Planning an application strategy and understanding the value or challenges associated with applying in different rounds can be a confusing and stressful part of the application process. This post will discuss early decision rounds and the advantages and disadvantages of applying at this early stage of the application season.
What is the early decision round?
Many business schools have three application rounds, but some programs offer a special early decision (sometimes called early action) round. In this round, programs generally admit a large number of applicants and then set a short deadline to make a deposit and commit to enroll, expecting those admitted to withdraw their other applications. Business schools, including Duke (Fuqua), Virginia (Darden), and Toronto (Rotman), use the early decision round to attract candidates that are the best fit for their program in order to improve their application yield, or the percentage of applicants who are admitted, accept the offer, and matriculate into the program. Yield is a critical component of MBA rankings and a key factor by which schools evaluate the business side of their admissions process. The early decision round helps schools attract what they hope to be the most enthusiastic candidates – those that are most likely to accept their offer of admission to enroll early. Making the decision to apply during the early decision round should depend on whether you are 100% sure you will attend the program if you are accepted.
What are the advantages?
As mentioned, the early decision round can provide peace of mind to applicants who are certain of their dream school. Some schools that offer an early decision round guarantee an interview, which applicants may feel is to their advantage. Should these early applicants be admitted, they can spend the next several months focusing on their work and preparations for the program, effectively shortening their application season by eliminating the need to apply to several schools and undertake a potentially stressful decision process. In line with the desire for the admitted applicant to commit to the school quickly, the early decision deposit deadline is often accelerated compared to the regular decision schedule. After paying the deposit, these applicants may also then gain access to pre-MBA resources from the university, which might include auditing courses, career resources, relocation information, and more. Conversely, applicants who are not admitted in this round still have plenty of time to submit applications to other schools in Rounds 1 and 2.
Another consideration for early decision rounds is for reapplicants to potentially target this option. People who may have been stuck on waitlists the year before or rejected without an interview by their target programs without an interview and feel they have improved their profiles could be a strong fit for early decision. Since they have been through the process before, they might be able to pull their profile together and show a strong commitment to the school by applying early.
Why might someone not target the early decision round?
The most common answer is simple: time. It’s challenging to obtain the needed test scores and documents early enough to apply at the very beginning of application season and many applicants get caught up in the time-consuming cycle of trying to reach a certain threshold with their GMAT/GRE/TOEFL scores. If you’re reading this now, at the end of June, you should consider it go-time if you would like to target the early decision deadlines in September – and you should have your test scores ready or have tests scheduled in the next few weeks so that you can begin the application process by mid-summer. If you don’t have your scores in hand, then it is already getting a little tight for you to hope to submit on time. The MBA application process is a marathon, not a sprint, and everyone’s journey is different. If you’ve been pushing for the early decision round but aren’t happy with your scores or other aspects of your application, you still have time to prepare for Rounds 1 and 2.
A second point of contention is that the school expects the applicant to withdraw all other applications upon accepting an early decision admission and paying the deposit. This is why we noted earlier that making the decision to apply during the early decision round should depend on whether you are 100% sure you will attend the program if you are accepted. This application round is not for indecisive people or those who are simply fishing for admissions. If you’re not ready to drop everything and fully commit to the program, this round is not for you.
Conclusion
The early decision round is a special case that only applies to a relatively small number of schools, but if you are targeting one of those programs, then it’s worth your strong consideration. If you’re on the fence about applying early this year, feel free to set up a free 20-minute consultation with one of our experienced consultants to help you gain a better understanding of your candidacy and readiness to meet the first deadlines of the season.