The top MBA and top Master’s program application process is one of the most fiercely competitive “games” anyone will ever enter. The applicant pool seems to get stronger each year. Many extremely outstanding candidates are turned away by top schools for one reason or another. If this happened to you, you must continue to stay positive. One key to success is believing that you will succeed. Another key to success is analyzing what happened and correcting your mistakes.
So if you are committed to getting an MBA or Master’s degree at a top university you should not give up. NOW is the time to analyze what happened so that you can make necessary adjustments and ultimately put forth a stronger effort next time. Here are some things for reapplicants to consider going into the next application cycle:
– Analyze Your Goals: Did your goals make sense based on your background and abilities? Did you very clearly articulate them in your essays and during your interviews?
– Analyze Your Profile: Does your profile fit the school you were applying to? Were your GMAT & TOEFL scores and work experiences competitive compared to others in that program? Not sure? — then it’s time to talk to current students or alumni.
– Analyze Your Target Schools: Did you choose the schools that were the right fit for your background and goals? Are your test scores and work experiences competitive for typical members of that school’s class?
– Analyze What Happened During the Application Process: If you did not get any interviews then you need to take a closer look at your resume and what you presented in your essays. If you received several interview invitations and no admissions it’s time to focus on your English speaking ability and how you presented yourself. Perhaps you were not able to communicate your unique value in the interview or came across as too shy or immature.
If you plan to reapply now is the time to analyze these key issues and create an action plan for success. Most schools do not give feedback to rejected applicants but a few do, such as U. Virginia (Darden) and Dartmouth (Tuck). It won’t hurt to ask if your school would be willing to give you any feedback. Otherwise, reach out to your network for help, or better yet, contact me at david@transcendadmissions.com. In my next post I will discuss more specific actions that a reapplicant should take to achieve success the next time around.