Reapplying for F2011 (even though you were admitted) Thread

Question

Anyone else accepted at a few schools but holding out hope for one more go at their dream schools?

As a final year law school student, I rushed my R2 applications and would like to work harder on "my story" and apply R1 without having law school final exams to worry about

LetsGoMets · Answer

I have two thoughts on this, and I certainly don't mean any offense by either (note - My top 5 schools rejected me too, and I'm not thinking about reapplying)

Thought 1) Yes, Stanford is better than UCLA, but you're postponing your MBA by a year. Since you have a JD already, you're probably older than the average applicant (or at the very least equal in age), and if you do really need an MBA for what you want to do, I think you shouldn't hold off by a year. If you truly need the MBA for whatever your plans are, what do you plan to do this year, other than stress out about Stanford's application? It sounds like you're willing to burn a year of your life for a shot at a school you're a heavy underdog to get into.

Thought 2) Reapplicant admission percentages are low. On numbers alone, you're a decided underdog to get into either of the schools that rejected you. Sure your story might be better, but it's a fairly big risk. I don't think UCLA and USC are total shoe-ins after you turn them down (to not go to another school). You turn a school down to go to school somewhere else; it happens all the time. You turn a school down to reapply next year to give yourself 1 more shot at your dream school; it's rare and if anything shows you don't want to be at UCLA, USC, or UCSD (who probably will take you without issue). To me, it's a bit weird.

Anyway, Stanford was my dream school too, so I know where you're coming from. And after Stanford, I wanted to go to Chicago. For me, holding off by a year doesn't make any sense. I don't think I'd get in, and I'd piss off the schools that took me, so that I can use them as safety's next year... I want my MBA, I think I will help me for my career, and I don't think there's any value in waiting.

I think you need to think long and hard to prove that you'll get in next year, and that a UCLA MBA has significantly less value to your career path than a Stanford MBA. I was in LA 3 weeks ago - UCLA is a beautiful place. I wouldn't be so quick to turn my back on them.

cyrez8 · Answer

Solid comments. I'm 26 so not that old.

Also, I have a startup company and so holding off on my MBA for a year makes perfect sense for me to focus on this startup and build it to a point where embarking upon an MBA curriculum won't be detrimental to the startup's development. I don't think it is rare to apply to MBA programs and then realize that another year of WE would better prepare you for your MBA.

Lastly, I completely rushed my applications and my essays were pretty poor. I can do a lot better (with a much clearer story) and at least give myself a better shot at Haas. I learned SO MUCH this application period and from this forum that I'd like to put some of that knowledge to good use.

I'm a Bay Area native and want to return to the Bay which is THE place for entrepreneurism. I will also be applying to Haas's part-time program next year which I believe is a better fit and gives me a better chance at acceptance as well.

cyrez8 · Answer

Has anyone done this in year's past?

I thought JordinT was a reapplicant.

tdave · Answer

Sorry, but I am still not convinced that you're not a brand-name "collector"... there are so many holes in your story but you have an early headstart... good luck with convincing the adcoms!

cyrez8 · Answer

I'm on this forum to improve as an applicant and seek advice.

Could you please shed some more light on this "brand-name collector" stuff? Does that basically infer that I only want to go to Stanford/Haas b/c of the name?

Well Stanford has always been my dream because it is THE place for entrepreneurism. More importantly, however, I want to return to the Bay Area and establish my network within the Silicon Valley and have zero desires to stay in the LA area. Is that not a valid reason for trying for the Bay one more time?

LetsGoMets · Answer

For someone who lists only Booth, Harvard and Wharton as their schools, I don't think it's fair to talk about collecting brand names. I'm not saying you don't have good reason to go to any of those schools, but as an applicant to only those 3 places, you should have some appreciation for a good brand.

Cyrez, if you can put good use to your time, then it might make sense, but if I were in your shoes, I'd settle in nicely in SoCal for two years and try to make the most of it. There's nothing stopping you from working in the Bay area during your internships and after school. Plenty of entrepreneurs have come from the schools you've been admitted to.

I have no desire to stay in Pittsburgh or Atlanta afterwards, but actually wanted to get out of NY for two years to build and develop new networks. I think that if you do hold out for a year, you should really try to network with Stanford MBA alums. They might be able to help you out as far as your business goes, and moreover, you'll know more about Stanford that might help you for your essays.

To me, it still doesn't seem like there's any equity in waiting.

Jerz · Answer

One thing to keep in mind, if you turn down USC, UCLA and UCSD this year because you want to reapply to Stanford and Haas, you can be 99.99% sure you won't get admitted to those 3 schools again next year. Once you turn down a school it's a big sign that you're not really interested in going there, and schools aren't interested in admitting students that aren't interested in them. You can try to ask for a deferral, but those are exceptionally rare and usually only given out for unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances.

For me, the question is why did you apply to USC, UCLA or UCSD if you weren't prepared to attend any of those schools?

For me, the question is why did you apply to USC, UCLA or UCSD if you weren't prepared to attend any of those schools?

mba2013 · Answer

+1.

when i'm considering where to apply to this fall, my big question for each school (target and safety included) is going to be: If _____ is the ONLY school i get accepted to, will i still want to go there?

tdave · Answer

Jerz hits the nail on the head: "the question is why did you apply to USC, UCLA or UCSD if you weren't prepared to attend any of those schools?"

I applied to just Booth/W/H because I had forced myself to consider only schools that I would actually attend if admitted. Thus, I never submitted my applications to Tuck, Stanford and Columbia. The issue here is not really about the brand-quality of schools s/he applied to in this cycle, it is the message s/he communicates by rejecting offers from USC, UCLA and UCSD to re-apply to Stanford and Haas (two schools that just happen to be higher on the ranking tables).

If Cyrez8 wanted to return to the Bay Area for the strong Silicon Valley networks and had " zero  desires to stay in the LA area", why did s/he apply to USC, UCLA or UCSD in the first place?

Does one really need a brand-name MBA to be a good entrepreneur? I just can't wrap my mind around this story: too many holes.

Of course Cyrez8 has the right to do as s/he pleases but it's a bit disingenuous for her to come seeking "advice" with a story that does not hold up to close scrutiny.

Again, good luck with the process for the next cycle. May all your dreams come true!

mba2013 · Answer

it's always possible to have some sort of grand realization while going through the app process, but it doesn't sound like this person was seriously considering attending USC, UCLA or UCSD. What is probably more relevant to the people on this board is the fact that those offer's Cyrez got kept the next likely candidate from getting an offer and putting them on the waitlist or ding. So if you do plan on applying again next year, I hope you withdraw/decline now so you can free up a seat for someone else who really wants to attend those schools. Again, completely understand that people change their minds during the process, so no offense/harm meant by this suggestion, just want to consider other applicants who are probably going crazy now waiting to hear back from schools.

cyrez8 · Answer

Is that truly the case? Even if you have a valid reasoning for declining the offer?

cyrez8 · Answer

100% no offense taken and I withdrew my application a day after being accepted at each.

cyrez8 · Answer

I should have done that but I honestly had zero clue about my chances.

I literally applied to schools last minute and didn't consult a single person, forum or anything.

I feel like I have learned so much amazing stuff from gmatclub that I'd like to put that knowledge to good use and give my dream one more shot.

I'm pretty surprised that I'm getting such negative feedback and no one else has done this.

cyrez8 · Answer

Do I sound like a girl? Lol...I'm a male.

I'd like help with my story because you say it sounds so disingenuous and that couldn't be further from the truth.

I want to return to the Bay Area. I want to attend a top b-school in the Bay Area to build those amazing potential contacts for my entrepreneurial dreams and passions. I don't care about the rankings. If UCLA was ranked as it was but located in the Bay I would 100% have been attending right now.

mba2013 · Answer

EDIT:

didn't see the most recent posts.

not trying to be negative. just thinking from the perspective of someone else in your application round.

gmatbschool · Answer

Its interesting that you're getting somewhat negative feedback on this.
I know two people who were in your situation in the recent years. One of them got into Tuck after waitlist but decided not to take it and applied to several schools this year again. No news yet.
Another one got into Ross for Fall 2008 but decided not to take it and ended up as reapplicant at Booth in Fall 2009.

So yes, it does happen and sometimes it does work out.

For everyone wondering why people apply to places they don't want to go... from talking to my friends it seems like they got into this situation by:
1. getting panicky in the app season about not getting in anywhere... so they apply to "safety schools" without really thinking through that term.
2. Not researching the schools beforehand. They apply because they heard good things but didn't figure it if it really was the best fit for them.

I learned "do not apply to places you do not want to go to." Trust me, I was so close to putting in apps for schools that I know I would not want to attend only because I so badly want to go back to school.

I think your mistake might have been applying unprepared to Stanford at all this year, not holding out! Its a super competitive school. Even with a well prepared app your chances might not be that good.
I would suggest seriously reading and digesting what people on this forum are saying to you. If you're sure you don't want to attend UCLA etc then yes hold out. But don't do it with the hopeful logic that "well I was good enough to get into UCLA with a rushed app, I guess I'm a shoo-in for Stanford now that I know what I'm doing".

You do your MBA once in your life. Be 100% sure you're happy with your choice and it is going to give you everything you're looking for.

boogs · Answer

cyrez8, I can't speak for Haas EWMBA specifically, but my understanding is that there are fewer networking type events in most PT programs in comparison to their FT equivalents. As someone who is also in the Bay Area startup world, I think you can broaden your target list a bit to give yourself more shots for success next year. HBS and MIT Sloan are also well represented and respected in Bay Area tech. While admission at either is extremely tough, it is still better to have 4 really selective schools than just 2.

cyrez8 · Answer

Some of the best feedback I have received.

Thank you SO much for sharing.

I definitely panicked with my applications and really had ZERO clue what I was doing.

I WISH I found these forums earlier because then I probably would have mitigated many of my miscalculations the first time around through this process.

cyrez8 · Answer

Thank you for sharing. My thought on Haas EWMBA is that I will be working part time on my startup and as a patent prosecutor through my MBA and so won't have the typical 9-5 that restrains many from attending the networking events that are held for the full-time students (that I have heard part-time students can attend as well).

Maybe Haas EWMBA functions differently however, and doesn't allow the part-time students to attend the full-time events? That would definitely be problematic.

Reapplying for F2011 (even though you were admitted) Thread

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