If you applied to the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business MBA program in the 2011-2012 application cycle and were rejected, you can now schedule a feedback session with a Darden admissions committee member. 15 minute feedback sessions will be available until the end of June and are limited to those people who plan to reapply this year. Instructions on how you can schedule a feedback appointment can be found here.
The feedback session is a valuable opportunity for a reapplicant to assess the situation and understand some of the reasons why they were not selected for admission, thus allowing them to strengthen their candidacy going forward. It also offers a chance to establish a stronger relationship with the school. It is important to make a positive impression on the admissions committee member as they will likely add remarks about the feedback session in your admissions file.
To prepare for the feedback session, make a list of important questions you want to ask and think about any other statements you want to make about actions you plan to take to improve yourself or your commitment to the MBA program. Maintain a positive tone during the conversation and listen closely to what they tell you. Being fully prepared and having positive interactions with the admission comittee member will ensure you maximize these 15 minutes and shape their opinion of you before the next application season begins. After the feedback session, consider occasionally corresponding with the admission committee member giving them updates of your progress and restating your interest to the program.
Having a productive conversation with the admissions committee member and taking action based on their advice should go a long way to turning that rejection into an admission in 2012-2013!