Stanford GSB Social Media Updates Tweets StanfordBiz,465137531558711300,500 FB Updates StanfordGSB Useful Blog Posts Dealing with a Ding - Webinar Recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=echqdCOW7cM Dealing with a Ding.pdf

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Stanford GSB Calling all applicants for Class of 2016!

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NYPE

Joined: 25 Aug 2013

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Concentration: Finance

Schools: HBS '16 (D) Booth '16 (A$) Wharton '16 (A$) Stanford '16 (D)

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26 Nov 2013, 11:25

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Dinged here as well.

tdawg

Joined: 28 Oct 2013

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Concentration: Finance, Social Entrepreneurship

Schools: Booth '16 (A$) HBS '16 (WL) Stanford '16 (D) CBS '16 (A$)

GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V40 Verified score

GPA: 3.85

WE:Analyst (Finance: Venture Capital)

Schools: Booth '16 (A$) HBS '16 (WL) Stanford '16 (D) CBS '16 (A$)

GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V40 Verified score

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26 Nov 2013, 11:28

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While I'm obviously aware at how selective Stanford is, it's a bit daunting to finish my r2 application while reading about so many strong profiles getting dinged.

My 2 cents: don't take it personally, despite the application requiring you to go way deep. GSB does a bottom up build of each class, and the class profile varies year by year. As a current GSB student told me recently: "I'm fortunate I was what GSB was looking for when I applied, but I don't think the outcome would have been the same if I had applied one year before or one year after." That's Stanford.

This may sound a bit trite or disingenuous right now, but I'm confident you will all end up in the right place for you - whether that's business school or not. You all seem to be on path to great success already.

Cheers.

redrose521

Joined: 05 Jun 2013

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Location: United States

Concentration: Operations, General Management

Schools: Stanford '16 (WL) Sloan '16 (I) Booth '16 (A$) Haas '16 (I)

GPA: 3.86

WE:Supply Chain Management (Retail: E-commerce)

Schools: Stanford '16 (WL) Sloan '16 (I) Booth '16 (A$) Haas '16 (I)

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26 Nov 2013, 11:32

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sidvish

Just read the letter. DING here as well. Not sure how I feel about receiving what's clearly an impersonal and highly standardized letter saying "thanks, but no thanks". Don't get me wrong, I totally understand why the GSB needs to do this. However, there is something deeply personal about this application that makes the ding all the more hard to digest. But, guys - there are just too many variables in the mix for us to speculate on what profile/stats work and what don't. I'm guilty of this too. "740 GMAT, 3.9 GPA, ivy-league undergrad with honors, 3 yrs M&A with Goldman Sachs / Morgan Stanley in Asia, 1 year tech startup with respectable exit and currently with a global development organization working with rural entrepreneurs". I won't lie. I believed I was good enough / the right fit for this school. The GSB was most definitely my dream school and the only school I've applied to thus far. I understand though. I would NOT want their job. How can you possibly rationalize picking one awesome person over another, knowing so many dreams rest on this decision? Not an easy job. I have no regrets whatsoever. I truly enjoyed this application. It helped me introspect and firm up my personal motivations and dreams, an insight that continues to live with me; questions that I continue to ponder. If you're angry / bitter at this moment just re-read essay 1: THAT is who you are, not what you're feeling right now! Don't let that person die with a silly ding. Keep going, keep fighting, keep dreaming.

Congratulations to everyone who made it and good luck to everybody else for the other school you're applying to!

Wow, very well-said.

leonidas1234

Joined: 29 Oct 2013

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Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Leadership

Schools: Thunderbird '16 (A$) Stanford '17

GMAT 1: 650 Q50 V28 Verified score

GPA: 3.5

WE:Engineering (Telecommunications)

Schools: Thunderbird '16 (A$) Stanford '17

GMAT 1: 650 Q50 V28 Verified score

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26 Nov 2013, 11:50

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Dinged!!!

missxmelon

BSchool Forum Moderator

Joined: 01 Jul 2011

Last visit: 17 Oct 2022

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Affiliations: SPG Platinum, Southwest A-List

Location: United States

GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44 Verified score

GPA: 3.56

WE:Management Consulting (Consulting)

GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44 Verified score

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26 Nov 2013, 12:13

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Wow, after reading everyone's posts, I can now see how my profile was far more mediocre. I therefore can't say that I'm surprised. I had the GMAT score (750) and an acceptable GPA (3.56) from a top 20 school. I graduated in three years with a double major. I work at a major consulting firm (Accenture / Deloitte) and was promoted in two years. I volunteer and have the extra curriculars. ...but that just makes me an average applicant. I'm sorry for everyone else who was dinged - you truly have impressive backgrounds, and as others have said, you're already quite successful!

dwal44

Joined: 29 Oct 2010

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Schools: HBS '15 (D) Stanford '15 (D) Booth '15 (A)

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26 Nov 2013, 13:20

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Another crazy thing to realize is that the dings today were the NO WAY IN HELL dings. No interview, no waitlist, just no. 760 international tech goddess? NOT EVEN A CHANCE. Ivy Goldman guy with amazing stats? No way. 770 LatinAm consultant who dabbles in art design? Don't even want to talk to you.

I will say again that getting dinged after the Stanford interview, which happened to me last year, is WAY worse. Yes, you feel validated with an interview, but you clutch your phone all day waiting for DB to call you and sink to some pretty low depths when the winning call doesn't come through. I'm not an emotional or dramatic person, but that might have been the single worst day in 2012 for me. Gut just sinks.

Kitkat6

Joined: 15 Oct 2013

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Schools: HBS '16 (M) Sloan '16 (A) Stanford '16 (D)

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26 Nov 2013, 13:27

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dwal44

That sounds rough. Is that how it works? No update to ApplyYourself at a certain time or emailed notification? Do these calls happen on 11 Dec or before?

elisej09

Joined: 25 Sep 2013

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Concentration: Sustainability

Schools: Yale '16 (A) Duke '16 (M) Ross '16 (WL) Stanford '16 (D)

GRE 1: Q164 V160 Verified score

GPA: 3.09

WE:Marketing (Consumer Packaged Goods)

Schools: Yale '16 (A) Duke '16 (M) Ross '16 (WL) Stanford '16 (D)

GRE 1: Q164 V160 Verified score

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26 Nov 2013, 13:29

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Hey guys, just wanted to fill you all in on my story because I've been relating this to my undergraduate application experience, and thought you might find it applies to you as well. I applied to a lot of colleges and thought that some Top 10 school was my first choice. I knew it was a reach school (like ahem, GSB) but thought that I still stood some chance because I had decent grades, was involved in volunteer opportunities, blah blah blah. Anyway, when I got denied, I felt pretty rejected, but ended up going to a different top 20 school and had SUCH a good time. My alma mater ended up being the best choice for me, and I would not trade those four years for anything. And now looking back, my Reach School would've been a terrible fit for me. So Stanford has been "Round 2" of this Reach School, and I'm not mad about not getting an interview, I think whatever will be, will be. Wherever you go will be the right school for you, and as we all strongly believe in karma I'm certain it will work out for the best for all of us. We might not see it now, but it'll become apparent down the road! Have faith friends!

dwal44

Joined: 29 Oct 2010

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Schools: HBS '15 (D) Stanford '15 (D) Booth '15 (A)

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26 Nov 2013, 13:31

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Hey KitKat,

DB starts calling admitted applicants the day before official release date. He starts with Asia at some ungodly hour and moves west. Most East Coasters get the call earlier with West Coasters getting it around 3-6pm. Just a generalization, but that's how it works. GOOD LUCK, and there is a chance we'll be classmates at HBS next year!

Kitkat6

Joined: 15 Oct 2013

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26 Nov 2013, 13:39

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dwal44

Ooof. Thanks for the info and good luck to you as well! I hope HBS works out (for both of us)!

Africa1989

Joined: 19 Feb 2013

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Schools: HBS '16 (M) Stanford '16 (D) Sloan '16 (A$)

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26 Nov 2013, 13:43

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The trend on this message board is making me very reticent to check my status. That and the fact i'm swamped at work and can't afford a to be distracted by abject misery right now (which is fully what I expect will happen once I log in).

PDisclosure

Joined: 15 Nov 2013

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26 Nov 2013, 15:41

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Dinged. Some background in case anyone is interested: West Coast. Engineer/Project Manager with 4 years WE at top energy company. Graduated from top 3 US engineering school w/ 3.7 GPA. 730 GMAT. Co-founded a company/website. Extracurriculars.

Good luck to everyone else who applied, keep your heads up!

michaelk8

Joined: 30 Dec 2012

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Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy

Schools: Insead Sept '16 (M)

GMAT Date: 06-15-2013

Schools: Insead Sept '16 (M)

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26 Nov 2013, 16:46

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MonsGM

londoncalling1

Well that's that then. Ding. Again.

It's a bit of a sucker punch to reach this point. It's really hard not to judge your self-worth in light of that (or plot ways to make the AdCom realise what a terrible mistake they made by, I don't know, becoming a real life Tony Stark or something) but look, I got a 760 on my GMAT. I am a woman with a science degree from a top 20 US college. I've worked in management roles in tech startups for 5 years and am currently CMO/COO and founding management of a startup that's passed 500,000 customers with write ups in Mashable, CNET and TechCrunch. I've been included in a 30 under 30 women in tech roundup for a major international publication, worked all over the world and I volunteer with programs that engage women in science and technology. I'm not bragging. I'm just saying actually, I'm pretty effing awesome and if Stanford doesn't realise that (for me or anyone else here) then it's their loss. I can't judge myself based on whatever strange criteria they're looking for this particular year.

Moral of the story - you're all awesome.

Ding'd... I guess I expected it after the 19th

I will jump on this bandwagon as well Londoncalling, I think I would also get comfort in knowing there are other awesome people out there in the same situation... we might even start a group and follow up on each other's progress and push ourselves to continue being awesome, way awesomer than their graduating class in 2 years! Who's with us?! (by this point I am already rambling on and day dreaming and only partially joking...) but this is my profile anyways:

From latin america
770 in gmat
Graduated from top lat-am engineering school with a 3.9 GPA while also having a background freelancing in art and design
From top global management consulting firm, considered (and mentioned in recommendations) as most sought after consultant for staffing

The truth is that Stanford or Harvard or any top school can actually fill 3 entire classes of exceptional people - but in practice they can't do this. This line is actually told to HBS students the first day of class. There are some things other than your credentials, things you can't control at all, that play into the decision making process. Bottom line is that when you hit submit you should be hopeful of course but realize this is an extremely competitive process and be ready for a rejection. There are no guarantees in life.

Not downplaying any of your accomplishments here (both of you). As long as you see it as their loss, you are fine - I worry for those who beat themselves up. If you have spent your life doing all those amazing things you mentioned then I think GSB should be worried, and not you. You will be successful no matter what.

I got dinged as well - was completely ready for it and not phased at all.

Good luck to everyone.

mbagal10

Joined: 26 Nov 2013

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26 Nov 2013, 17:32

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michaelk8

There are some things other than your credentials, things you can't control at all, that play into the decision making process. Bottom line is that when you hit submit you should be hopeful of course but realize this is an extremely competitive process and be ready for a rejection. There are no guarantees in life...As long as you see it as their loss, you are fine - I worry for those who beat themselves up. If you have spent your life doing all those amazing things you mentioned then I think GSB should be worried, and not you. You will be successful no matter what.

Wise words michaelk8. I applied to H/S/W in 2010 and again to H/S in 2012. 760 GMAT / top 10% GPA / IB and Biz Dev experience at large companies / Lots of extracurriculars including co-founding a small organization and Board positions on multiple non-profits. I was interviewed at Stanford and waitlisted at Wharton the first try and outright dinged from Harvard and Stanford my second time around. At the time, I was absolutely crushed and devastated. In some sick, convoluted way, it was almost as though I needed to get into school to feel my successes were validated. No one can take your achievements away from you and if you happen to be in the 99.9999999% of the world population that does not get into Stanford, then that does not make you any less successful.

The reality is, admissions committees make decisions on very little information. They are looking for "check boxes" and if for some reason your application deviates even the slightest, or if your recommender checked off "top third" on one attribute instead of "top 5%", or if the admissions person was simply sleepy/cranky/tired the day they reviewed your file, then it may just very well be that the stars aren't aligned and it wasn't meant to be. As michaelk8 said, in many ways, things are out of your hands and you just need to hope for the best.

The irony is my career has taken off as a result of not going back to school. I've been promoted a few times and will be receiving full funding to do an EMBA if I choose to. You just never know what the future holds...and in some cases you might just be better off than you think.

whenever

Joined: 19 Sep 2013

Last visit: 20 Dec 2016

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Location: Israel

Concentration: International Business, Healthcare

Schools: Sloan '16 (D) Wharton '16 (D) LBS '16 (D) Stanford '16 (D) Haas '16 (D) Booth '16 (WA) INSEAD Jan '15 (A) IESE '15 (A)

GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V40 Verified score

GPA: 3.99

WE:Law (Law)

Products:

Schools: Sloan '16 (D) Wharton '16 (D) LBS '16 (D) Stanford '16 (D) Haas '16 (D) Booth '16 (WA) INSEAD Jan '15 (A) IESE '15 (A)

GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V40 Verified score

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26 Nov 2013, 18:01

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mbagal10

michaelk8

I just don't have an option to give you +100500 and express how right you are, in my opinion. Good luck to you with your career path.

kartelite

Joined: 10 Jan 2013

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Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance

GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42 Verified score

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26 Nov 2013, 23:57

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H/S/W applicant here and dinged from H/S. To be honest, Stanford was probably my third choice mainly due to fit so I'm not too upset after having what I thought was a really good Wharton interview (and coming in with lower expectations, since it is GSB hah), but like a lot of you it definitely stings to get rejected when you think you bring everything they're looking for. It's certainly some consolation to see so many awesome applicants in the same boat, though I definitely feel for each of y'all especially if it's your dream school.

ktlee1981

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27 Nov 2013, 19:00

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Well, rejected without an interview by S. To be honest, I didn't feel that there was a great fit for me with S, but since I was applying to the other two schools on the H/S/W trifecta, I threw this one in just in case. (Interviewed at H & W, both of which felt more like a fit when I visited their campuses.)

Can't really complain, I was a fairly long shot at S given my age (a fair bit above their average), and being interviewed at H & W takes a fair bit of the sting away.

I wish everyone who got invited to interview at S all the best, and good luck in the rest of your MBA & career journey!

ohsballer

Joined: 27 Feb 2012

Last visit: 09 Jan 2019

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Concentration: General Management, Nonprofit

Schools: Kellogg '16 (M$) Duke '16 (A) Stanford '16 (D) HBS '16 (WD) Cnsrtm-Hass '16 (WL) Cnsrtm-Goizueta '16 (A$) Cnsrtm-Ross '16 (WL) Haas '16 (WL)

GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V39 Verified score

Schools: Kellogg '16 (M$) Duke '16 (A) Stanford '16 (D) HBS '16 (WD) Cnsrtm-Hass '16 (WL) Cnsrtm-Goizueta '16 (A$) Cnsrtm-Ross '16 (WL) Haas '16 (WL)

GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V39 Verified score

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27 Nov 2013, 22:15

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dwal44

Did you reapply or wind up going somewhere else?

dwal44

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29 Nov 2013, 15:13

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ohsballer

dwal44

Did you reapply or wind up going somewhere else?

Hey ohsballer,

I deferred admission at a top 5 school last year and interviewed with Wharton this round. I was placed under "further consideration" at HBS this round as well, so won't hear anything more until Feb/March. Thanks for asking!

CityLights

Joined: 01 Dec 2013

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01 Dec 2013, 15:14

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Rejected w/o interview as well. 4.0 from an Ivy with 770 GMAT. Experience for several years each in a social impact organization and a competitive private firm, as well as tons of involvement with leadership in volunteer initiatives and social justice causes. Not sure if I was unqualified, or just not a good fit. It is definitely a competitive process either way. Best wishes to everyone else!