Is Selectivity Important When Choosing MBA Programs?
You’ve likely heard a lot about the importance of applying to selective schools—those business schools with impressive stats and intimidating acceptance rates. But what does selectivity mean, and how much should it influence your decision-making process as you choose where to apply? Is selectivity important when choosing MBA programs, or should you focus on other factors? Should you rush to apply in round one, or is round two still a viable option? Let’s break it down.
What Does Selectivity Actually Mean?
When we refer to a business school as “selective,” we’re referring to its acceptance rate—the percentage of applicants who receive offers of admission. The lower the acceptance rate, the more selective the school.
However, selectivity also encompasses the quality of the applicants in the pool. Schools with a highly selective reputation tend to attract candidates with top-tier GMAT scores, exceptional work experience, and a clear career vision.
That said, selectivity isn’t the only factor determining quality in an MBA program. Indeed, selective schools often have outstanding programs, excellent faculty, and impressive alumni networks. However, many less selective schools also offer exceptional opportunities and a supportive environment where you can thrive.
Curious about your chances of getting into a highly selective B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.
Should Selectivity Be a Deciding Factor?
When deciding where to apply, should selectivity be a significant factor? Yes and no. It’s tempting to focus solely on getting into the most selective schools because, let’s face it, we all want that shiny brand name on our resumes. But here’s where you need to be strategic.
Choose Fit Over Prestige
The most selective school might not be the best fit for you. Consider what you want from your MBA experience. Are you looking for a specific concentration, a particular location, or a strong community feel? Sometimes, a school with a slightly higher acceptance rate might offer programs or opportunities that align more closely with your goals. Look beyond the numbers and determine what each school offers regarding culture, curriculum, and career support.
Create a Balanced Portfolio
Just as you would diversify your investment portfolio, you should apply to schools with varying selectivity levels. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and only apply to schools with single-digit acceptance rates. Include a mix of reach, target, and safety schools where you’re confident you’ll get in. That way, you maximize your chances of getting into a great program.
Your success in business school and beyond isn’t solely determined by where you get your MBA. What you do with the opportunities available to you matters much more. Graduates from less selective schools often go on to achieve incredible things because they take full advantage of their resources and networks.
Round One vs. Round Two: Does Selectivity Play a Role?
Now, let’s talk about the timing of your application. Does the selectivity of a school influence whether you should apply in round one or round two? The short answer is yes, but it’s not the only consideration.
Round One Advantage
Generally speaking, applying in round one can offer some advantages, especially for more selective schools. Admissions committees have open seats and are excited to build a diverse and dynamic class. If your profile is strong, you might have a slightly better chance in round one. It also shows that you’re serious about that school and well-prepared.
Round Two Is Still Strong
That said, round two is by no means a bad option. Plenty of candidates are accepted in round two, and schools reserve many spots for subsequent cycles. If you’re not quite ready to submit by round one—maybe you’re waiting on a GMAT or GRE score, need more time to perfect your essays, or want to showcase a recent promotion—don’t rush. A solid round-two application is far better than a rushed round-one submission.
Your Personal Timeline
Consider your own timeline. Do you need more time to strengthen your application? Or do you feel confident and ready now? Sometimes, applicants feel pressured to apply in round one simply because they think they “should.” But if you’re not fully prepared, it could backfire. Use the time you need to assemble the best application possible, even if it means waiting until round two.
Final Thoughts
While selectivity is an important factor when applying to business school, it shouldn’t be the only one. Focus on finding the right fit for your goals and personality. Apply to a mix of schools to keep your options open, and when it comes to timing, prioritize the strength of your application over the round in which you apply. Remember, your MBA journey is unique to you, and the best school for you might not be the most selective—it’s where you can thrive and achieve your dreams.
***
Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.
Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team.
Ashley
Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...
×Kerry
Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and ...
×Pauline
A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...
×Geri
Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds. Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students. In additio ...
×Laura
Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...
×Andrea
Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...
×Jennifer
Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...
×Erin K.
Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...
×Susie
Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...
×Dione
Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...
×Anthony
Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...
×Meghan
Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...
×Amy
Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...
×Ally
Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...
×Erin B.
Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...
×Emma
Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants. ×
