It is a myth that applying in Round 1 increases one’s chances of acceptance at a top MBA program. If you are ready with the application in time for the Round 1 submission, there should be no reason to delay until Round 2.

Learn more about Round 1 vs Round 2 MBA Admission Strategies

Stacy Blackman: Most candidates we speak with wonder which round they should apply to. Planning your application schedule obviously requires that you know your deadlines. Schools will generally announce their deadlines over the summer months. While every school is different, most schools have a number of deadlines, known as “rounds.” Deciding in which round to apply can certainly complicate your planning. Frequently, the first deadline, round 1, will take place in the Fall, the second deadline, round 2, in the Winter, and the third deadline, round 3, in Spring. For each round there is a full admissions cycle and a unique set of notification dates. There are exceptions to this all over the place with some schools having fewer or more rounds and many variations on dates. That said, when faced with several different options, applicants want to know: “which round is the best round in which to apply?”

For many, there is a frenzy involved with trying to submit applications in round 1. So much so that you might wonder what the other rounds are for. If everyone needs to submit applications in round 1, who exactly is being admitted in round 2? The answer: a lot of people are admitted in round 2, and if your application is not ready, you should not be afraid to slide to round 2.