it? What's the difference between sending out an interview invite that goes unanswered vs an appeal form that goes unanswered? Sloan really doesn't get embarrassed either way.
We'll see what happens. Hopefully R1 dinged candidates who get interview invites will update the tracker!