There are many things that go into the admission preparation for a business school. There is a reason why students and parents start preparing for the application process well in time considering the many aspects the application and admission processes entail.
All business schools have their own defined deadlines and also the number of application rounds. Generally speaking, B schools usually have three rounds of applications but some may have even more. You have to stay updated about the application guidelines of your dream institute/s. It is advised to make notes about the universities you are targeting to apply to. This helps you remain more organized while you go through this immensely crucial time of your journey.
All About the First Round or Early Decision
A student applying in the first round of the business school admissions definitely shows the preparedness as well as seriousness of the student. First round applicants are more likely to make it to the list of admitted students given the small number of students that apply in the first round. Applying in the first round also improves your chances of getting a scholarship as well. In case you feel that your GMAT scores are not that great but the other aspects of your application are competitive, applying in the first round may be the best fit for you.
Second Round of Applications
Applying in the second round of applications has a lot of misinformation and fear attached to it for some reason. Applying in the second round if you have a weak score may prove to be disastrous for you but only if you have a weak score that is! If your GMAT score is super strong, applying in the second round should not be a problem for you at all! Applying in the second round gives you a bit of advantage in the sense that it gives you more time to work on your application and polish your weaker areas, especially if you have a strong score but the rest of your application elements need more work.
What Happens if You Apply in the Third Round?
Applying in the third round is advisable only if you have an exceptional profile (read score plus other aspects), otherwise third round entry is a very bad idea for you. The thing about the third round is that you will be pitted against all the accepted candidates of the previous rounds plus the other third round applicants. This makes the competition much higher and the only thing that can save you is your exceptional profile. It also depends largely on how the B School wants to build their student community. If they have already admitted the required number of out-of-the-box students, your chance of admission goes lower. It also depends on the B Schools you are applying to. The top ten US business schools don’t really pay heed to the third round applicants. In case of an Asian or European B School, your chance of getting admission with a third round application is a little better and it is the best in case of a low ranked North American B School.
