Hello,
That’s a great question for
reapplicants. Basically, how do you make a fresh and engaging presentation without being inconsistent with or contradicting the previous application?
First, two important points about reapplications: (1) In some way, shape, or form, you should show growth from the previous application – that growth can take a myriad of forms, but somehow you must present yourself as a stronger applicant (even if you believe your previous rejection was due solely to a poor application effort). (2) You should make a fresh application and presentation; don’t just tweak or retool your previous one. That doesn't mean you can't address the same issues or topics, but the essays and the perspective should be fresh.
For questions like Stanford A or “most important achievement,” while your past hasn’t changed, your perspective might well have changed – grown broader, sharper, been influenced by a new experience, etc. One’s perspective is dynamic after all. Therefore you usually should not worry about writing about a new “most important” or “most meaningful” experience or topic. The adcoms also understand that when someone says, for example, that their relationship with their parents is most important to them, in reality that doesn’t mean that that person’s spouse, or personal integrity, or desire to contribute to society really means less. The adcom understands that you’re likely selecting one meaningful thing out of several. In my experience reapplicants have successfully addressed new topics for such questions.
It also may be fine to address the same experience or story, but take a critical look at your first presentation of it. If you write about the same topic, take a new approach or find new insights, etc. – make it fresh. The previous version didn’t do the job.
Goals presents another issue. If your goals have changed or evolved from your previous application, it’s fine, but address that fact directly, succinctly explaining how/why.
Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com
