My thoughts are differing now, although I’ll say its biased because of their respective adcoms. I’ve written about Darden’s adcom & policies before, but I’ll add a few things:
1. After deeper thought, I understand some of the issues are natural (delay in interviewing, etc), this being the first year they’re inviting people to interview & all. But… they should keep people informed. That, I believe, is the first rule of people management.
2. Even if they’re not hyper-active in communication, the least one can do is to reply to mails. I’ve myself sent in 4 mails over the last 1 month, 2 each to the adcom & my account manager, but have not even received an automated acknowledgement (I hate that stuff actually) leave alone a response.
Now compare this with Tuck! Every mail I’ve sent (including some idiotic queries, which I wish I could recall! Or maybe erase from their memories like the Haitian does in Heroes) has been replied to very politely, and very promptly.
And sample this… the email I got 2 days after my interview:
Tuck Admissions Team
I thought it was a really nice gesture on the part of Tuck adcom to send this mail. Really! they didnt need to…Small thing probably, but finally its the small things that matter in life, isn’t it?
I know one shouldn’t judge a school by the adcom, and like m@ pointed out “it’s more like marrying someone when you don’t get along with your new spouse’s ex-husband”. But if the ex-husband is deciding who’s coming / not coming into the spouse’s life, then who’s the real husband??? 
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* Will computers take over our business decisions soon? I have some thoughts which I’ll gather & post soon…
My experience was quite the opposite. Darden seemed extremely responsive often replying within 1-2 days. However, tuck too more time and often did not even reply.
Anyways, I think to each his own
It’s surprising to me that your impression is that Darden is more academically oriented … I would have thought the opposite.
I will wait to read your thoughts on “Will computers take over our business decisions soon?” It would be interesting to know different perspectives.
As far as my opinion goes, I think they already have, to some extent. I might sound bitter, but this was the first realization that came to me when I went through my infamous GMAT experience, and the irony is that one can not question computers!
Hey oops,
What is this account manager fundaa at Darden?
Tuck really gives you the personal touch. The small class, small college and small town provide the environment for that.
Hope to see you at ASW soon.
I would have happily applied to Tuck, but for some change in situation on the family front. I received an email from Tuck ambassador within hours of my “contact us” email. I cold-called (e-mailed?) a tuck alum. in Chicago area, and even though she now stays in NYC, I received her reply, we talked over the phone for abt half an hour, and followed up after that. The ad. com. was very understanding when I had to cancel my campus visit.
This is completely the opposite to what I experienced at a different top-ranked school
Too bad I will have to wait another 7-8 months before I can consider applying there again. Good luck with your app!
I have no experience with Tuck, but Darden was always quick to respond to my questions. However, I didn’t try to get a response in the midst of application reviews, so I’m sure there’s been an additional lag time. But as everyone points out, it’s just the adcom, take it with a grain of salt. (And perhaps lime and tequila…)