Setting Your Strategy as a Business School Reapplicant

The only thing more challenging than applying to business school is applying twice. After setting a comprehensive strategy in a previous year and not being successful, it can be really challenging to devise a new approach for the same school. For most, their  initial MBA application was about sharing their most compelling anecdotes, experiences and challenges, so it can be difficult  take on this application again with a whole new approach. Here are a few tips to help you successfully navigate the reapplication process: Understand the Process: Each  business  school has a different reapplication process so it is important to understand what is necessary to be considered again for admission. The only difference a reapplicant will face from the typical application process is that most schools will require the candidate to submit an additional reapplicant essay  (and for some  schools, the only new submission necessary may be the reapplicant essay). To further complicate matters, depending on how far-removed your last application was, your application status may not be technically considered a reapplication. The bottom line here is to make sure you understand the specific process at the programs you are targeting, because there is a lot of variation from school to school. Review Your Prior Application Was your previous application the best assessment of your candidacy? Were there any typos? Did you answer all of the questions as posed? Were you truly competitive? These are the type of questions that  are important for reapplicants to ask themselves. Reviewing your old application in-depth and honestly reflecting on your situation  will go a long way in ensuring you create a successful application package this time around. It may be difficult to understand exactly why your first application was unsuccessful, but identifying some of the quantitative (easy to flag) and qualitative (harder to flag) issues in your prior application  will make it  easier to confront the reapplication process. Take Action and Make Changes After taking a full inventory of how your candidacy needs to change or improve as a reapplicant, it is important to take action and produce a new and improved submission. For example, if your GMAT score was below the average of your target school, then retake the  GMAT again to improve this aspect of your candidacy. If there may have been confusion around your career goals, consider refining or simplifying them to avoid questions surrounding the viability of your post-MBA plans. If your GPA is below the average score listed, create an alternative transcript by taking additional classes. These are just a few of the action-oriented changes a  reapplicant can make to their profile. It is important to not simply submit the same application package again and expect different results   that goes for the essays as well, even if the prompt remains unchanged! Take this also as an opportunity to build upon the relationships you forged during the preparation of your initial application  by exploring additional aspects of your candidacy that can reinforce, or  clarify, why you would make a great fit for  your target program. Follow these tips  to better inform your  reapplication and increase your chances of admission to your dream school. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on  Facebook,  YouTube,  Google+  and Twitter. Dozie A.  is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him  here.