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firsttimer2
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Joined: 26 Mar 2011
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Status:Wharton R2
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WE 1: semiconductors
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Re-applicant next steps? 18 Jul 2012, 23:46
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I am a reapplicant (twice) and submitted 5 applications over the last two app seasons to the very top schools. I only interviewed at Wharton. I was interviewed in the first time application to wharton but dinged without interview the second time.

Is my AWA score of 4.0 a problem?
I am sure a simple retake can again yield a high 700s gmat.

As I am building ECs I find that many volunteer opportunities are during business hours (not evenings/weekends), hard to spare time for when working full time. Any known volunteer houses that offer non business hours activities?
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scorpionz
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Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2014
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Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2014
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Re-applicant next steps? 19 Jul 2012, 21:35
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Hard to say if an AWA score of 4.0 is a problem. I've heard that top schools look at it quite seriously and don't like to see anything below a 5. Very well written essays coupled with a low AWA score are supposed to raise red flags immediately. But this is not officially acknowledged anywhere. I personally do not know anyone in a top school having a score less than 4.5.

Most of my ECs were over weekends since it was impossible to do anything after a 14 hour workday. I'm sure you'll find may volunteer/hobby groups working over weekends in or around your area. Google is your best friend.
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GMATLA
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Re-applicant next steps? 19 Jul 2012, 21:45
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you have an uphill battle having already applied twice. You have a lot to prove and if you havn't improved then it will be even harder... read my post here to help you formulate a plan: comprehensive-re-applicant-guide-131675.html

Also, consider shooting at lower schools. A high GMAT is not a guarantee into top schools, in fact it's only the beginning. So maybe your app, essays, rec letters, etc... might just not be up to par... hard to say without seeing your whole app. But there is something in your app that is earning you dings, you need to find it, ALL OF IT, and fix it.

Good luck
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firsttimer2
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Re-applicant next steps? 22 Jul 2012, 00:41
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GMATLA
you have an uphill battle having already applied twice. You have a lot to prove and if you havn't improved then it will be even harder... read my post here to help you formulate a plan: comprehensive-re-applicant-guide-131675.html

Also, consider shooting at lower schools. A high GMAT is not a guarantee into top schools, in fact it's only the beginning. So maybe your app, essays, rec letters, etc... might just not be up to par... hard to say without seeing your whole app. But there is something in your app that is earning you dings, you need to find it, ALL OF IT, and fix it.

Good luck
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thanks. I have seen threads where people have commented that AWA score does not matter as they have your essays as writing sample. But would not a low AWA with well written essays give them pause?

How do I know that AWA is not the cause of ding (since my essays were well written)? I'd hate to take gmat again only to do better on awa.
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sunman
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Schools: HBS '15 (D) Kellogg '15 (A) Booth '15 (M$) Darden '15 (A) Duke '15 (A) Ross '15 (A$)
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Re-applicant next steps? 22 Jul 2012, 07:31
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Reapplicant twice? That might be a bit of an overkill. There's nothing wrong with aiming for a Fuqua, Ross, or Darden. The opportunities at those schools will be almost as abundant as opportunities at HBS and Stanford GSB. By delaying your MBA pursuits over and over again, you're just stagnating your career.