The Duke R3 results are out for some. I'm still on the waitlist. With re-application becoming more likely I've decided to work on my candidacy for next year - primarily by taking an online course to build an alternate transcript, and by pursuing a different/advanced position on my team.
Essay Snark has provided an awesome analysis on re-applicant strategy that I've been going over in my head since I've been waitlisted.
1. Look at your profile.
730 GMAT (48Q/42V)
73/100 Engineering GPA
4.5 Years of Work Experience
I've been a bit insecure about GPA since about second year of undergrad. My game plan here is to take a course this summer to prove (partly to myself) that I can be a strong performer at shcool.
2. Look at your target schools.
This year I targeted mid to large sized top 15 programs (Fuqua, Stern, Haas, and Anderson) which resulted in 3 dings and a waitlist. I was also admitted to a smaller top 20 program - a school that I recently declined.
3. Look at where in the process you were rejected.
In Round 1, I was rejected by Stern, Haas, and Anderson without interview.
In Round 2, I re-wrote all of my essays, got better recommendations and was interviewed at both my schools - admitted & waitlisted.
After getting rejected at pretty much every point in the process (and also admitted at one program that turned out not to be for me), I learned that mis-steps can happen at any point in the process - so you need flawless execution all the way through.
Speaking of flawless execution - its about time I hit the books and go for that "A" in accounting!
Whatever path you take to business school, stay organized and keep your end goals and ambitions squarely in sight.
ReplyDeleteBBA Admission
@canadianchamp - thx for linking to our little blahg! Love your analysis here. This is great ammunition for our own insistence that everyone should apply in Rd 1 - you were able to take your lack of success there and assess and regroup, and you saw much better outcomes in Rd 2 - congrats on making it further! Congrats also on realizing that the school who admitted you wasn't right and declining their offer; that can be hard to do! It sounds like you were doing a lot more right than wrong in Rd 2 and possibly you just hit the "oversubscribed candidate pool" gotcha. You will likely have more luck in this coming Rd 1 -- and we're also still suspecting that maybe there's a flaw in the pitch. If you want to send over an essay or two for us to look at, we'd be happy to give them a once-over (we could post a full review on the blahg - anonymously of course - if you're up for it, or can just give some high-level comments privately via email).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's great to see you're not giving up yet! Hoping for a happier outcome this year.