Most MBA admissions officers will tell you that it does not matter whether you send your application in early or at the deadline, because they will not read your application until the deadline passes. Stanford seems to have changed its tune as of late or, at a minimum, articulated a policy that few knew existed before. Stanford will now be reviewing applications and inviting candidates for interviews before its first round deadline passes. Does this mean that others are at an advantage if they get their applications in early? Not really. We are guessing that this is primarily a pragmatic choice, allowing for a more even flow of work for the admissions committee. Still, the committee no doubt appreciates the opportunity to reach out to a few stars and ensure that they are not caught up in another school’s web (CBS early decision for example). we would advise, as we always do, to place quality ahead of speed. Don’t rush your application — get it in when it is at its best.
A first-of-its-kind, on-demand MBA application experience that delivers a personalized curriculum for you and leverages interactive tools to guide you through the entire MBA application process.