OK. You didn't get accepted at any of the schools you applied to. What should you do now?
Deal. Get over it. And consider what you’re going to do next
year. If you decide to re-apply, you need to assess what went wrong and
resolve to improve it.
1. Determine what you need to change. You definitely need to
do something different, because your previous approach didn't work.
Don’t turn in the same essays.
2. Analyze your qualifications versus your target schools'
average stats and requirements. If you are applying with below average
stats at more than two schools and are not from an under-represented
minority, you are relying on miracles and not applying effectively. You
either need to improve your profile or apply to less-competitive
schools.
3. Seek feedback. Some programs, particularly MBA programs,
give constructive feedback to re-applicants. If your school provides
that service, take advantage of it ASAP. You want to hear the criticism
as early as possible so that you have as much time as possible to deal
with any defects or weaknesses. Furthermore, some schools only provide
feedback during a small window of time. So don’t delay.
4. Evaluate your application. Do your essays and letters of
rec (if you have access to them) add to the reader’s knowledge of you?
What could you do to improve them? Consider using Accepted.com's application evaluation service to help you with this step.
5. Work on weaknesses. For example, if you applied to medical
school with limited or no clinical experience, start volunteering at a
local free clinic or hospital. If you applied to business school with a
low GMAT, study for and retake the test.
6. Prepare to highlight valuable recent experiences. When you
reapply, you want to show that you are "new and improved." For example,
if you are pre-law and worked for the last six months at the DA's
office, you will highlight that experience, related achievements, and
lessons learned in your resume and/or essay when you reapply. For a
comprehensive guide on presenting a compelling reapplication, read
Create a Better Sequel: Reapplying Right to Business School.
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About The Author
Linda Abraham, Accepted.com's
founder and president, has helped thousands of applicants develop
successful admissions strategies and craft distinctive essays. In
addition to advising clients and managing Accepted.com,
she has written and lectured extensively on admissions. The Wall St.
Journal, The New York Times, and BusinessWeek are among the
publications that have sought Linda's expertise.
Reprint of this article is only permitted when reprinted in its entirety with the above bio.
onlinesupport@accepted.com
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This article was posted on January 31, 2005
