• Business School
    • Admissions Help
    • MBA Essay Tips
    • Executive MBA Essay Tips
    • Admissions Calendar
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
  • Medical School
    • Admissions Help
    • Med School Admissions 101
    • Secondary Essay Tips (by School)
    • Student Interviews
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
  • Law School
    • Admissions Help
    • Law School Admissions 101
    • Selectivity Index
    • Free Guides
    • Podcast
    • Video Tips
  • Graduate School
    • Admissions Help
    • Grad School Admissions 101
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
  • College
    • Admissions Help
    • Free Guides
    • Supplemental Essay Tips
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
Accepted

1 (310) 815-9553

Blog HomePodcastShopping CartContact Us

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

August 24, 2017

Reading Time: 2 minutes

What’s The Rush? Round 1 vs. Round 2 For MBA Applicants

FacebookTweetPinEmail

Download the Free Guide Here for Expert Tips on Navigating the MBA Application Maze!

Right now, most of my clients are scurrying about trying to complete their round 1 applications. Many of them will be ready to submit for round 1, but there are a handful of clients I’ve suggested wait until round 2, and we’ve discussed whether or not there is a true advantage to round 1 vs. round 2. For some schools, like Columbia that use rolling admissions, there is most definitely a distinct advantage, but for the bulk of the schools that use rounds, there is truly no advantage.

As a former Admissions Dean and Director, my job was to project the number of offers I could make given the Dean’s enrollment target and my projected applications. The projections are typically quite accurate and based on several factors including the number of GMAT/GRE reports sent to a given school, the overall number of test takers, the number of inquiries a director observes compared to the number of inquiries year to date. With this information at hand, a director instructs his or her admissions team to invite a percentage of the applicant pool to interview (or in the case of open interviews, advises his or her team to make a percentage of offers).

When the admissions team begins to make offers in round 2, the director uses the same percentage because he or she does not yet know the yield on any of the decisions he or she has made round 1. Round 1 tends to be a smaller pool and more clear cut (very qualified candidates and also weaker candidates that believe that Round 1 gives them an advantage over round 2). Schools tend to encourage round 1 applications to smooth out the bottlenecks in round 2 because round 2 tends to be 2 to 6 times the size of round 1 and the adcom is not only reviewing and interviewing applications in round 2, but also trying to yield the round one candidates. Once first round admitted applicants begin to make enrollment deposits (typically in round 3), the director will adjust the percentage of admits for all subsequent rounds and for the waitlist, often looking at the waitlist at the same time he/she is reviewing round 2 or 3.

So, what does all this mean for you? If you aren’t ready for round 1, don’t worry. Your chances of getting in for round 2 should basically be the same for schools that do not roll their admissions. If you are ready to apply in round 1 and the MBA program admits you, you have the advantage of knowing your fate earlier, obtaining financial aid, visas, housing and getting to know your classmate and you can alleviate your safety schools from your list, sit back and relax.

Top MBA Program Essay Questions: How to Answer them right!

Natalie Grinblatt Epstein By Natalie Grinblatt Epstein, an accomplished Accepted consultant/editor (since 2008) and entrepreneur. Natalie is a former MBA Admissions Dean and Director at Ross, Johnson, and Carey. Want Natalie to help you get accepted to business school? Click here to get in touch!

 

Related Resources:

• Application Timing: When Should You Submit?
• Which Round Should You Apply to Business School?
• Admissions Directors Speak About How to Get Accepted

Last updated on April 19, 2018.

FacebookTweetPinEmail

Article by Natalie Grinblatt / MBA Admissions / when to apply to bschool 3 Comments

Get Accepted!

Choose your desired degree and then the service that best meets your needs.

Which program are you applying to?

What do you need help with?

Join the informed applicants who read Accepted's blog!

9 Popular Posts

1. Approaching the Diversity Essay Question

2. How to Write About Your Research Interests

3. Top 10 LSAT Study Tips

4. Writing Your Physician Assistant (PA) Personal Statement

5. Secondary Strategy: Why Do You Want To Go Here?

6. Walk Me Through Your Resume [MBA Interview Questions Series]

7. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

8. Sample Essay from Admitted HBS Student

Join the Conversation

Recent Posts

  • What Do You Need to Know to Get Accepted to a Medical School?
  • Strengthen Your Med School Application in One Hour
  • How Do You Show Demonstrated Interest to MBA Programs?
  • 4 Must Haves in a Med School Letter of Interest
  • Is an Online Ivy League PA Program Too Good to Be True? [Episode 298]
The Economist Preferred Admissions Consultant

This Site is Featured on GMATClub

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2018 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2019 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Share this Article

Email sent!