Normally, once the fireworks go off on the 4th of July, that's our signal to start digging into the apps in earnest, as "October" Round 1 deadlines are a few months away. However, in recent years, the deadlines keep getting earlier and earlier. I know I had to really reset my own calendar given these changes, so I figured I'd do a public service and list them out here, calling special attention to the front-loaded nature of the deadlines.
In order (U.S.)
Sept 7 - Harvard
Sept 13 - Duke Early Action
Sept 14 - Yale SOM
Sept 15 - MIT
Sept 21 - Stanford GSB
Sept 21 - Kellogg
Sept 22 - Chicago Booth
Sept 27 - Wharton
Sept 29 - Haas
Oct 3 - Ross
Oct 4 - Darden
Oct 5 - Columbia Early Decision
Oct 5 - Tuck Early Action
Oct 6 - UCLA Anderson
Oct 11 - Texas
Oct 13 - Duke (Rd 1)
Oct 15 - NYU Stern
In order (International):
Sept 9 - Oxford
Sept 9 - Cambridge
Sept 16 - INSEAD
Oct 4 - IESE
Oct 21 - INSEAD (Sept intake)
Key Takeaways:
Power Schools Are All Early
For years, HBS has been driving their deadline earlier and earlier and others have followed suit. For someone gunning for the top programs stateside, they are looking at a very early submission window. HBS, MIT, GSB, Kellogg, Booth, and Wharton are all in September now. Even Columbia is misleading because most ED candidates try to get the app in well before the deadline.
Utilize Round 2
To maintain your sanity, consider staggering things a bit. It's my firm belief that Columbia (if you are going to do ED), GSB, and MIT are really the only schools that with enough benefit to Round 1 to really make that push. Most schools are totally neutral between Round 1 and Round 2. Some - HBS, the EU schools - can even give you a little edge if you wait, in my experience. I wrote about the sneaky Round 2 advantage here.
Consider Your Life
I used to be a pretty big advocate for keeping all your apps in lockstep with each other - meaning applying all in the same round. My thinking was that you could shrink the process down a bit, you could group your deadlines and interviews and decisions, and basically just keep thinks straight more easily. However, the only thing worse than this dragging on is killing yourself to hit all these brutally early deadlines. It might actually make more sense to spread things out. If you want to apply to GSB, MIT, HBS, and Booth, maybe you hit the first two in Round 1 and the second two in Round 2.
Above and beyond all else, there is no rule that says you have to sprint for these early deadlines if it doesn't make sense for you. Consider all the factors and make the best decision for you. But whatever you do, take stock soon, because these Round 1 deadlines are coming up awfully fast.
If you are interested in help for Round 1, email us ASAP at mba@amerasiaconsulting.com. If you can be talked into Round 2, still email us, but just know we will give you a nice discount to pump the breaks and step out of mad dash.
Applying Round 1? This Year's MBA Deadlines Are Earlier Than You Think | Adam Hoff | Amerasia Consulting Group | Boutique MBA Admissions Consultants
http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/blog/2016/7/19/round-1-mba-deadlines-are-earlier-than-you-think