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Veritas Prep Takes Applicants Inside the Minds of MBA Admissions Directors to Help Them Make Effective Round Three Application Decisions
Leading MBA Admissions Consulting Firm Reveals Commentary From Admissions Directors at Top Business Schools Detailing Their Perceptions of Round Three and the Applicants Therein
| Source: Veritas Prep
MALIBU, CA--(Marketwire - February 22, 2010) - To apply in Round Three or not to apply in Round
Three? That is the question facing many business school applicants as this
year's MBA admissions cycle nears its conclusion. In an effort to help
prospective applicants make appropriate Round Three application decisions
that result in the highest likelihood of admission, Veritas Prep, a leading MBA admissions consulting firm,
today released the commentary of admissions directors from elite business schools
detailing their perceptions of Round Three and the applicants therein.
"Many students mistakenly assume their chances of admission are
significantly lower at the later stages in the admissions cycle," explains
Scott Shrum, Director of MBA Admissions Research at Veritas Prep. "The
following sentiments, captured through recent proprietary research
conducted among admissions directors from top schools, reinforce our advice
to prospective Round Three applicants and underpin the notion that
thoughtful, compelling applications will stand out at every stage of the
admissions cycle."
-- Applying in Round Three is not a bad idea, but rushed applications in
Round Three are. Many "last-round" applications are also "last-minute"
applications. Unsuccessful late applicants often attribute their results to
Round Three when, in reality, their applications were rushed and therefore
ineffective. "Last-minute applicants give Round Three a bad name," explains
one Director of Admissions. "The majority of Round Three applicants are
well-prepared and have compelling reasons for applying later in the
admissions cycle, and we review each application starting from the
assumption that the applicant will be strong."
-- Applicants are often overly pessimistic about their chances in Round
Three. While applicants have come to see applying in Round Three as
somewhat of a MBA admissions death sentence, admissions offices try to
communicate that great applicants are often accepted in the late stages of
the application cycle. "I suspect that potentially good candidates do not
apply because they are overly pessimistic about their chances for
admission," says another Director of Admissions at a top-ranked business
school. "As always, however, the successful late-stage applicants have
taken sufficient time to submit a well-crafted application."
-- Students are waiting longer to apply in general, meaning more Round
Three applicants. Given the uncertainty in the market, top schools have
found that many applicants are waiting longer before making big decisions
like what job offer to accept and whether or not to go to grad school at
all. "We believe that accepting applicants in later stages gives us an
advantage in attracting applicants who want to wait for legitimate
reasons," explains a leading MBA program's Admissions Director.
-- Some schools are more open to Round Three applicants than others.
Policies for evaluating late-stage applicants vary by school; in fact, some
top MBA programs have gone on record saying that applicants are better off
applying in Round One or Two. "I think we are more open to Round Three
applicants than other schools are," comments one Director of Admissions on
their institution's approach. However, another Admissions Director at a
different top-ranked MBA program concedes that applying in Round Three
poses heightened risk at their institution. "We can usually find room in
the class for strong applicants, regardless of the application stage," he
explains. "Although it does depend on space, which is what makes Round
Three significantly riskier from an applicant's perspective."
-- Round Three allows U.S. schools to compete for top students with
international programs. At many leading international MBA programs, the
admissions deadlines are significantly later than at top U.S. schools. "We
compete for applicants not only with U.S. schools, but also with schools
from around the world," explains one Admissions Director. "We want great
candidates to also consider our school, and not just apply to international
programs because that is their only option at the later stages of the
admissions cycle. And that means competitive schools must be open to March
applicants."
"Round Three is a melting pot of attractive applicants with legitimate
reasons for waiting to apply, as well as last-minute applicants who --
whether due to poor planning or unforeseen circumstances -- hastily throw
together ineffective applications," continues Shrum. "The key takeaway for
a prospective Round Three applicant is that great candidates can be
admitted in the last round, but their applications must effectively
position their candidacy to rival those of applicants admitted in Rounds
One and Two."
For more information about Round Three application strategy or for
assistance in creating a compelling Round Three application, contact
Veritas Prep at 1-800-925-7737 or visit http://www.veritasprep.com/mba/.
About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world's largest privately-owned GMAT preparation and
admissions consulting provider, offering industry-leading programs to help
applicants improve their test scores and gain admission to the world's best
graduate schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of
Management, Veritas Prep now offers live GMAT prep instruction in more
than 80 cities worldwide, as well as interactive online courses available
everywhere. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers industry-leading admissions
consulting services for applicants seeking admission to the most
competitive business schools, law schools, and medical schools in the
world.