Mimster
It will lower your chances but it wouldn't mean you won't get in. Also, most people say it's crapshoot so no one can guarantee you a shoe into HBS or GSB. Personally, I think your time should be spent on honing your profile and narrative to an absolute gold before applying.
For those two schools, it's about every single part of your application (including strong letter of recommendations) that holistically ties into a good story and a strong and achieveable goal. Maybe
NateFromHBS can give an insight?
I have a friend who reapplied to Wharton twice and got in on his second try. However, what changed with his application was not only WE but also how he tries his WE to his goals that are realistic. At first he aimed to continue working in consulting and hopefully land a job in the US and not his home country. This made his employability quite a risk for b-school. His second application, however, changed his goals to getting more skills in healthcare to come back and continue his family business. This change in his application, from my assumption, allowed him to get an offer.
Hi Mimster,
Thanks for looping me in. Here are my thoughts on the situation:
1. Surprisingly, most of the candidates that reach out to me are at least semi-competitive for HBS and GSB for the reason that Mimster alluded to -- it's a bit of a crap shoot at those schools. However, 9 times out of 10, the people I see in
Ding Reports or who end up on the
Waitlist were
rejected because they either didn't tell a compelling personal narrative, or were telling the wrong personal narrative. If you have the stats to be competitive (and I can give you my assessment if you click the odds link below) you should spend all your time now getting that narrative down pat.
2. Schools like GSB and HBS generally like reapplicants -- especially ones who have improved since they last applied. The challenge is that if you keep changing your narrative with each iteration (e.g. because you never really nailed it down), then the admissions committee will think that you lack focus and be disingenuous. That's one reason why re-applying may hurt your chances. That and every year over age 30 you advance lowers your chances as well.
I say go for it! Hope this helps!