By Elizabeth LaScala, PhD
Most selective MBA programs have three, occasionally even four, application cycles (or application rounds) to cater to different applicants, and to balance and fill their classes. Understanding how the system works and which round is best to apply in could boost your chances of being accepted.
The first round typically starts and finishes in the fall. All seats in the class are available as are all possible scholarships. Success depends not only on a strong resume and solid recommendations but also on grades and either GMAT or GRE test scores. Those who graduated from college with a strong academic record, went on to build a solid resume backed by enthusiastic recommendations, scored high on the GMAT or GRE, and can plan towards starting full-time or part-time study benefit from applying early. By getting all your offers around the same time, you put yourself in a stronger position to make the best decision and even negotiate financial aid offers.
The second application round typically starts at the beginning of the new year and the third begins in the spring. Applicants who need to show improvement in their test scores or expect to receive some special recognition or promotion at work would be better off waiting until a later cycle to make a stronger case for admission. Applicants such as military personnel, teachers or consultants on project-related contracts who know that their work has an end date might want to wait for one of the later cycles as well, in case that end date changes.
While MBA admission officers look to admit the largest share of their class in the first round, they tend to concentrate more on institutional priorities in later rounds. MBA programs seek to create a diverse class with individuals from various educational backgrounds as well as work experiences that develop alternate areas of expertise and lend themselves to different career objectives. They also try to find applicants who are from underrepresented regions of the country and are likely to benefit most from their resources, especially career development. A strong MBA program needs to present capable candidates to the employers who regularly recruit on campus. Applicants with less conventional backgrounds or hail from a geographically underrepresented area but provide strong evidence that they will succeed in MBA coursework and future employment may have the advantage in the later cycles.
Regardless of the round an applicant chooses, the application should be thorough and thoughtful, not rushed to meet a deadline. MBA programs, especially the more selective, have essays that require substantial time and thought. The MBA, especially a full-time program, requires sacrifices of time and income. It is wise for prospective students to consider why they need the MBA to attain their career objectives, why a particular program is the right fit, and who will provide the strongest references. The best prepared applicants will have an advantage in any admission cycle.
