Urgent! Round 2 or 3?

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okigbo: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 177; Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:39 pm; Thanked: 6 times

by okigbo » Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:41 pm

I am in the final stages of my HBS application for Round 2 (given it's due in a couple of days).

I spoke to a consultant yesterday, who suggested that based on my profile, I should hold off to submit a round 3 application to HBS rather than round 2 - essentially bc of my gmat score. I took the test once in late Nov and scored a 630, I had been scoring between 670 - 700 on practice tests. I planned to take it again but didn't get to it with essays and a big relocation move to Africa at the end of Dec.

I think my essays are pretty unique and strong, I have an ivy league undergrad education (though just a 3.2 gpa), did banking for 3 years and am now working in africa.

Question is: do I hold off till round 3 to up my gmat score or send off in round 2?

I need to make a decision fairly soon and would love to get some opinions.

Thanks

Source: Beat The GMAT — The Application Process | Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:41 pm

GMAT/MBA Expert

mbaMissionJessica: MBA Admissions Consultant; Posts: 148; Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:26 pmFollowed by: 9 members; Thanked: 12 times

by mbaMissionJessica » Sat Jan 16, 2010 4:07 pm

In general we don't advise applying for round 3. It is far more competitive as a round, with even fewer applicants being accepted than in the other rounds. Here's an article our CEO wrote about it that you might find helpful.

https://www.mbamission.com/blog/2009/11/ ... verything/

That being said, schools generally use Round 3 as a "shaping" round, to fill in gaps in creating the diverse class they want. So if you believe your background is particularly distinct, compelling or unique, you may have more of a chance than just a "standard" strong applicant.

Good luck.

Jessica Shklar
Senior Consultant
mbaMission (www.mbamission.com)
646-485-8844

Sign up for a free consultation with mbaMission, the only admissions consulting firm that leading GMAT prep companies, ManhattanGMAT and Kaplan, recommend.
www.mbamission.com/consult.php

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