Unexpected raise / bonus post submission

Question

Hey guys - wanted to get your opinions. I applied to some schools where the the decision for R1 is only one week away (had interviews). Today I received an unexpected substantial raise and subsequent bonus. Is this information worth me sending an email to the adcom with the new salary/bonus information since it helps show my progression in my organization, etc.

Thanks in advance

djhouse81 · Answer

Before I get carried away with this answer, what kind of a promotion is it? Is it something that could change the theme of your application. I was promoted earlier this year, but if that happened now I wouldn't have been able to write about my experience because it would have been only a short period of time. Of course schools want to see progression, but at this stage, think of how it will affect your submitted application. Will adcoms be saying, "this makes jpjazzman the all-around student that we want"? Or, are they going to say, "this progression sounds very interesting and prestigious, but he does not have enough of it to warrant any substantial experience; let's wait a year, and maybe this promotion will give him more experience"?

I digress, what kind of promotion is it? (Congrats, by the way!)

kryzak · Answer

jpjazzman, there are quite a few thread discussing this, one of them just recently. Here it is:

https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/t54468

In short, I think the best way is to call the admissions office and ask whether they're interested in you adding that information to your file or not. I just had an interview with a UCLA alum today and he said that I should definitely give the admissions office a call or email and have them add my promotion to the file.

Of course, in my case, I'm pretty old and have worked for a long time, so dj's concern wouldn't really apply. Since if they delay my app for another year or two, I might as well apply for the exec mba :wink:

jpjazzman · Answer

Thanks!

Well I am in a small and flat organization (only Partners and Associates) so the change in promotion is really only from Junior to Senior Associate, but I received a much larger than usual increase in my base salary and a subsequent bonus. I know at this point the adcom decision has already been made in most likelihood, but I just wonder if it would help show how I've advanced through the organization since at the time of my application I had only been with the firm for one year and so there hadn't been much of a chance in my compensation as reported on my initial application.

riverripper · Answer

Dont worry about it...if you are applying R2 definitely put it in those but its not worth the trouble of trying to get it in on R1 apps. They are probably through most of the review process already and a lot of schools dont even accept stuff.

However, if you do get on the dreaded WL a promotion/raise looks very very good.

djhouse81 · Answer

It sounds like a title and pay grade change, which is good because it shows how much they value you. Plus, from the sound of it, your responsibilities won't change, so your experience is face value--assuming that it is strong in your apps. So, I think that this will benefit your submitted apps. However, I agree with Kryzak, give admissions a call to determine whether you can send anything in or not.

Hopefully, you will not be waitlisted anywhere, but if you are, River is correct, you will have some solid ammunition with this promotion and raise in order to make it to the top of the WL. How about we just cut out that WL step and get straight to the admit, right?!?

kryzak · Answer

I called UCLA and Standford Admissions, and they both said to just email the promotion/pay raise information to their email address (UCLA has it on their website, Stanford will give it to you on the phone). 

Haas I still need to call, but I keep on forgetting they close at 4pm instead of 5pm. Grr!

Hope that helps!

Unexpected raise / bonus post submission

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