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Rejected at all 7 schools this year.

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drew031482
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Location: United States
Concentration: Real Estate, Finance
Schools: Ross '14 (WL) Darden '14 (D) Kenan-Flagler '14 (A) Owen '14 (A$)
GMAT 1: 680 Q46 V37
GRE 1: Q46 V37
GPA: 3.14
WE:Architecture (Other)
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Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   12 May 2010, 14:03
So I was denied at all 7 of the schools I applied to this year and am wondering what I could do to better my chances for this upcoming year. I don't really know where to start...For one, do I bother re-applying to the same schools? Was I kidding myself applying to the schools that I did (okay, maybe Columbia and Wharton, but you gotta have one or two long-shots, right)?

If I should have been competitive at those schools, what are ways to re-present (not necessarily re-package) myself? On that subject, I do plan on asking for feedback as I'm confused as to what part of my application was the weakest - my essays, a recommendation, my work experience? Btw, here are the ones I applied to:

Reg Decision (in order): Kenan-Flagler, Haas, McCombs, Columbia, Wharton, Fuqua
Rd 3: Darden

I received invitations to interview at KF, McCombs, and Darden, though was rejected from all. Here are my stat's if useful in determining whether I was at least competitive:

GPA: U-Grad (U MD) - 3.16; Grad (Ga Tech) - 3.46. Both majors are architecture.
Gmat: 680 (46q/76%, 37v/80%)
Demographic: White/28/m
Work Experience: 2 1/2 Years Architecture --> Laid off (March 2009) --> Independent Architecture, Design, and Construction Consultant

Goals:

Transition from architecture to development (I'm focused towards multi-family development)
- Short: Work for a large development firm as a project manager
- Long: Open my own development shop

Hobbies/Volunteer/Extra-Cirr:

Volunteer, Some Place for Kids; 1-2 afternoons a week after I was laid off
Landscape Director (elected), Clarendon Dogs (Non-profit group); Act as a liason/representative for a local dog park. Work with the County and other interest groups in County's redesign of the Park.
Player/Manager; Multiple summer baseball teams.

Also, I (am currently) enrolled in two business classes at community college in preparation for starting an MBA program this fall. The classes I'm taking are Statistics I and Accounting I. I should get an A in both.

Thanks for any comments that either Linda or anyone else can offer!
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Norlan
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   12 May 2010, 16:06
Here are my 2 cents

Improve your GMAT to at least 700 or above for second tier MBA, 740 or higher for first tier
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   12 May 2010, 22:49
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drew031482 wrote:
So I was denied at all 7 of the schools I applied to this year and am wondering what I could do to better my chances for this upcoming year. I don't really know where to start...For one, do I bother re-applying to the same schools? Was I kidding myself applying to the schools that I did (okay, maybe Columbia and Wharton, but you gotta have one or two long-shots, right)?

If I should have been competitive at those schools, what are ways to re-present (not necessarily re-package) myself? On that subject, I do plan on asking for feedback as I'm confused as to what part of my application was the weakest - my essays, a recommendation, my work experience? Btw, here are the ones I applied to:

Reg Decision (in order): Kenan-Flagler, Haas, McCombs, Columbia, Wharton, Fuqua
Rd 3: Darden

I received invitations to interview at KF, McCombs, and Darden, though was rejected from all. Here are my stat's if useful in determining whether I was at least competitive:

GPA: U-Grad (U MD) - 3.16; Grad (Ga Tech) - 3.46. Both majors are architecture.
Gmat: 680 (46q/76%, 37v/80%)
Demographic: White/28/m
Work Experience: 2 1/2 Years Architecture --> Laid off (March 2009) --> Independent Architecture, Design, and Construction Consultant

Goals:

Transition from architecture to development (I'm focused towards multi-family development)
- Short: Work for a large development firm as a project manager
- Long: Open my own development shop

Hobbies/Volunteer/Extra-Cirr:

Volunteer, Some Place for Kids; 1-2 afternoons a week after I was laid off
Landscape Director (elected), Clarendon Dogs (Non-profit group); Act as a liason/representative for a local dog park. Work with the County and other interest groups in County's redesign of the Park.
Player/Manager; Multiple summer baseball teams.

Also, I (am currently) enrolled in two business classes at community college in preparation for starting an MBA program this fall. The classes I'm taking are Statistics I and Accounting I. I should get an A in both.

Thanks for any comments that either Linda or anyone else can offer!


I'm not surprised about the rejections from Columbia, Wharton, and Haas. I am surprised that you interviewed at KF and McCombs and did not receive an offer of admission from either one. That leads me to believe that perhaps your interview did not go well. Your 3rd round app could have hurt your chances at Darden.

I would drop Columbia, Wharton and Haas from your list. Reapply to KF, McCombs, Duke and Darden. If you can get feedback, from any of them, get. Also have a mock interview before you interview for real this time around. Finally, add a couple of schools, if there are other programs that suit your needs.

Best,
Linda Abraham
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drew031482
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Concentration: Real Estate, Finance
Schools: Ross '14 (WL) Darden '14 (D) Kenan-Flagler '14 (A) Owen '14 (A$)
GMAT 1: 680 Q46 V37
GRE 1: Q46 V37
GPA: 3.14
WE:Architecture (Other)
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   13 May 2010, 08:22
Accepted.com wrote:

I'm not surprised about the rejections from Columbia, Wharton, and Haas. I am surprised that you interviewed at KF and McCombs and did not receive an offer of admission from either one. That leads me to believe that perhaps your interview did not go well. Your 3rd round app could have hurt your chances at Darden.

I would drop Columbia, Wharton and Haas from your list. Reapply to KF, McCombs, Duke and Darden. If you can get feedback, from any of them, get. Also have a mock interview before you interview for real this time around. Finally, add a couple of schools, if there are other programs that suit your needs.

Best,
Linda Abraham


Linda,

As a previous poster suggested, do you believe that retaking the GMAT could substantially increase my ability to gain acceptance to these schools (or top schools) relative to other pieces of my profile? I personally think I could get it over the 700 mark (my verbal score continues to climb, and I'm sure I can get it even higher), but I would rather focus on other pieces of the application if you believe it is more prudent. Thanks in advance.
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   13 May 2010, 22:59
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drew031482 wrote:
Accepted.com wrote:

I'm not surprised about the rejections from Columbia, Wharton, and Haas. I am surprised that you interviewed at KF and McCombs and did not receive an offer of admission from either one. That leads me to believe that perhaps your interview did not go well. Your 3rd round app could have hurt your chances at Darden.

I would drop Columbia, Wharton and Haas from your list. Reapply to KF, McCombs, Duke and Darden. If you can get feedback, from any of them, get. Also have a mock interview before you interview for real this time around. Finally, add a couple of schools, if there are other programs that suit your needs.

Best,
Linda Abraham


Linda,

As a previous poster suggested, do you believe that retaking the GMAT could substantially increase my ability to gain acceptance to these schools (or top schools) relative to other pieces of my profile? I personally think I could get it over the 700 mark (my verbal score continues to climb, and I'm sure I can get it even higher), but I would rather focus on other pieces of the application if you believe it is more prudent. Thanks in advance.


If you want to have a serious chance at Wharton, Haas, and Columbia, then a higher GMAT would help you, and it certainly wouldn't hurt you at the other programs. I obviously can't comment on your essays or other possible weaknesses in presentation without reviewing at least one MBA application, but possible weakness in interviewing does jump out at me. Also, try to apply R1.

Related Resources:

* Create a Better Sequel, an ebook.
* How to Reapply Right to Business School Webinar.
* MBA Admissions Advice for Reapplicants

Best,
Linda
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   16 May 2010, 14:45
Scoring As in two courses will certainly help you. Why don't you apply to UMich? I know of somebody who did undergrad and MS in architecture and is now in Ross. You can find her on ambassadors page. IMO...it's your GMAT that's hurting you. With a 720, you can aim for McCombs, Darden, Ross, etc.
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drew031482
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Posts: 137
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Location: United States
Concentration: Real Estate, Finance
Schools: Ross '14 (WL) Darden '14 (D) Kenan-Flagler '14 (A) Owen '14 (A$)
GMAT 1: 680 Q46 V37
GRE 1: Q46 V37
GPA: 3.14
WE:Architecture (Other)
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   16 May 2010, 15:03
gaga wrote:
Scoring As in two courses will certainly help you. Why don't you apply to UMich? I know of somebody who did undergrad and MS in architecture and is now in Ross. You can find her on ambassadors page. IMO...it's your GMAT that's hurting you. With a 720, you can aim for McCombs, Darden, Ross, etc.


There were two reasons why I didn't apply to Ross: 1) the weather and 2) the decline of Detroit. I know that most graduates don't plan on heading to Detroit once they graduate, but I'm worried that the economic decline of Detroit, the state of Michigan, and really the entire Mid-West, will eventually hurt the University of Mich.

Personally, in terms of my profile, I really don't feel that I have any red flags, including the GMAT. However, that being said, I don't really feel that I have anything that jumps off the page either. I will certainly look into taking the GMAT again. I believe that with some hard work, I could pull my Q score up to a 48 and pull my V up to a 40, and ultimately put me in that 710-730 range.

To continue on, if I broke the 700 mark on the GMAT - could I shoot even higher than the schools I did being that I'm an architect? (This is, of course, rooted in a giant assumption that I basically blew the interviews with the schools I applied to this year, and that I would have gotten in otherwise to at least 1)
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   16 May 2010, 16:23
I can't say anything about the top 10 schools or top 5 for that matter. I have seen strange things have happened, more than once or twice. So if you want to go for it, then don't let anybody stop you! Just want to add more on Ross...it has inter/national presence and is not just confined to Detroit. I know my friends moved to west coast and north west.

Good luck!
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink] New post   21 May 2010, 12:40
Just want to chime in about UM (bias alert: it's where I did my UGrad) and mention that the health system at hospitals like the one at Michigan and the knowledge economy of Ann Arbor will drive the future (and current) economy in Michigan. It will be growing pains for awhile for the state as a whole but for you personally (as a knowledge worker) the world that you encounter in Ann Arbor is for all intents and purposes entirely removed from the world of Detroit. Do not even consider it when you're making your decision.

Finally, Michigan's alumni base is sprawling. My first job after school was in the greater NYC area and I was contacted at the request of another Michigan alum who was looking for a Michigan grad for the company's recruiting class that year. That experience is not atypical. Best of luck next year, friend!
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Re: Rejected at all 7 schools this year. [#permalink]
21 May 2010, 12:40

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