Stanford Reapplicant / re-took GMAT & applying R1

[Deejet82]

I applied R2 to a few schools last year (Columbia, NYU, & Stanford) with a pretty low GMAT (560) and just hoped to get in with all my extracurricular activities, professional experiences and multicultural/diverse upbringing. Unfortunately, I didn't get accepted and now I'm looking to re-apply R1 for these schools and a few others. I took the GMAT a few months ago (third time) and scored a 620, so I'm just going to give it another go and re-apply with that score.

For Stanford, the reapplication involves completing a FULL application (whereas Columbia & NYU require just 1 reapplicant essay). My question is: How can I differentiate this application if it's only been 9 months since I last applied? I'm particularly concerned with the first question "What matters to you most and why?". Can I use the same essay I applied with last year? If I don't use the same essay, should the new essay I write show similiar values & traits of what really does matter to me?

This is the one school that is really baffling me! Any help would be much appreciated
Thanks!

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Deejet82,

You cannot submit the same essays--that would reflect quite negatively on you. While it is understandable you might choose to write about the same topics as it has been less than a year, you do need to submit a new essay. Perhaps you can restructure the essay and find a way to weave a common thread through the ideas you are conveying? It is imperative you show that you took time to really present an improved application package if you are re-applying to these programs, which means you need to submit well-written, new essays this year.

On a related note, I encourage you to consider looking at some new schools instead of or in addition to the schools where you are re-applying. I commend you on your new GMAT score, but it is still quite low for Columbia, NYU and Stanford. I think it is important to have some reach programs, like these, on your target list, but also important to have schools where your chances are greater. Perhaps those are the "few others" you noted in your post?

Good luck,
Lisa