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Because MBA programs are so popular at US business schools, admission to the programs is accomplished through MBA Application Rounds. If you are new to this process, it is worth your while to find out more about the rounds before applying to an MBA program. The application packet for these degree programs is complex, and it is vital that they be quality submissions.
What is Meant by Application Round
Business schools admit students into their MBA programs at different times of the year. The fall deadline is generally sometime in mid-summer. This is the first round. The deadline for the second round is usually in October and the third round deadlines are in January.
What is the Difference in Rounds?
The website Kaptest.com explains that there is a difference in the successful applicants in each round. First round applications represent some of the best MBA candidates. Many have GMAT scores of more than 600, and present strong essays and recommendation letters. These successful candidates also have great work experience and organizational aptitude. If you have these qualifications, it may be in your best interest to submit your application at this time. Schools try to fill most of their vacancies from this pool of applicants for obvious reasons.
The first round has approximately half the number of application as the second round. Some business schools receive 2,000 second round applications. Successful applicants in this round have GMAT scores of less than 600, but they have strong work experience and essays, and do well on the interviews.
By the third round, schools are limited in the number of openings they have to fill. That means they are more vigilant in selecting the best applicants. Small mistakes in applications that might be missed in earlier rounds will probably be caught in the third round.
What Goes into an MBA Application?
All business schools have application forms that collect personal information. The MBA application process also involves submitting the results of your GMAT test and your undergraduate transcript. You will also need strong letters of recommendation.
The most influential part of your supplication will be the quality of your essays and the success of your personal interviews. The essay topics are chosen from selected areas, but may include subjects like leadership issues, your international experiences, your ideas about integrity in business or your personal and professional goals. The quality of these essays, including grammatical and content accuracy, is vital.
Is There an Advantage to One Round Over Another?
If your GMAT score is over 600 and you have strong work experience, you should try to make the deadlines for round one, according to Bloomberg. There are fewer applicants and, although MBA candidates are expected to pay for their own programs or be sponsored by their employers, the few scholarships that exist for MBA applicants are likely to be taken in this round. In addition, if you apply in this round, you will know whether you were accepted by mid-December, before the second round applications are due. That means you have time to apply to another school in the first round. If you are accepted at more than one school in the first round, you will have more time to decide which program meets your needs.
If you are rejected in one round, you cannot apply to a later one. You must wait until the next year. The only exception is for applicants who are placed on a waiting list because they would have made the first round acceptance if there had been enough openings.
You must decide which round is best for you based on your application strength. Business schools stress that, although it is desirable to meet the deadlines for a desired round, you should not short yourself on the time you need to turn out a quality application package. Timing is important in MBA Application Rounds, but quality is vital.
