Ask Stacy Blackman

Hi Stacey,

Thank you so much for this post, it is something that I have been wondering myself. I was hoping, however, that you could clarify the statement about the R1 applicants.

The statement was (not made by you) that R1 was more competitive because the "better prepared" applications are submitted then. What exactly does that mean? Does that mean that R2 applicants are not as strong or that their applications aren't prepared as well?

Also, at a school such as University of Michigan (on some lists a top ten school) would the statement that there is no better chance of getting in by submitting in R1 than R2 still hold true?

I prefer U of M since I am close and have close family that are alumni, so I know that campus well. It's a great school, with excellent networking. Also, I feel it is a school that will match opportunity cost with better possibilities later. If my GMAT score is high enough, I will be in the middle of the average of their current class profile.

Right now, as you may or may not know, Michigan is a state with very low unemployment. I hear over and over again that when the economy is not doing well that people tend to go back to school. What is your opinion of R1 competitiveness and higher levels of applicants vs. R2 with this information in mind?

Hi,
Im a bit late to give my GMAT and this will make me apply for R3 application.
Will i be at a disadvantage??

I have read in a few places that MIT Sloan is the one school where applying in R1 has a clear advantage over applying in R2.

Thanks for the Post Stacy its great.

What if I apply and then I'm not excepted. What happens next year, reapply with better scores or have I missed my chance?

sonibubu wrote:I have read in a few places that MIT Sloan is the one school where applying in R1 has a clear advantage over applying in R2.

Where did you read it? Is it from the official source (MIT Sloan website?)?

iandavis wrote:Thanks for the Post Stacy its great.

What if I apply and then I'm not excepted. What happens next year, reapply with better scores or have I missed my chance?

You can always apply next year and next to next year with better candidacy and better profile!!

aim-wsc wrote:

iandavis wrote:Thanks for the Post Stacy its great.

What if I apply and then I'm not excepted. What happens next year, reapply with better scores or have I missed my chance?

You can always apply next year and next to next year with better candidacy and better profile!!

i read in someplace that at some places reapplicants could be at a position of disadvantage?????could plz throw some light over this?

donnknow wrote:

aim-wsc wrote:

iandavis wrote:Thanks for the Post Stacy its great.

What if I apply and then I'm not excepted. What happens next year, reapply with better scores or have I missed my chance?

You can always apply next year and next to next year with better candidacy and better profile!!

i read in someplace that at some places reapplicants could be at a position of disadvantage?????could plz throw some light over this?

You are correct though if you show significant improvement in career advancement, you certainly would have nice story & then you can reapply.

PS: Lets stick to the topic of the discussion here!
for other queries refer other threads or start a new one.

Hi All,

I want to ask about something that Stacy mentioned in the first post

"We know what the we want the class to look like. If you are not a good fit in R1, the best we will do is wait list you. At that point you are competing against R2 anyway" [End Quote]

Does every school do this and wait list interesting candidates for R2 to be compared with the applicant pool there?

Also I want a comment on something else I saw which said that application in R1 shows definitive interest in the school !

Raghu

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for clarifying...

Raghu

Stacy Blackman wrote:You are generally at a disadvantage applying in R3.

Stacy, could you please elaborate?

I prepared to R2 but passed through GMAT with 620. Thats why I want to retake it and apply at R3.
What can you advise? Apply at R2 with low score or to apply at R3 with good score?

I am 28 years, physician by education, GPA 3.9. I have 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical business with 3 years of management experience, 1 year - full P&L responsibility. I am responsible for developing and applying brand marketing strategy in Russian and CIS in the leading Russian R'n'D pharma company.

Thank you for advice!

So what I can conjure is this, do correct me if I'm wrong:

It as definitely better to apply in R1.

Worst case scenario: You might not gain anything by applying early but (hey!) you don't have anything to lose either. Besides, it gives one a definitive advantage in scholarships etc.

R1 might not be better than R2 or may be it is. Nobody knows. But R1 will definitely not hurt my chances.

P.S. Assuming I'm not rushing up my application.