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So I applied to Darden ED and got rejected. I'm an ORM with a 330 GRE and a 3.8 GPA in CS, well above their average stats. I am an engineering at FAANG with 1 YOE at application time (would have 2 YOE at matriculation), so I thought with my stats and name brand job experience and the fact that I applied ED, I would have a good shot at getting in. But I wasn't even waitlisted.
I was aiming for T15 schools to be able to change from SWE to PM roles.
Was it because of me only having 1 YOE? Was my work experience too low so to be considered? This is honestly extremely disheartening, as I honestly thought I would have a good shot with my stats and my FAANG work experience. But I didn't even get waitlisted..
I'm now wondering if I should bother applying in R2 or not to Johnson, Fuqua, Ross, and NYU, given that I couldn't get in ED with 2 YOE at matriculation to Darden. Would I have a significantly better shot next year (fall 2022) as I would have 3 YOE at matriculation and not just 2? I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong, since this is a major blow to my self confidence.
I was aiming for T15 schools to be able to change from SWE to PM roles.
Was it because of me only having 1 YOE? Was my work experience too low so to be considered? This is honestly extremely disheartening, as I honestly thought I would have a good shot with my stats and my FAANG work experience. But I didn't even get waitlisted..
I'm now wondering if I should bother applying in R2 or not to Johnson, Fuqua, Ross, and NYU, given that I couldn't get in ED with 2 YOE at matriculation to Darden. Would I have a significantly better shot next year (fall 2022) as I would have 3 YOE at matriculation and not just 2? I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong, since this is a major blow to my self confidence.
20 Oct 2021, 09:35
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These decisions can be so disappointing, especially if you feel that you submitted the strongest application possible- but keep your head up! It's possible that you didn't do anything "wrong" per se, but that you just weren't as competitive in this particular applicant pool. That said, you're probably on the right track with your thinking about your work experience being a bit light. While it's about quality over quantity, you're definitely on the lower end.
Your stats sounds solid, but in a highly selective applicant pool, it's about more than that since so many people have the numbers. Given that, you probably want to focus on how you presented the other elements of your application- especially your goal articulation (given your lighter work experience), essay and overall narrative.
In terms of applying in round 2- it really depends on what schools you're considering and how well-articulated your story is. It sounds like you might need a little help with that. Best case scenario- you fare better in round 2; worse case scenario (which isn't that bad), you apply in round 2 and then possibly have to reapply next year. Feel free to DM me if you want to explore getting additional help.
Your stats sounds solid, but in a highly selective applicant pool, it's about more than that since so many people have the numbers. Given that, you probably want to focus on how you presented the other elements of your application- especially your goal articulation (given your lighter work experience), essay and overall narrative.
In terms of applying in round 2- it really depends on what schools you're considering and how well-articulated your story is. It sounds like you might need a little help with that. Best case scenario- you fare better in round 2; worse case scenario (which isn't that bad), you apply in round 2 and then possibly have to reapply next year. Feel free to DM me if you want to explore getting additional help.
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Expert reply
21 Oct 2021, 11:10
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Hi reaper1,
Sorry to hear about the outcome of your Darden application. While your profile sounds good on paper, for better or worse, sometimes it will come down to numbers. This is why Personal MBA Coach encourages applicants to apply to 5 to 8 schools to maximize their chances of acceptance.
In terms of your work experience, while many MBA programs have no minimum work experience requirement, applicants have 3 to 6 years of pre-MBA experience on average. I would have to know more about your position, but there is a chance that your leadership experience was a factor in your rejection.
It should come as no surprise that business schools look for leaders. While this is especially crucial for Executive MBA hopefuls, leadership is important for all MBA candidates. Luckily, there are many ways one can demonstrate leadership. Leading a team at work is an obvious one but taking on informal leadership within a team, stepping up outside of the office or mentoring junior team members are also great ways to demonstrate leadership. As you plan ahead, think about how you can step up your leadership experience AND better articulate it in your essays.
If you are interested in round 2, Personal MBA Coach is giving a free webinar next week on Optimizing Your Round 2 Strategy.
We also encourage you to reach out to [email protected] if you are looking to further discuss your application strategy andhow we can help. We work with a lot of reapplicants each year and would be happy to help set you up for success!
Best,
Personal MBA Coach
Sorry to hear about the outcome of your Darden application. While your profile sounds good on paper, for better or worse, sometimes it will come down to numbers. This is why Personal MBA Coach encourages applicants to apply to 5 to 8 schools to maximize their chances of acceptance.
In terms of your work experience, while many MBA programs have no minimum work experience requirement, applicants have 3 to 6 years of pre-MBA experience on average. I would have to know more about your position, but there is a chance that your leadership experience was a factor in your rejection.
It should come as no surprise that business schools look for leaders. While this is especially crucial for Executive MBA hopefuls, leadership is important for all MBA candidates. Luckily, there are many ways one can demonstrate leadership. Leading a team at work is an obvious one but taking on informal leadership within a team, stepping up outside of the office or mentoring junior team members are also great ways to demonstrate leadership. As you plan ahead, think about how you can step up your leadership experience AND better articulate it in your essays.
If you are interested in round 2, Personal MBA Coach is giving a free webinar next week on Optimizing Your Round 2 Strategy.
We also encourage you to reach out to [email protected] if you are looking to further discuss your application strategy andhow we can help. We work with a lot of reapplicants each year and would be happy to help set you up for success!
Best,
Personal MBA Coach
reaper1
