doctortt,

I'm not an expert , I'm sure they'll chime in as well, but yes you can re-apply to a school you've been rejected to before. Like you said, the application is the same, except for most schools (especially top tiered ones), they require an additional re-applicant essay.

Also, when you apply you are evaluated compared to other applicants in the pool for that year. So while in some years you might be rejected, in others, you will be accepted based on the same credentials.

Lastly, and this is just my opinion, I think schools like re-applicants because it shows you are truly interested in their school and you don't give up.

So if you really really want to go to a particular school that has dinged you, you should definitely re-apply. You have nothing to lose (except 200 bucks maybe....but small price to pay imo)!

Thanks for the information. Appreciate it.

doctortt wrote:If business school ABC has rejected you, can you re-apply to the same school again perhaps in 6 months or a year? For whatever reason, you just want to go to school ABC or forget it. Your background doesn't change much, such as undergraduate degree, college gpa, the major and etc. You can retake the GMAT to get a higher score, but what if you already got a score between 700-750? What if you already have like five years+ experience, you can probably add another 6 months or a year on your resume; I don't know how it will help.

Yes you can reapply to top MBA programs and as the other poster noted, most schools view reapplication as a sign of serious interest and commitment in their program. A plus.

However, the first step towards a successful MBA reapplication is trying to figure out why your target school did not feel as passionately about you as you feel about it. You can break down the main reasons into the following three general categories and a catchall:

1) You simply didn't qualify. Your stats, work experience, community service simply don't measure up. Then you need to work on your profile or consider other programs or forget about an MBA.
2) You have a competitive profile, but did not present yourself well. Then you need to improve your presentation.
3) You come from a common subgroup in the applicant pool and are essentially a victim of the numbers. The school can't admit all the qualified people like you and you fell onto the wrong list.
4) A combination of the above.

When you work on the above factors, also realize that In almost all cases, the key to a successful reapplication at a top MBA program is growth and change. Resubmitting the same old essays will probably produce the same result as the first application.

You may also be interested in Create a Better Sequel: How to Reapply Right to Business School, an ebook.

Best,
Linda