It’s late August and Sandy knows that she wants to apply for an MBA this application cycle, but she hasn’t achieved her target GMAT score yet. She has heard from friends and online forums that applying early can have real advantages. But without a competitive test score, Sandy feels it might be a wasted effort to apply to her dream schools in Round 1. At the same time, while there are safer programs that she really likes, she doesn’t want to settle when she believes that she can achieve a higher score to bolster her profile. An applicant in Sandy’s situation could be well positioned to take a strategy that includes submitting applications in multiple rounds. Note that this strategy is not only applicable to MBA applications, as other programs – including MS in Management, MS in Business Analytics, and others – may have multiple application rounds. This strategy can offer avenues to the best possible outcome for some people, and this post will discuss how you might employ this approach and why.
Why Straddle Multiple Rounds?
Sandy’s situation is one case in which someone might spread their applications over more than one round. In fact, test score outcomes are the number one factor that causes applicants to delay or alter their application strategy. On the flip side, some people have their test scores ready and decide to shoot for the stars, applying to all of their dream schools in the first round knowing that they can continue applying to other programs in later rounds. Others feel more cautious and apply for safer schools earlier, hoping to keep studying and score big on their tests eventually. Applicants targeting non-MBA programs sometimes feel that their profile could fit different degree paths, which can lead them to spread their applications around. We’ll touch on these different situations in the next few paragraphs.
Safety First
Let’s first address Sandy’s example. Sandy is dreaming of attending a top-15 US MBA program but needs more time to raise her test scores. Fortunately, there are a few schools ranked in the 15-30 range that Sandy feels are a great fit for her. In this situation, Sandy might submit applications to her match or safe schools in Round 1 while she continues to work to reach her test score goals. If things go to plan, Sandy will earn one or more admissions from her safe/match schools and can aim higher in Round 2, knowing that she is happy with her current options.
The Fallback Plan
An applicant who is content with their test scores and feels confident about aiming high could take the opposite strategy as Sandy. Some of these applicants might hope to gain admission to one or more target programs as quickly as possible. Early Decision is an ideal choice for applicants in this situation. Others who take this strategy could include those who have decided to stop taking tests. Their score may be below the median GMAT of their dream program, but they are committed to taking their shot anyway. In all of these cases, the applicants know that Round 2 – or even Round 3 – offer more opportunities to secure a strong offer.
Applying to Different Kinds of Programs
A significant number of MBA and MS applicants enter the application process without knowing exactly what their career goals are. Others see that different kinds of programs could lead to several appealing career paths. Still others may feel equally attracted to an array of programs for different reasons (specialization, rarity, location, prestige, etc.). Any of these reasons might lead one to apply for two or more different kinds of programs, such as MS Management and MS Business Analytics, or MS Information Science and MS Data Science. Since some programs may have multiple deadlines while others offer only one, these applicants could be working on applications as early as July or August and as late as February or even into the spring for programs with rolling deadlines.
[Conclusion]
Everyone considering a graduate degree comes into their application season with their own unique set of academic and professional experiences. In reality, most people feel some strong uncertainties about their application strategy at the outset. If that sounds like you, know that you are not alone and that considering applying in multiple rounds is a viable approach. If you’d like to get some feedback about your application plans and learn about how we help clients manage their timelines, book a free 20-minute consultation today.