IN PERSON EVENT: How to Get Accepted to Top Universities!

MBA Application Timeline: When To Submit Your Applications

Read time: 6 mins
Share post
Jump to

MBA Application Timeline: When To Submit Your Business School Applications

Joel









$(‘.facebook’).hover(function () {
$(‘.fb-icon’).toggleClass(‘hide’);
$(‘.fb-hover-icon’).toggleClass(‘hide’);
});
$(‘.linkedin’).hover(function () {
$(‘.linkedin-icon’).toggleClass(‘hide’);
$(‘.linkedin-hover-icon’).toggleClass(‘hide’);
});

The MBA Application Timeline

A lot of people ask me about the MBA application timeline and when they should submit their individual applications. Almost always, the answer is: “as soon as you can submit a high quality application.”

If you haven’t been procrastinating, this will mean submitting your applications in the first round. And on that note, your countdown to applying to business school needs to start early. However, there are a few wrinkles to this simple piece of advice, which are the focus of this article.

How the MBA Application Timeline Works

In case you are new to the MBA application timeline, it is important that you understand the unique multi-round application system. Rather than have a single deadline for all applicants, business schools have three distinct “rounds” during which applicants may submit their applications. Needless to say, this causes a great deal of worry among applicants.    

While numbers vary year-to-year and school-to-school, most business schools tend to get around 30% of their applicants in Round 1, slightly more than half of their applicants in Round 2, and a small proportion (usually around 10% to 15%) in Round 3.

When Should You Apply?

As you’ve probably guessed, applying in Round 3 (or “R3”) is not the wisest decision if you’re applying to a competitive business school. At that point, much of the class has already been filled, and admissions officers are just trying to “fill in the pieces.” Thus, unless you are a truly unique and standout applicant – more of a rarity than you would think – chances are pretty good that R3 is not for you.

Even if you were such an applicant, you stand to gain very little by putting off your applications until that final round. To an admissions officer, it would look as if you decided to apply last minute, or that an MBA was not a part of your long-term plan. You need to make sure that your MBA application timeline begins early enough to avoid this potential problem.    

Round 1 Versus Round 2

What about R1 vs. R2 of the MBA application timeline? Well, here is where it gets a little more complicated. For a long time, admissions offices stuck to the hard-and-fast line that R1 and R2 were roughly equal. Recently, they have started expressing a slight preference for R1, which is probably consistent with reality. That is, while R2 is perfectly fine, R1 is probably your best bet if you want every advantage you can get.

You might be wondering, “Why is R1 better?” – this is a good question. A colleague of mine who worked in admissions at Kellogg and Booth put it bluntly: “When your application is assessed, you are compared to the applicants in your round. Thus, if you apply in the second round, there are more applicants to compare you to. If you are a strong candidate but not an obvious “shoo-in,” then you run the risk of fading into the crowd if you apply in R2.”    

If you work in banking, consulting, or finance, these words are especially salient. The truth is that the “big hitters” of R1 are typically individuals applying from jobs in consulting and finance. After R1, there are only so many spots remaining for another McKinsey consultant or Goldman investment-banker. Thus, if you are one of the many applicants applying from these jobs, you would do well to apply as early as possible. You should many times rework – i.e. shorten – your MBA application timeline based off of the nature of your job.    

The Bottom Line

If you are a strong but otherwise unremarkable candidate, R1 is your best bet. This is especially true if you’re applying from jobs in finance and/or consulting. Unless there are some highly extenuating circumstances, it’s almost always best to avoid R3. 

In general, regardless of which round you apply to, you need to focus on building a business school list to give yourself the best chance of admission. Also, starting your MBA application timeline early can never hurt!  

Good Luck!

This article was written by Joel Butterly, Co-Founder and CEO of InGenius Prep. Joel graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth, and then went on to Yale Law School.

Tags :advice for business school applicants,applying to business school,business school,business school application tips,MBA,mba application

https://newsite.ingeniusprep.com/wp/app/uploads/2018/09/blog-feaature.png

5 tips to get into college

Name *
Email M*

function validate_file(uid, files) {
var file_err = ‘file_err’;
var upload_cv = $(‘#’ + uid);
var file = $(‘#’ + uid)[0].files[0];
if (file == undefined) {
document.getElementsByClassName(“file-upload-wrapper”).removeAttribute(“data-text”);
upload_cv.after(‘

Please upload valid (‘ + files + ‘) File

‘);
return false;
} else {
document.getElementsByClassName(“file-upload-wrapper”).removeAttribute(“data-text”);
$(“#” + file_err).html(“”);
}
}
(function ($) {
$(document).ready(function () {
$(“#contact-form-7d2e64dcd65b0b9c0301f3890f5df451”).validate();
function gatedSubmit(url) {
// downloadFile(url);
$.AjaxDownloader({
url : ‘https://newsite.ingeniusprep.com/wp/wp/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php’,
data : {
action: ‘download_file’,
fileurl: url,
}
});
}
});
})(jQuery);
.modal-backdrop {
z-index: -1;
}
×

Close
var $ = jQuery.noConflict();
function form_submit_action_7d2e64dcd65b0b9c0301f3890f5df451() {
if( $( “#contact-form-7d2e64dcd65b0b9c0301f3890f5df451” ).valid() ){
function setLoader() {
jQuery(“.wrap-forms-loader”).show();
}
setLoader();
//console.log(this);
var form = document.querySelector(“#contact-form-7d2e64dcd65b0b9c0301f3890f5df451”).elements;
var json_obj = {};
for (var i = 0; i < form.length; i++) { //type equal to 'radio button' if (form[i].getAttribute('type') == "radio") { if (form[i].getAttribute('api-form-field')) { if (form[i].checked) { json_obj[form[i].getAttribute('api-form-field')] = form[i].value; } } } //TODO type equal to 'checkbox' else if (form[i].getAttribute('type') == "checkbox") { if (form[i].getAttribute('api-form-field')) { if (form[i].checked) { json_obj[form[i].getAttribute('api-form-field')] = form[i].value; } } } //other form fields else { if (form[i].getAttribute('api-form-field')) { json_obj[form[i].getAttribute('api-form-field')] = form[i].value; } } } jQuery('input[name="data"]').val(JSON.stringify(json_obj)); //setLoader(); //console.log(json_obj); var form_type = json_obj.form_submit_type; // Static Submit if(form_type == 'api_url'){ if (grecaptcha === undefined) { $('.form-message-wrapper').html( "Recaptcha not defined" ); jQuery(".wrap-forms-loader").hide(); return false; } var response = grecaptcha.getResponse(); if (!response) { $('.form-message-wrapper').html( "Coud not get recaptcha response" ); jQuery(".wrap-forms-loader").hide(); return false; } //console.log(form_type); var data_string = JSON.stringify(json_obj); //console.log(data_string); $.ajax({ url: json_obj.form_submit_url, data: data_string, type: 'post', success: function (data) { jQuery(".wrap-forms-loader").hide(); $("#contact-form-7d2e64dcd65b0b9c0301f3890f5df451")[0].reset(); $('.form-message-wrapper').html( ""+data.success_msg+"" ); }, error: function (data) { }, }); return false; } else{ } } //return console.log(json_obj); } function setLoader() { jQuery(".wrap-forms-loader").show(); } (function ($) { $.fn.exists = function(callback) { var args = [].slice.call(arguments, 1); if (this.length) { callback.call(this, args); } return this; }; $(document).ready(function(){ $('div.fw-flash-messages').exists(function() { $('.form-message-wrapper').append($('div.fw-flash-messages').html()); }); }); })(jQuery); ul.fw-flash-type-success { margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: -30px; } ul.fw-form-errors { margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: -30px; } https://newsite.ingeniusprep.com/wp/app/uploads/2018/09/Mask-1.png
By:

Clifford Jefferson

Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumqu (~260)

Schedule a free consultation

to find out how we can help you get accepted.

hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: “5109206”,formId: “86b53e9c-69d7-4dd9-9e2e-c23476e9a906”});

You May Also Be Interested In..

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus

#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__card {
min-height: 1px;
background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);
text-align: left;
border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__card__body__thumbnail {
background-image: url(‘https://newsite.ingeniusprep.com/wp/app/uploads/2018/09/881484382.png’);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__card__body__title {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__card__body__label {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__card__body__summery {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__float__description {
text-align: left;
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__float__description__title {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__float__description__label {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__float__description__summery {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f2012 .base-blurb__float {
background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);
}

How to Impress with your Business SchoolResumé (~50)


#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__card {
min-height: 1px;
background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);
text-align: left;
border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__card__body__thumbnail {
background-image: url(‘https://newsite.ingeniusprep.com/wp/app/uploads/2018/09/881484382.png’);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__card__body__title {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__card__body__label {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__card__body__summery {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__float__description {
text-align: left;
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__float__description__title {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__float__description__label {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__float__description__summery {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f22d6 .base-blurb__float {
background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);
}

How to Impress with your Business School Resumé (~50)


#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__card {
min-height: 1px;
background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);
text-align: left;
border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__card__body__thumbnail {
background-image: url(‘https://newsite.ingeniusprep.com/wp/app/uploads/2018/09/881484382.png’);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__card__body__title {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__card__body__label {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__card__body__summery {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__float__description {
text-align: left;
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__float__description__title {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__float__description__label {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__float__description__summery {
color: rgba(0,0,0,1);
}
#base-blurb-id-5e222309f23a3 .base-blurb__float {
background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);
}

How to Impress with your Business School Resumé (~50)

Webinars You Might Like

Pursue Your Reach Schools with InGenius Prep and Increase Your Admissions Chances

Contact our Enrollment Team to learn more about our services and how we can lead your admissions journey.