Reapplicant Strategy for M7 MBA
I applied to CBS and Wharton in Round 2 but was unfortunately waitlisted at CBS and rejected from Wharton without an interview. I was devastated at first but resolved to try again, as I'm really unhappy in my current career path and see the MBA as the most logical opp to completely reset. I’m planning to reapply in R1 and am hoping for better results this time around.
In case it's helpful, these were the stats I applied with:
- 5 years of experience at matriculation
- 2 years in MM PE, short stint in MM IB, and currently in corporate strategy/corp dev for 2+ years
- ~3.9 GPA in finance from a top 5 undergraduate b-school
- 328 GRE (162Q/166V)
I’ve heard it’s important to show meaningful progress either professionally or in my stats, so I’m working on a few areas that may have been weaknesses last time:
- Career progression
- I didn’t have a clear upward trajectory initially (laid off early in my career), but I was just promoted in my current role, which I'm hoping will improve my career trajectory narrative
- Test scores
- I'm applying in the ORM demographic bucket and think my 328 GRE might have been a bit soft
- Could retake it to try to push it above 330, although not sure how impactful this is relative to the effort required given that I have a high GPA + decent score
- I'm applying in the ORM demographic bucket and think my 328 GRE might have been a bit soft
- Target programs
- I only applied to 2 schools in R2. In addition to CBS and Wharton, I'd cast a wider net and apply to Stern, Booth and MIT for R1
- Timing / app strategy
- Thinking that applying R1 this time around may help marginally vs. applying R2
- I'm also working with an admissions consultant this time around, which hopefully will help with narrative crafting
- Thinking that applying R1 this time around may help marginally vs. applying R2
Has anyone gone through the reapplication process and have any advice? I would really appreciate any insights from folks who have navigated this process successfully before.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some key strategies and insights for reapplying to M7 MBA programs:
1. Strengthen Your Application Narrative
2. Test Scores
3. Expand Your Target Schools
4. Timing and Round Strategy
5. Leverage Recommendations
6. Networking
7. Reapplicant Advantage
8. Backup Plan
Additional Tips:
By addressing these areas and leveraging the insights from WSO threads, you’ll be in a much stronger position for your reapplication. Good luck!
There are a lot of clowns who get into both the programs you mentioned with worse stats/work experience, even the ORMs. I went to a M7, and I kid you not, we had clowns who claimed they worked in IB/PE but didn't know what CAGR stood for in a class assignment (that guy was also an ORM). Which means he either heavily lied about his role on his resume or worked at some shitty no-name firms. That guy was just weird too as a person, he would make people, esp women, uncomfortable. It's people like him that make me wonder how tf did some of these people get in and pass the interview vibe check, cause he definitely should have failed that.
On a separate note, both schools you mentioned care a ton about yield, CBS more so. Did you ever attend any of their events and list them on your application? Engagement is one way to demonstrate that you would accept their admissions offer. For CBS, essays 2 and 3 where you need to demonstrate more of your personality and how much research you put in for the school is usually where people fuck up the most. For Wharton, it would be essay 2 where people fuck up on not displaying personality or adequate research.
Thanks man, this is a very helpful perspective.
To answer your question: no, I did not adequately engage with either program. I got my GRE score in the last week of November and decided to apply R2 with 4 weeks before the deadline. I just didn't have time to network or even attend an information session. That said, I don't feel that my essays were half-baked, as I was effectively out of office for all of December working on apps (current role is a joke and was working ~2-3 hrs a day while spending the rest of my time on apps).
After getting the wait-list news, I've been attending info sessions and trying to engage with programs. Any suggestions beyond info sessions + cold emailing current students?
Also, you don't think the GRE score is an issue?
Not really for the GRE thing I've seen shittier scores for URMs get in. If you got over 331, would it marginally help? Sure, but the biggest problem for CBS, at least, was that you did not adequately engage with the school prior to applying. Don't cold email current students, they don't like that. The best way to engage with current students is to meet them in person at a school-hosted event, get their contact info, and then follow up over email or phone.
And yes, people who don't engage with the schools at all get in, but their profiles are usually insanely strong that the schools are willing to take a yield hit on them. I heard some schools now rescind admission offers too if you notify them you are going to another school to game the yield stats.
Just apply round 1 and to more schools and you should get in to M7 unless you’re terrible at interviews and if your recommendations are bad.
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