By now you know all about how the schools have changed policies here at the end of the season. They’ve suddenly become super accommodating and applicant-friendly, practically falling all over each other trying to show how flexible they can be in letting you apply late. Even if you don’t have a GMAT or GRE score ready to go.
But seriously folks. Is this because there were all these applicants just sitting there in early March thinking about trying for an MBA, but not quite ready to put an app together?
Nah. Our impressions are that the folks that are applying now are ones that had been trying to apply elsewhere all along this season. Since Round 1, or maybe since January and Round 2. These are not new customers that schools are converting into applicants; it’s a land grab from other schools’ rejected (or in many cases, accepted) applicant lists. What we’re seeing is existing 2019-2020 applicants trying to trade up through this Round 3 opportunity. Yes, there are many who hadn’t planned to try for an MBA right now, who are suddenly looking around at this changed environment we’re all living in and deciding that heck, a recession is coming, so maybe going to school now would be a good idea. But is that the bulk of these new applicants that schools are hoping to attract? Maybe we’re wrong, but we don’t think so — and even if we are wrong, then still, the policies the schools are implementing are not across the board in your favor.
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To wrap up: It just strikes us as a little weird, all these schools making all these accommodations. It’s really hard to concentrate on anything right now. If you venture out of your home to go grocery shopping, you likely end up coming home with your car full of Twinkies and ice cream, rather than actual food that has a any nutritional value. It’s hard enough to, like, merely survive today.
Applying for an MBA is about looking rationally at your life with the long view in mind. It’s about carving out space to reflect, ponder, consider. It’s going over those hard questions that they’re asking in their essays.
If you’re able to do that in a clear-headed way under current circumstances, then more power to ya! Who knows, maybe EssaySnark is wrong. Maybe you’ll find that immersing yourself in writing good essays is your way to deal with the stress and anxiety of the time. Maybe you find that it’s an experience that makes you feel renewed and refreshed, and invigorates your soul*. Maybe this project will be your savior in your coronavirus isolation.
At least it’ll give you a worthy distraction to dedicate yourself to for awhile!
Let us know your plans, and if we can help! You can update your School Targets in SnarkCenter and we’ll take a look at what you’re aiming for right now.
*Said no BSer ever. But maybe it’ll happen for you.
Tell us what you think.