Abstract: The method and associated apparatus of the present invention polishes the front face of a ferrule with first and second slurries such that an end portion of each optical fiber which extends through and is held by the ferrule protrudes beyond the preferentially etched front face of the ferrule by a preselected length. In order to preferentially etch the front face of ferrule as desired, the front face of the ferrule is polished with a first slurry having a plurality of suspended particulates of a first predetermined size on average which initiates the preferential etch of the ferrule relative to the optical fibers. Thereafter, the front face of the ferrule is polished with a second slurry having a plurality of suspended particles of a second predetermined size on average.