We are right in the thick of prepping for the Round 2 deadline period for business school admissions. Round 1 is generally over by mid-October to early November, and hats off to those folks who were able to get everything polished. Despite the best intentions of superbly strong b-school candidates, Round 1 may well have come quicker than anticipated. Round 1 is undoubtedly the most attractive application submission round. However, it is likely that, for any given graduate management program, most students are actually admitted in Round 2. It is a human condition to underestimate and procrastinate—we all do it and we have all done both at the same time. For many that are now looking at Round 2 deadlines, this may well have been the mix of issues that left Round 1 to our competitors.
Again, generally speaking, Round 2 deadlines start hitting around the end of this year and into the beginning of next year, which means many could be anywhere from four to eight to perhaps even twelve weeks out from a drop-dead date. At this point, it needs to be a hard charge and nothing shall stand in the way of forging the strongest application possible. Round 2 is the most competitive admissions round as it is the period in which MBA programs receive the bulk of their applications. Hence, the only option to make missing Round 1 worth it is to present a package that is significantly stronger than the one that could have been cobbled together for a prized mid-October submission.
The good news is that for those who have been positioning themselves for a Fall 2014 start at b-school, a lot of work toward a stellar application is likely done or underway. These final weeks are all that are needed to close the deal. This is a dangerous time for many, however, because Round 2’s imminence might have diminished too greatly in the light of Round 1 having just passed. Extreme care must be taken to create and adhere to an application-building schedule that will allow graduate school aspirants every opportunity to cultivate and solidify a competitive advantage.
Task stacking is requisite at this point. Simultaneously studying for the GMAT, perhaps for the second time, and writing application essays is difficult. Add gathering letters of recommendation, requesting transcripts, researching and re-researching programs, working full time, having a life of actual human interactions, and, dare I say it, sleeping… Well, folks can get overwhelmed pretty quick. Yet, just because it is hard certainly does not mean it is impossible. Strong organizational skills and unflappable determination can win the day.
Keep advisees on track and inspired to complete this last mile with passion. They know as well as anyone how difficult and demanding this process is, but a strong and positive voice of encouragement goes a very long way and that voice can drastically influence both perspective and action. Often, folks will not know what help they need until the problem is right on top of them, so be prepared and proactive in the advice offered.
Submitting an application to business school is an opportunity. Costs? Sure. But the rewards are far greater.
