One of the most popular questions asked by potential students is whether it is possible to get into a university when applying during the final rounds
First of all, let’s talk about why business schools even have final rounds, considering that so few people get admitted. Common sense tells us that universities could fill up their student bodies with 2 rounds only. Still, some b-schools (like MIT Sloan) started adding final (third or fourth) rounds this year.
If we try and look at the admissions process from the inside point of view, we can see that MBA programs set the following goals in their admissions campaigns:
- To choose best students out of the applicants’ pool.
- To make classes as varied as possible, mixing people of different countries, nationalities, professions, genders, interests etc.
- To fill out the student body limit.
As admissions officers have to maintain all of these goals at once, it’s not as easy as it seems.
During the final admission round, committees are hunting for people to fit into their diverse class or for those who have something unique to offer. By that time, the committees already have a rough presentation of the future classes. The few remaining vacancies are to be distributed among people on the admissions waitlists and those who have applied in the third round.
Mostly, some people from the final rounds will get admitted (unless the class was filled in with applicants from rounds 1 and 2 only, which happens very rarely).
To calculate how slim your admissions chances are during the final round, you’ll have to consider your background first. If you are white, male and working in the finance industry, you’ll need a miracle to get in. To be admitted at the last moment, you have to be somehow different from the Round 1 and Round 2 pools. Remember that business schools have keeping a diverse student body as their top priority.
Thus, to get admitted, you’ll have to be either really unique (with a background/experiences no one else would have) or to boast outstanding academic and professional results.
It’s no secret that applying during the third round is highly risky, and if there is an opportunity to submit your application during earlier rounds, it’s better to use it. If you have no other choice, and waiting another year is also not an option, then you should try the final round: at least a 1% chance is better than none.
Many applicants worry about the possibility of final round rejection harming their chances of getting admitted next year. Actually, such a rejection won’t interfere with your future chances at all. First of all, repetitive application shows desire and commitment in getting to a specific business school, and next year you’ll be noticed. Secondly, rejection will give you much needed experience, and your next application will be much better. Thirdly, you won’t be required to make a very big change in your next application, as there are generally only several months between the final and the first round, so you won’t have much time to broaden your experience or re-sit the GMAT.
Why would anyone apply during the final round? There are at least some reasons for it. For instance, these are people who didn’t get admitted to the schools of their choice earlier. Then, there are applicants looking for better schools than those they have already gotten themselves admitted to. Also, there are candidates who didn’t know that applying late will harm your chances of admission, and those that have taken the decision to pursue an MBA quite recently and couldn’t apply earlier.
Thus, if you still want to try and get yourself admitted during the final rounds, you should enter this risk with a clear head. Emphasize your strengths and unique experiences, and good luck!
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