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More experiences from a Round 1 admit!

June 5, 2020 by EssaySnark - Discusses Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua, Tepper, Georgetown McDonough Leave a Comment

We recently shared with all of you some reflections from a Brave Supplicant that we worked with last season (part 1 here in case you missed it).

Today we’ll give you the rest of what this Success Story from the Class of 2022 MBA admissions season has offered — which we imagine should be quite useful for all of you planning on applying to the Class of 2023!

 


 

School research and determining a strategy

Factors important to me:

  • Matriculating in Fall 2020 – waiting another year was out of the question for me. For that reason, I decided to focus all my efforts on schools where I had a reasonable chance of getting in. This also drove my strategy of applying to a good chunk of schools in rd 1, so I would have rd 2 to adjust if needed
  • A tight-knit community
  • Experiential learning opportunities
  • An environment that would enable personal growth
  • Placement at my target companies
  • Geographic proximity to my husband

Determining my targets/rankings

I spent many hours googling different schools, and set an initial list based on my findings. My initial list was

  • #1 choice goal schools: Ross, Fuqua
  • #2 choice (and I live in Pittsburgh): Tepper
  • #3 choice/I won’t explicitly use the word safety, but you know what I mean: Foster

After completing the comprehensive profile review, I expanded that list to include Johnson and McDonough, per a Snark recommendation.

After rounding out my list to 6, I scheduled school visits and reached out to current students at my target schools. Before submitting my applications, I had talked to ~3 students at each school. By the time decisions were released, I had talked to ~5 at each school.

Talking to students and visiting schools played a significant role in determining my app strategy. Johnson was one of my top choices after talking to a couple students on the phone, but visiting gave me a completely different view of the school. Namely that is was so remote, and I realized that wasn’t the experience I was looking for. Because of this, I felt more confident in bumping out my app to Johnson to the November round, and tackling Fuqua, Ross, Tepper, and McDonough in rd 1.

Visiting McDonough (for my interview) was also what bumped McDonough up to my second choice. There is no substitute for visiting the schools. Although it can be time consuming and costly, for me, this was the best way to determine whether the school would be a good fit.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the significant support the snark gave me in terms of providing input on my app strategy and targets, and helping me to think through my approach as new information came to light.

Last point on targets- SO much self-reflection took place throughout the whole process, but particularly in determining my target schools. This reflection on who I am, what I want out of business school, and if/why each school was the right fit was important in both determining my targets, and writing my essays.

My rankings switched many times throughout the application process, but by decision time, they were:

  • #1: Ross
  • #2: McDonough
  • #3: Fuqua
  • #4: Tepper
  • #5: Johnson
  • #6: Foster (ended up not applying after receiving my first acceptance)

 

Executing the apps

ES recommended I tackle Fuqua first (the essay writing skills built on the lengthy Fuqua app paid dividends for my other apps). I spent about three weeks solely on Fuqua, and got it to the 80% complete stage. I also used the essay decimator service for Fuqua, which improved my essays immeasurably. I then tackled Ross (2 weeks- got it to 90%), followed by McDonough (2 weeks- got it to 90%). I used single shots on the main essay for both schools.

I know ES doesn’t recommend moving on to a new app until fully completing the one you’re working on, but I would get so burned out on the essays for one school, that it became helpful to get the app to 90%, take a break for a couple days to work another school, and then revisit with fresh eyes. [Actually… what we usually suggest is to finish THE FIRST APP before moving on to any others; it’s not necessary to only work at one at a time. What this BSer described is a smart way to keep moving forward and making progress in getting everything done when it needs to be! -ES]

All the practice on the above 3 apps made it much easier to knock out new ones. I completed Carnegie Mellon in about 10 days, and then needed another week to finalize Fuqua. I submitted these 4 apps in rd 1.

As mentioned above, I completed Johnson for their November rd (2 weeks to complete, did it right after submitting Fuqua).

I outlined essays for Foster in November, and queued up my recommenders, but didn’t complete the app once I was admitted to Tepper in early December.

 
 


 
 
Well, as you can see, there was a bit of a spoiler there — but we’re gonna hold off and share the actual outcomes that this BSer landed in a foll0w-up post! Please stay tuned for the rest of their story, coming soon!!!

 
 

Filed Under: planning your strategy, Success Stories Bschools: Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua, Tepper, Georgetown McDonough

« Previous: ($) When schools do resume on-campus classes, there will be many changes.
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From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

Brave Supplicants' latest reviews on The 'Snark


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What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: What "rolling admissions" means right now
  • 2020: ($) Coronavirus and the MBA: Which MBA programs are more likely to (possibly) resume oncampus instruction?
  • 2018: ($) International Re-applicants to U.S. schools who still haven't made it in
  • 2017: Success Story! Beyond bschool to the next big thing!
  • 2017: International student headed to the US for school? DO NOT BREAK THE LAW.
  • 2016: ($) If you thought you'd go to law school and now...
  • 2016: The other likely driver of increased MBA app volumes
  • 2015: To the adcoms: Nobody wants a deadline on a Thurs or Fri.
  • 2014: ($) MBA application challenge: "I work for a small local employer..."
  • 2012: The changes to Kellogg's programs Part 3
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