Dear Prep Professor: some schools offer “Early Action” deadlines. What are the key considerations before deciding whether to apply in the Early Action round or not?
Dawna Clarke, a former Director of Admissions at Tuck, answered questions about Tuck’s Early Action deadline. She provided her perspective on the advantages and downsides of applying Early Action.
Early Action Advantages
- Early Action is intended for those students who have identified Tuck as their #1 choice of business schools
- The School is slightly more generous with applicants who apply EA than in subsequent rounds.
- The maximum amount of scholarship dollars and housing options in the Upper Valley are available to applicants who apply early in the process.
We want students who want to be here … it is easier to stand out as one of the first 700 applicants who apply to Tuck each year versus being considered among the last 700 applicants who apply.
Early Action Disadvantages
- It is generally better to apply later in the process (such as the November or January deadlines) and strengthen your application than to rush strictly to apply early.
- If you’re not satisfied with your first GMAT score and feel that studying and retaking the GMAT would enhance your candidacy, it would be better to do so and then present an overall more competitive application.
While Dawna’s comments were specific to Tuck, the general pros and cons she laid out apply to all the major MBA programs offering early decision rounds.