Rejecting Business Schools and then Reapplying

Question

I recently received offers to interview with two top MBA programs that I applied to in Round 1 (two of HSWC). One I interviewed with already and I am scheduled to interview with the other soon. However, after I had submitted my applications, I got an offer for a very good job opportunity that starts next month and I had to take the job.

I have not yet been accepted by these programs but I have extremely good stats and job experience so I think I am highly likely to get in.

The issue is that I don't think I'd be able to accept to attend this fall. What should I do? Should I wait to get an acceptance and then try to get them to defer it a year? How hard would that be? Also, if I were to get accepted and I rejected the offer and then reapplied later, would my chances for getting in be shot at that point? Would it be better to withdraw ahead of the acceptance and explain the situation over the phone? Should I intentionally bomb the interview?

I just don't want to be put in a position where I am unable to get into these schools later due to this situation. Any advice? I do want to keep the option open of applying to business school in the future and these are two of my top picks.

Edit: As a follow up, I was accepted to the school (HSW) but just started a new job recently. I still want to go to the school but would like to take an additional year at this job before going. How would you advise I go about asking for a deferral from the business school?

bb · Answer

Welcome to GMAT Club! Quite a question you have on an election night.

This happens quite often. I actually had a classmate who quit during the first semester because we got an offer he could not refuse and he did not need to do an MBA and waste 2 years and then search for a job. He got where he needed to be without it.

This is a good question for an admissions consultant who have run through this a few times. However, I do not think you will upset the school or annoy them in too many ways if you wait for the decision. Here is why:

1. You have put way too much work into the apps, and it would be painful not to see the results.
2. You may hate the job and would rather have this way out instead of starting from scratch next year or trying to get into R3. I think this is your biggest reason
3. Schools do give deferrals for good reasons. A job/opportunity could be that. Adcom is real people with hearts and brains (sometimes we think otherwise) but they are nice people. They will understand a sincere take if you present this to them clearly and honestly. They will work with you to help you out. Things change and they have a process/policy for this. You should get a few hours of a consultant time to figure out what that policy is for each of the schools and how to approach it to make sure you meet all of their conditions. Consultants would also love to work on this puzzle. 
4. It is fun to put up admissions letters from HSWC on the wall (it is much harder to get into those places than graduate).

Let's see if we can get any people with a good deal of experience to comment on this. 
 StratusMBACounselor ,  FortunaAdmissionsMJ , or  StratusMBACounselor  or  Squareoneprep  or  mbaMissionJenK  - any suggestiosn?

Good Luck!
BB

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

I recommend that you talk to the schools and explain your situation (once you get in). If you get in, you are better off asking for a deferral than not accepting the offer and re-applying. If you have a good reason and show passion for the school, you may be successful. I have seen it happen multiple times so certainly give it a shot. Good luck!

Best,
Scott

Best,
Scott

aerien · Answer

Agree with all the above. If you have a good reason and ask for deferral, schools can give it to you --though some schools may be more lenient on this than others.

I will say though that rejecting a school and reapplying later on is not a death sentence. It is possible to get in again; you "simply" have to explain your situation in your application. Certainly possible.

Sent from my iPhone using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Get into the school first then worry about what decision you need to make. You are eliminating options you do not have yet which does not make sense and if things work out you may get the deferal you are looking for along admission.

99Colleges · Answer

In case of dilemmas with more than one option, I follow a basic principle: hold on to all the options (in your case, you may have two: job and admission) as long as you can, provided such an act doesn’t harm one or the other option.

What it means is wait for the result. If you don’t get in, your dilemma is automatically resolved. If you get in, hold on to both the options, which means asking for a deferral (I’m assuming you would prefer the job). I would recommend against rejecting the schools because you can’t foresee how things will pan out in your job. Just in case (even if the chance is 5%) you don’t like the place for whatever reason or some external factor plays a role and you decide to quit. In that case, you’ll have an option if you get a deferral.

Winston123 · Answer

Thanks for the advice everyone. As a follow up, I was accepted to the school (HSW) but just started a new job recently. I still want to go to the school but would like to take an additional year at this job before going. How would you advise I go about asking for a deferral from the business school?

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

A big part of applying to top schools is reaffirming why right now is the ideal time. So when you ask for a deferral it kind of flies in the face of that. So deferrals are pretty tough to secure at HSW. If you're going to make the request see if you can have the conversation in-person or at least on the phone this adds a personal element to the decision. Position it as a once in a life time decision and reaffirm your commitment to pursuing an MBA at the school and how you will be able to offer more to the student community upon your eventual matriculation. Follow up your conversation with the above notes via email and a thank you for their consideration

Twesix · Answer

Hi Winston123, any update? what option worked for you? Am in the same dilemma.

Regards,

iamNihar07 · Answer

Reigniting this thread but  Winston123  or  Twesix  any update on your scenarios? I am facing a similar dilemma. Did the school give you a deferral?

Rejecting Business Schools and then Reapplying

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