Do’s and Don’ts of Reapplying to Business School

So, you put your blood, sweat and tears into your business school application(s) and you didn’t get into the program you hoped for. It is a crushing feeling, but this doesn’t have to be the end of your business school journey. In fact, it may not seem so, but “rejection” can be a crucial part of your experience.Before you start over analyzing your every move, know this: schools are more than happy to have you reapply AND they will take your application seriously. The application process is holistic. You have two options – to dwell on the things you can’t change, or to take a few moments to access your application and try again.The best way to move forward in the reapplication process is to highlight your improved candidacy. To help you determine where to focus your energies, the following is a list of Do’s and Don’ts for reapplying.GMAT/GRE and GPAAs you know, your test scores and GPA are important factors in the application. They are metrics that show the admissions committee your ability to handle quantitative work. It could be possible that your scores and GPA are low. If this is the case, consider this:

• Don’t procrastinate on retaking the GMAT or GRE.
• Do take the GMAT or GRE again. Retaking the GMAT or GRE is a great place to improve your candidacy. Be sure that you take it early enough to allow yourself ample time to focus on other important aspects of the application, like your essays. Consider a GMAT tutor or seek extra help when preparing for the tests. Pin pointing your weaknesses will allow you to improve your score.
• Don’t make excuses about why your GPA is low.
• Do use your essay as a tool to explain why your GPA is low. In the essay portion, acknowledge your low GPA by providing an explanation that shows the admission committee that you can handle rigorous curriculum. You can demonstrate this by taking supplemental courses and submitting well-articulated essays.

Letters of Recommendation Applicants are often concerned that they were rejected based on weak endorsements in their recommendation letters. Since you may not be able to see the letter after it is written, it’s important to remember:

• Don’t choose a recommender based on his or her title or alumni status.
• Do ask individuals that can really speak about your strengths and leadership abilities. Writing a strong recommendation letter requires thoughtful effort. You may want to consider providing a list of accomplishments to your recommender, so that they can address specific examples and touch upon key areas like your leadership, teamwork, work ethic, and aptitude.

EssaysThe essay portion of your application is your space to fill in the gaps between who you are as a person, your test scores, GPA, and resume. As you think about rewriting your essays, make sure it represents a coherent picture of who you are.

• Don’t recycle an essay you already used.
• Do use the essay to explain your personal and professional advancements and show you are self-aware. Explain how your situation has changed since your first submission. Although it may be uncomfortable to admit areas that you need to improve, show humility and be proactive about explaining your gaps. Providing supportive evidence on how you managed those issues will help the admissions committee understand your situation.

New DevelopmentsFrom the moment you applied last time, to this year’s new deadline, there might have been new developments in your career and life.Were you promoted? Did you switch jobs? If so, as a re-applicant, you have the opportunity to highlight these changes. Maybe you still hold the same job but have a wider range of responsibilities, or you have gained a fresh new perspective about your career aspirations. Changes that demonstrate your evolution as a person and as a professional could provide better insight into who you are and the kind of leader that you aspire to be.No matter what stage of the application process you are in – a first time applicant or second time re-applicant – you must be resilient. Tackling the process for a second time can seem discouraging. It’s important to give yourself time to reflect and identity the places where your application is lacking. This time around you can learn from your mistakes and be strategic in the way you approach each part of the application.