The 2009 ZERO admits club

Question

It may be a little bit early for this, but I figured I'd start this off as my application season has concluded. It was a good way to vent last year (and to see the list of highly accomplished people who were denied). It will also be a good way to keep in touch with fellow reapplicants for next year.

I'd like to invite here everyone who applied for the class of 2011 and ended up with zero admits. It would be useful to share a bit of info about yourself.

Would be useful for others if you could answer the following (I have filled my own answers):

GMAT Score : 710
GPA : 3.5
Work Experience : 3 years
Location : US - California
#Applications : 3
#Dings : 2
#Interviews : 3
#WL : 1

Which ding hurt the most and why?
Columbia hurt the most. It was my best set of essays, best interview, and overall best app.

What next?
Preparing to re-take the GMAT, beefing up my extra-curricular involvements, taking on more leadership roles at work, and hopefully getting an early start on essays around July/August. I hope to submit 5-6 R1 apps, including re-apps for the 3 schools that I applied to this year.

Why the lack of success?
1) Poor Quant GMAT score combined with poor grades in Quant courses. 
2) Limited extra-curriculars. 
3) Essays that were below par for the highly selective programs to which I applied.
4) Did not apply to enough schools and did not apply to any "safeties".

chineseburned · Answer

Why so fast? Aren't you waitlisted somewhere? 
Three interviews out of three applications to top programs is quite an accomplishment. You may just not be the greatest interviewee. Focus on that if your waitlist doesn't come through.

GoBruin · Answer

Columbia is just crazy! didn't even take isa? can you believe that?

bsd_lover · Answer

Hey all, I started the 2008 thread. But I did so after R3 was over. Keep persevering and remember there's always 2010....

bigfernhead · Answer

Good luck man!

What would be helpful is to also include demographics and schools applied.

Tarmac · Answer

you are waitlisted somewhere. You can't post to this thread yet

3 interviews is a solid performance, you are an absolute lock for a top 10 program next year. I would wait and reapply, especially since it sounds like you are young. I have gotten dinged all over, now waiting to hear from Georgetown, I have also done some safeties like Olin and BU. I have nothing but dings so far, so don't lose hope.

DK · Answer

Thank you for the kind words everyone. The chances of the WL converting are pretty slim, but I will do what I can. Timing wise, I am young, enjoy my job, and find the economy to be grim -- so I am personally hoping that I somehow fail to convert the WL (yet, I don't want to be bold enough to withdraw).

I only applied to a handful of Top 10 programs this year, and it was definitely an accomplishment in my book to get interviews across the board. I treated this year as a test run, more or less.

I will likely apply to 6-7 schools in the M7+Tuck range in R1, and then 4-5 Elites in R2 if nothing pans out from R1.

nink · Answer

I am still pulling for you at Gtown! It's great that you applied to additional safety schools. Let us know if you hear any good news. :-D

GoBruin · Answer

Hey man I'm totally rooting for you for Georgetown!

mba07 · Answer

I'm all set to join this club as well. I'm waiting to hear back only from Darden and Kellogg. I thought Darden was my best chance, until I royally screwed up my interview. You are probably wanting to ask me how somebody can screw up an interview as open ended as Darden's. Well, thats how special I am.

egy · Answer

Also ready to join!

nink · Answer

Too early to give up!

belfi · Answer

Same here, dings all over and now waiting for the last three. I'm too old to be joining the club so I hope that something works out (sooner would be better than later for any adcoms reading this).

Good luck with Georgetown, I heard their new building is pretty sweet.

benpack03 · Answer

Dang.....

I see you guys with 770 and it wigs me out man......I guess the GMAT really doesnt make a damn, as long as you get above the 700 hurdle.....

Maybe I need to rethink this MBA thing......

bsd_lover · Answer

benpack check the 2008 zero admits - the average gmat was around 730 (with several scores of 770). Pretty comprehensive proof that GMAT is only one aspect of the app...

billyjeans · Answer

in da club!

fall09 · Answer

I'm highly likely to join this club.

ozzie123 · Answer

Hate to say this, but I'll be joining this club soon. Got 3 interview from R1 and only 1 WL (with a very slim chance to convert into an acceptance since I don't actively pursue them), and NO invite from R2 which is surprising because the second round application is definitely stronger than the first one + I coached the recommender intensively.

Oh well, I will surely come back again next year stronger and better prepared :wink:

nink · Answer

That's the spirit!

Although, it's little too early to give up.

GoBruin · Answer

You can't be in this club! you didn't even apply.

I may be joining this club. I have 1 last hope. Since nink love it when I used exact numbers, I have 1.134 hopes left

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