Are You Ready To Apply?

Hello Blog Readers! We are often asked which round is the most advantageous for applicants. We usually reply that you – as an applicant – should apply when you feel ready to do so, and not before. You definitely should not hold back your application; I was recently asked in a group setting if it was a good idea to wait until after Early Action, as there was a (totally, completely false)rumor that our Early Action round was disproportionately competitive. I replied that I would never advise an applicant to wait until a later round for perceived strategic advantage; there really isn’t any truth to that rumor. However, I was then asked an excellent follow up question – how do you know if you are ready to apply? I would say that you should engage in a two-prong analysis to evaluate your readiness. First, it is obviously crucial to satisfy the life stage requirements; you need to be at a point in your career where an MBA makes sense, both to you and to the admissions committee. It is also a good idea to be honest with yourself about your willingness to stop working, likely relocate and go back to school for two years. If these criteria are satisfied, you then want to make sure that your application is polished and reflects your candidacy in the best possible light. In other words, please don’t rush: if your GMAT doesn’t reflect your potential and you plan to retake it, you should wait to apply. You should also make sure that your essays are where you want them to be and that your recommenders have been adequately briefed.

I appreciate all of your questions – we are always happy to demystify the process as much as possible.

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