The Reapplicant’s Advantage: Turning Setback into Strategy

For many successful MBA students, rejection wasn’t the end of their journey - it was the beginning of a stronger one. Reapplying can be an opportunity to show admissions committees your resilience, growth, and focus. When approached with honesty and strategy, a reapplication is not just a second try, but a compelling signal of your readiness. Join Horatiu S. and Kelsey K. for a workshop that will guide you in turning a past “ding” into a competitive advantage. We’ll walk through how to take a clear, objective look at your previous application to identify areas for improvement. You’ll learn how to highlight real progress since you last applied, whether through professional milestones, academic growth, or deeper engagement outside of work. We’ll also explore how to refine your school list based on where your story aligns most strongly, and how to strengthen your reapplicant essay by owning your past attempt with confidence, not excuses. Finally, we’ll discuss how to re-engage your recommenders and connect meaningfully with your target programs to demonstrate genuine interest and fit. This session is about moving forward with clarity and purpose. Whether you're reapplying to one school or several, you'll leave with a focused plan and the tools to present yourself as a stronger, more prepared candidate.