Applying to Safe Schools in R3?

Question

I wanted to get an idea if applying to safe schools in R3 is leaving it too late? I'm targeting top 10 schools in R2 (provided I get the GMAT score for it) so would like to offload some of the schools to R3. I was thinking UT, USC and Babson as possible schools in R3.

Is that leaving it too late? Or do I still have a good shot at getting into one of them with a 700+ GMAT if I apply in R3? I know the rest of my profile matters too but I'm pretty solid in each of the other categories.

lagomez · Answer

Most of those schools hate being back up schools so you would need to provide a solid reason as to why you are applying so late. Additionally, you would probably be ineligible for any scholarships.

redjam · Answer

I was afraid of that. I'll try to get them in at the same time as the others then. Thanks for the info!

anaik100 · Answer

also R3 is the toughest of all rounds..one of consultants told me that extremely good profile is needed to clear R3

Av · Answer

You shouldn't apply in R3 if you can avoid it.

shaselai · Answer

yeah "safe" schools prob becomes "competitive" in r3. you are fighting for very small openings and pretty much hoping R1/2 folks drop out to free a few slots. Unless you got a unique app you are probably not gonna have a good chance..

jsmith54 · Answer

I agree with all of the caveats that people have put up here about R3, but I've got to say that I really think that this aspect of the admissions process sucks. I'd really love to apply to some schools after getting my round 2 admits and dings. That doesn't make me a bad potential student for any of those schools. It just means that I like to make decisions based on data, not projections, whenever possible. That's not such a bad trait in a manager, is it?

Sigh.

Sigh.

Jeanette · Answer

Part of being a manager is working without data or "fuzzy" data. Anyway, apply R1 and you'll have more of an ability to do this.

jordanhendrix · Answer

When i was speaking with an adcom from UNC she told me that they were looking for certain profiles for their class and hard numbers became less of a factor in R3, while it is usually harder by R3, sometimes it can be easier, numbers wise. She said year to year this will change.

I think that this can be true but would never count on it.

I think that this can be true but would never count on it.

wiredo · Answer

I was in this situation in Jan/Feb 2010 and was considering R3 for safety schools. After thinking about it a whole lot, I chose to improve my GMAT score, spend a lot more time refining my goals and identifying schools in order to turn in a better app for R1 in fall 2010.

Applying to Safe Schools in R3?

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