Scott Edinburgh
August 25, 2021

The Clock Is Ticking for Round 1 MBA Deadlines

The clock is ticking for Round 1 MBA Deadlines

As round one MBA application deadlines rapidly approach, Personal MBA Coach is here to help keep you on track. For some top business schools, you have just two weeks left. For others, there is still a bit of time to perfect your essays. However, that window is quickly closing.

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Most candidates fall into one of three categories. If one of the following describes you, check out these tips to discover your best action plan.

My applications are nearly ready to go!

If you read our blog Are You Ready for Round 1 Deadlines? and answered “yes” to all of the questions, then congratulations! For those who fall into this category, now is the time to dot your i’s and cross your t’s.

Read through the requirements for each school you are applying to once again. Pay attention to smaller items such as short-term career goal statements, added videos and specific resume formatting requirements. Then, be sure to check off each element for each school.

It is easy for something to fall through the cracks. Reach out to your recommenders to see if they have submitted their letters of recommendation. If they have not, ask if you can provide any additional information to expedite the process.

Naturally, first focus on the school with the earliest MBA deadline and review the application holistically. Personal MBA Coach’s expert proofreaders look at all components of a completed application together.

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My applications are done but I have concerns.

If you have doubts after reviewing our blog on round 1 deadlines, your ideal action plan is less straightforward and will differ by school. You may consider applying to programs across two different rounds.

For some schools, particularly those with early September MBA application deadlines, you likely do not have time to make any major changes. Plus, rushed last-minute changes often lead to mistakes. For most schools, there is little disadvantage to waiting until round 2.

In fact, if waiting gives you more time to settle into a new job, finish a major project, re-take the GMAT/GRE or secure a promotion, this could work in your favor. Some schools even had higher admit rates in round 2 last year!

However, there are other schools where your odds of success are considerably higher during round 1 or the early decision round. For those schools, particularly if the MBA deadlines are in October, you should consider whether you can make the necessary improvements in time.

By narrowing your round 1 list and focusing on fewer schools, your odds of success will improve. Then you can take extra time to perfect your other applications in round 2.

Personal MBA Coach Offers gut checks and comprehensive packages to help.

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I am really behind on my applications.

If, despite your best intentions, you have not started writing your essays, you may have missed the window for round 1 MBA application deadlines. With few exceptions, if you have not yet made a considerable dent in your applications, you should consider waiting until round 2.

When applicants ask Personal MBA Coach when they should apply, we nearly always say it is best to do so when your application will be the strongest. An application thrown together in two weeks is not likely to fit the bill. In fact, we tell our clients that we should be doing little to no editing in the last 2 weeks. This is the time to proofread and ensure your story flows together.

If you find that this third scenario applies to you, do not worry. Our comprehensive packages will help keep you on track and set you up for success in round 2.

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