Should I Apply in Round 3?

Are you having troubling deciding whether to submit some MBA Round 3 applications or if you should just wait until next year?  Regardless of whether you unsuccessfully applied in Rounds 1 and 2, it took longer than expected to get a decent GMAT or TOEFL score, or you suddenly decided to get an MBA - you should think very carefully before hastily submitting those Round 3 applications.  Here are some insights that might help those of you who are uncertain make a final decision:

Situations when it is probably better NOT to apply in Round 3:

- You are a strong candidate with a legitimate chance of getting into a top MBA program.  The fact is that for top MBA programs, the chances of being admitted in Round 3 are much lower - there are just not enough spaces left at this late stage even for applicants with stellar resumes.

Perhaps you are supremely confident and believe that your outstanding credentials will earn you an interview and acceptance, and if not, you will just apply again in Round 1 next year.  This is where you need to slow down and think carefully.  If you apply in Round 3 (and fail), and then apply again to the same school in Round 1 of the following application cycle, you will then be a reapplicant.  As a reapplicant you will face the challenge of convincing the admissions committee that you are a much stronger candidate than you were in your previous application.  Such improvement can be demonstrated by a higher GMAT score, a promotion, an important professional achievement or some great international experience. 

However, Round 3 and the next Round 1 deadline will only be about six months apart - are you confident that you can significantly enhance your profile in such a short period of time?  Basically, by using up your best stories and content in your Round 3 essays, and then applying again as a reapplicant the following year you have made your path to gaining acceptance much harder than if you would have just waited and applied as a Round 1 applicant.           

- You unsuccessfully applied to many MBA programs in Rounds 1 and 2.  So you applied to a few schools in Round 1 and it didn't work.  Then you sent out several more applications in Round 2 with no luck.  Maybe you are not deterred and plan to send out more applications in Round 3.  But if you were not successful in Rounds 1 and 2 what makes you think that Round 3 will be any different?

Before you spend more time and money what you should do is reassess the situation and determine what the weak points of your application are.  First address the following questions:
Does your resume offer proof of your abilities and clearly explain the impact you have made?  Is your GMAT in the 80th percentile for the schools you are applying to?  Do your career goals make sense based on your background and skills?  Have you provided concrete reasons why you need an MBA now?  Have you demonstrated that the MBA program is perfectly suited to your learning and career needs?  Do you have at least two years of work experience?  Are you sure that your recommenders' provided specific information to prove you are an outstanding employee with great leadership potential?

We recommend that before you rush and submit Round 3 applications that you first step back and reassess the situation and by doing so you will probably find that some of these issues have not been addressed.

Situations when it might be okay to apply in Round 3:

 - You are not applying to top ranked programs.  Top ranked programs have earlier deadlines, and are able to quickly fill up their classes.  However, outside the top programs enrollment ends much later and there are still plenty of opportunities to gain admission even in Round 3.  Many MBA programs will still accept applications and admit students even after deadlines have passed.

- You are applying to an Executive or Part-time MBA program.  If you are considering an Executive or Part-time MBA program then it is acceptable to apply in Round 3.  These programs receive less applications and are always looking for outstanding candidates to fill their classrooms.  

- When applying to certain European MBA programs.  Certain European programs like IESE and INSEAD have a different application systems and interview and accept students in all application rounds. 

- Your candidacy has improved a lot.  If you candidacy significantly improved since Round 1 or 2 then it might be okay to apply.  Examples of this are a big improvement in your GMAT or TOEFL or you received an important promotion or assignment at work.  These factors might be enough to allow you to apply in Round 3.


Everyone has different reasons for wanting to get an MBA, but regardless of your personal circumstances, all applicants should proceed carefully before rushing to submit those Round 3 applications.