Rejecting schools twice.. ?

Question

Apply or not?

So here's the situation:
I was admitted to a couple of schools right out of undergrad..but then I decided to take a job 1st.

Now...after 1.5 years..I'm thinking of applying again next fall..including applying to other tougher schools (since I'm thinking now I'm a better candidate because I have work experience). 
So I contact one of the schools again hoping that I don't need to go through the whole app process again.
The adcom person totally remembers me from my interview day.

She mentioned that now if I'm ready, I still have to reapply (because it'll be 3 years difference).. but she gave her card, wrote down my contact, told me to make a note to her and she'll be willing to waive the app fee, and try her best to make it an easier process since I'm not an unknown commodity.

my question is...should I even apply here? or just pick other safety schools?
I really like these schools.. I thought I was seriously going to one of them after undergrad. 
But I was thinking it will be super duper weird if I was admitted to a better school and I have to sort of 'reject' these schools twice. 
What dya guys think?

Mikus · Answer

In my opinion, if you think there's a legitimate chance that you would attend-- then you should absolutely apply.

Besides, I think adcoms would be the last people to take rejection personally. After all, they reject hundreds of hopefuls and perfectly good applicants every year. When you reapply, you run the risk of getting turned down. If they extend an offer to you, then they run the risk of getting turned down.

All is fair in love and bschool applications!

jb32 · Answer

What school is it and where else do you intend to apply?

cul3s · Answer

I was admitted to UC Irvine n UC Davis (yeap I was california bias...and I figured it's hard to get into top schools without WE anyway)

But now that I have WE...I'm also looking at UCSD, Austin, Cornell, and possibly Haas and Ross. 
I don't think I would go to UCD or UCI if I make it to any of these schools.

mba07 · Answer

I second Mikus here. If you get through and don't want to attend I don't think anybody is gonna be worried. You are not the only person who is going to reject the school anyways. Even some really high ranked schools have a yield of only around 60% and when that happens it hardly matters if you've been in that 40% once or twice. :-)

GoBruin · Answer

Just my opinion, but if you were gonna go UCI, don't really go out of your way for UCSD, both actually have the same rep in So Cal, and almost no rep anywhere else.

cez · Answer

cul3s, what are your impressions of UC Davis? I have an interview there in a few weeks for R2, but I haven't been able to find a ton of info on the school other than their website. I live on the east coast and don't know of any alumni or current students to contact. But I grew up just a few miles from Davis so I know the campus and area well. I am planning to concentrate on marketing with a technology focus.

And I wouldn't worry about rejecting them twice.

And I wouldn't worry about rejecting them twice.

cul3s · Answer

Thanks for the opinion guys.

Cez, I really like UC Davis (I went there for undergrad).. and I think it is definitely a decent school. 
They are obviously one of the smaller size Mba program, and the fact that it is a small college town (you probably know already), you most likely will be able to connect well with your classmates. 
It is also the best school around Sacramento area (Assuming Berkeley and Stanford people will fight over those SF and Silicon valley jobs). Sac is a big area, and a lot of good companies are there (Liberty Mutual, Intel, Accenture, etc) 
I know they are finishing up a brand new building. It should be ready by this year or the next. 
As a lot of the Northern Californian universities do, they have this technology management program (if tech is your thing). 
I don't know much else about the current inside scoop of the MBA program.
 
If you want to connect with a current student or alumni you can easily contact one of their staff/adcom. They all are really nice people where you can just call up or even walk in to their office if you have any questions. I don't know if she is still here, but I remember I used to communicate with Kathy Gleed..and she was really helpful.

I hope you will have a good interview. Do they still make you do a presentation for the interview?
IF they do, don't sweat on it... There will only be like 3 people watching you..and they won't bombard you with follow up questions. Good Luck !

cez · Answer

Thanks for the info! Yes, I have to give a presentation... yet another hoop to jump through... :-p

unhedged · Answer

IMO, The fact that UCSD's program is so new, I think UCI has a better rep. At least, it has some established recruiting pipelines. I know several UCI MBA alums at my company; it is from there and USC where my group has most of their MBAs from. Not to knock UCSD, its just that I don't think many people know it exists.

Oh, and I would say apply. There's no reason to hold it against you; you didn't do anything wrong by not choosing their school.

Oh, and I would say apply. There's no reason to hold it against you; you didn't do anything wrong by not choosing their school.

Rejecting schools twice.. ?

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