After my two dings (Darden & Sloan), both without interview, I have been sort of down. Not because I got dinged, but because I wasn’t even invited to interview. Was my application that bad? Does this mean I’m dead meat at Wharton, Harvard, etc? Maybe, maybe not… so I decided to brainstorm on what went wrong. I had done most of this in December while preparing my R2 apps, but it helps to recalibrate my expectations.
Darden: the 300 word essays did me in! Even while writing the essays, I was very confused what they are expecting one to write, how can I get the adcom to know more about me in just 2-3 so-short essays. Just when I was deciding to drop Darden from my list, I had the opportunity to go to their admissions event, and I met Dean Bruner…
Anyways, even when I read and re-read my application in Nov/Dec I did not feel confident enough. It wasn’t portraying me fully – though I was (and still am) confused how I could convey everything in 300 words. I think it was all down to the GPA and background stuff for Darden selections, and that way I wasn’t sure I’d make it.
MIT Sloan: This was a long shot from the word go! I decided on Sloan very late (around mid-Oct) and attempted to try out the essays. I can say my essays were quite good, but they lacked anything related to MIT save a few stray points. Neither had I done much research on the school, nor did I think it was important at the time. Plus the E&I program was probably for techno-entrepreneurs, and my goals (while entrepreneurial) are far placed from that. In hindsight, I would have been a misfit in the MIT culture, and surely they realized it before I did. Key learning: research schools before you apply!
The only issue I have is that MIT didn’t even call me for interview. If my essays were good, then they would have tried to understand more about me, wouldn’t they? But then, all my reviewers have given me a ‘two thumbs up’ for my R2 essays, which aren’t too different from the MIT ones. Troubling thought, isn’t it? Will my R2 schools ding me in the same way, considering most of them are even more competitive?
The saving grace was Tuck’s invite. I have heard they do not hand out too many interview invites (given that majority applicants schedule self-initiated IVs) so maybe they did like my essays. The only major difference between my MIT and Tuck essay quality was the school-specific details – Tuck asked for it directly, I gave them my thoughts. Did this exclusion make MIT not extend an IV invite? I don’t know and never will.
Whats next? Some more waiting and anxiety before Tuck’s results are declared on 8th.
Down, but not out! Not yet!
Keep your head up!!! You have a ways to go… I feel your pain on the 300 word essays, but somehow, I found I liked the shorter essays more. They forced me to be clear and concise with my writing and ideas.
Good luck with your other applications.
It ain’t over until the fat lady sings.
I think a lot of us did not know what the adcom was expecting from us in those short essays.
I’m also not sure if that was the GPA or any other dry data. There are people who get into top schools without impressive grades or GMAT scores, but have managed to convey what is unique about them in the applications.
Find the way to make the reader remember your application and distinguish you from the rest.
Good luck!