Reapplicants: Communicating with boss/etc

Question

For those who reapplied this year --

How did you communicate it to your boss/management last year? How did you break the news that you got dinged across the board and would not be attending? When did you do this (Spring, Summer?)? And lastly, did you share that you would definitely be reapplying and giving it another shot... or did you keep it mum at that point and say "I'm gonna think about it and for now I will be devoted to the job"?

lsuguy7 · Answer

Well I guess my background helped me here as I was very upfront and set expectations early on in the process. For me I let my recommenders and my boss know that I was very young in the application timeline and that it was extremely competitive this year. I wanted them to write the best recommendations possible and I was basically signing some of them up for multiple years of writing recommendations if I would be trying again next year.

nink · Answer

In case I didn't have much success in R1, I showered my recommenders with Thank You Gifts even before i heard from R1 schools. A lot of them thought I spent too much so I just told them, "I might have to ask you guys again for more rec letters in case I need to reapply in the second round."

They were all okay with that and I am fully taking advantage of that for LBS.

My advice is to let them know early that you might ask for help again in the near future.
But Thank You Gifts work like a charm IMO. :wink:

lsuguy7 · Answer

I agree with Nink I also handed out my gifts in R1 and then asked for more recommendations in R2.

I think you can work this to your advantage by explaining to your boss not only are you on board with your current job but you want more responsibility, etc., so you can really improve your case for next year. Let him/her know what your plans are and I think you'll be able to point out your major accomplishments to them through out the year. This should make for better LoRs and maybe some good essay material.

Take a big break and regroup now you've got a year to improve your chances!

foodstamp · Answer

I only applied to my dream schools so I knew that odds weren't in my favor.

After my recommenders submitted their recs (before I heard back from schools), I thanked each of them, sent nice thank you gift-cards, and reiterated how competitive this application season is going to be.... that's where I slipped in the possibility of reapplying next year.

If you are planning to stay at the firm for another year, I would definitely bring this up as soon as possible (if you are dinged across the board). You don't want your managers taking away your responsibilities because they think you are leaving in a few months. I also think you don't really have to phrase things along the lines of "getting dinged everywhere and staying at the firm." I would talk about how you thought long and hard about your choices and decided that staying with the company is the best option for you right now. Give them an impression that you chose the firm over business school. If they ask for details on your results, then you are going to have to tell them about the dings.. but you can also bring up not choosing to apply anywhere in R3 because you want to stay with the firm (how many of your managers will know that applying in R3 isn't a good idea for most people?).

fall09 · Answer

I gave $50 gift card to my recommenders for the Christmas holidays.Each of them did 6 recs but I did not get any admit so far.Do I need to give them another $50?

Last week, I told them that I would be reapplying.

nink · Answer

LOL. i don't think so. It's not like you are buying their rec letter service. As long as they appreciate your gift and gesture, I think you will be fine. :-D

DK · Answer

Thanks for all the tips everyone!

DK · Answer

Just took care of it. Actually caught two of my recommenders at the same time. They were incredibly supportive and said they'll do whatever they can to help me out next year.

isa · Answer

That's awesome!

FormerArmyDude · Answer

.

maverick2011 · Answer

DK, you have probably already considered this, but won't you need a new recommender(s) for the schools you may be reapplying to?

Jerz · Answer

I don't think schools require you to find new recommenders if you're a reapplicant. It's really your decision whether you want to use the same recommenders, or if you think the recommendation was a problem to find a new one.

As for me, last year I told my recommenders when I found out my decisions and said I wasn't sure if I was going to reapply - which was the truth. All of them volunteered at that point to write new letters if I chose to reapply, so when I made that decision it was easy to get them involved again.

Reapplicants: Communicating with boss/etc

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards