this year or next year?

[amanda.rautenberg]

Hello,

I feel like I’ve been hearing and reading non-stop about how B-School admissions are through the roof this year, and that makes me wonder if it's better to wait till next year to apply. I am a strong - though not unbelievably exceptional applicant - and it seems like delaying might work to my advantage. It seems like everyone I know with my background (2 years work experience in management consulting, top 5 college, etc.) is applying to the same 10 schools, and I think that will make it even harder to stand out.

I’m lucky enough that I have a steady job and there is no financial or professional pressure to go back to school at any specific point in time. Maybe next year the job market will improve, fewer people will be inclined to apply, and the applicant pool will be less diluted?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[camille.lambert]

Hello,

I was asking myself similar questions, does someone think its OK to think like that:

If I apply now to my dream school and am accepted, good.
If I am rejected, doesnt applying again to the same school show my motivation?
Or does being a reapplicant lower our chances, all things equal?

Plus I will have one year to give more edge to my application, and if next year effectively number of applicants is lower, then I'll benefit from it too. Plus, economic situation couldfurther deteriorate.. :) And maybe the applicant demographic in each year is different, say for someone in IB less IBs this year but more next year, or vice-versa..

I suppose I am missing things, such as for example probably hard to get a letter of recommendation from current boss while not being sure to depart..

Plus application season just started, do they already have data? i.e. some schools are not even open to admissions yet..

Anyway, I hope I didnt hijack your thread

Cheers
Camille

[mbamission]

Hello Camille,

I am not sure that I completely understand your questions, but it seems as though you are interested in understanding whether reapplicants have a lower chance of admission that candidates applying for the first time. Reapplicants are not necessarily at a disadvantage. Reapplicants should attempt to demonstrate how their application has improved versus the first time they applied. Each person’s situation is different. Some people will need to improve their GMAT scores, while others may not have had enough work or leadership experience. Still others may not need to clarify their career goals. You may be jumping the gun at this point, anticipating that you will be rejected everywhere and that you will have to reapply.

In terms of gauging when you should apply, I would base that decision on whether you feel that you are ready and prepared for business school. It is probably impossible to forecast what the economy will do and how many people may apply to business school next year. Again, I’d base your decision to apply on how qualified you feel that you are. I hope that I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Akiba Smith-Francis

MBA Mission

646-485-8844

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