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11Karan
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Why did I get Dinged? - Get Insider Adcom Perspective! 31 May 2023, 23:44
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Have you ever wondered why you got dinged without an interview? Or why you got dinged after a solid interview? Read on to learn more about some of the reasons why applicants get dinged and some red flags in an application. This post contains excerpts from my interactions with Diana Economy, a former adcom leader at Michigan Ross for 10+ years. Get an insider perspective on why applicants get dinged from a former Admissions Committee leader!

Q1. What are some of the reasons why candidates are rejected without an interview?
When you apply to an MBA program, your candidacy is evaluated against other applicants. You may not get an interview because you’re less qualified - lower test score, less competitive work experience, etc. Some candidates may be waitlisted without an interview in an earlier round so that the admissions committee may review their candidacy against candidates applying in a subsequent round. Depending on the outcome, a candidate who applied in an earlier round may get interviewed in a future round.

The number of candidates interviewed also has to do with the capacity and availability of interviewers and the number of interviewees needed to select and ultimately fill a competitive class. A school may have 4,000 applicants – and 3,000 are reasonably competitive – but only 1,000 get interviewed because the school needs to admit 500 to fill 300 seats. (Don’t use this math literally - admit and yield rates vary from school to school.)

Q2. What are some of the reasons why candidates are rejected post interview? Especially when the applicant feels their interview was great
Going back to the last example: a school may interview 1,000 candidates and admit 500 for a class of 300. It’s possible that 900 out of 1,000 candidates do well in their interview, but the school only needs to admit 500. Who makes the cut? It depends - the interview is only one part of the evaluation. Prior to making admissions decisions the committee is reviewing your interview + entire application. Admitted candidates are typically strong in nearly all parts of the application, and there are more qualified candidates than spots.

Most interviewees feel their interview went well - and most are right! It’s simply a competitive process so the best thing you can do is put your best foot forward in all aspects.

Q3. What are some common red-flags in an application that applicants need to be wary of before hitting submit?
  • Didn't proofread: Do you know how many applications an admissions officer reads with the wrong school mentioned in the essays? Too many! Proofread, and then give your app to your friend to proofread…and then proofread again.
  • Didn't retake the test when you needed to: If you need to take the test again to score higher, take the test again. What is an admissions committee supposed to think when you submit top grades in MBA Math or a supplemental course …and a 590 GMAT? Which candidate is going to show up in the Fall - the one with low quant on the GMAT or the one with an A in a four-week online class?
  • Googling “how to write a winning essay for X school” and using ChatGPT to write your essays: You don’t want to be the 127th candidate submitting basically the same “winning” essay. Even if you tweak it a bit, the format reads very similar to an admissions officer and you won’t stand out. Instead, make sure your authentic voice comes through. Give your essay to a friend or family member to read and see if the essay “sounds” like you…or if it sounds like you’re trying to be what you think the admissions committee wants to hear.
  • Didn't pick a recommender who knows you well and will write a good rec: Imagine reading an application that’s pretty good…until you get to the letter of recommendation. Instead of a thoughtful, detailed, descriptive letter, the recommender has written only one sentence for each prompt. The recommendation letter, while not overtly negative, is incredibly brief and not helpful. It makes it seem as if the recommender didn’t care enough about you to write a reasonable letter and reflects poorly on you and your recommender selection.
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Why did I get Dinged? - Get Insider Adcom Perspective! 01 Jun 2023, 08:57
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Thanks for working on this topic Karan!
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Why did I get Dinged? - Get Insider Adcom Perspective! 01 Jun 2023, 09:51
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This looks like a great topic!

I had a question though! What if your GMAT matches the school's average score, your work experience is rich and intensive but you apply in the wrong or a later round?
Could that also be a reason for being dinged? Not applying at the correct time?