Rejection from business school doesn't have to mean the end of your MBA aspirations. Every year, rejected applicants reapply to MBA programs, and many of them get accepted the second time.
Think of the entire MBA application process as a learning experience in and of itself. Applicants should contemplate what they would do differently now based on knowing the process – and themselves – better this time around.
If things didn't work out as you'd hoped last admission cycle and you reapply, be sure to avoid these five common mistakes.
1. Not asking for feedback: If you are rejected at a target school and plan to reapply, find out the school's feedback policy and contact the admissions office right away to obtain the information on your application.
Use this brief but valuable conversation with the admissions office to gather any actionable intel you can regarding your application, and let the office know you plan to use the feedback to reapply next year.
That said, don't spend a lot of time stressing over elements of your application that you can't change in less than 12 months. Instead, use the feedback and your own honest self-analysis to determine where you can improve to better position your application for the next admissions cycle.
2. Not identifying areas of change or improvement: Many business schools welcome reapplicants who demonstrate they've made a sincere effort to improve upon their previous application and strengthen their candidacy.
As a reapplicant, you need to go through each section of your application and determine where you need to improve. Perhaps you can brush up on your quantitative skills by taking additional classes in financial accounting, statistics and microeconomics; report a stronger GMAT score; gain more leadership experience; or more clearly demonstrate how your target program will help you achieve your specific career goals.
After you've made these efforts, be sure to demonstrate in your new application how much you've accomplished since you first applied.
3. Reapplying if rejected more than once: In my experience,applicants usually know, deep down, what is right for them even if a school doesn't provide feedback. Don't apply more than twice to the same school. In that case, it's time to reassess your strengths and realign your expectations with programs that fit better with your profile.
Although you may have your heart set on a top-tier school, in reality a program in the top20 or beyond may help you achieve your professional goals just as well. Considering other schools is one way to avoid a dead end.
4. Underestimating interview preparation: You're only human, and during your initial MBA interviews , you may have gotten nervous and somehow messed up. While you'll never know for sure if you tanked the interview the first time around, the best way to prevail next time is through prep, prep and more prep.
Come ready to discuss things you haven't shared in your application and armed with insightful questions that show you've thoroughly researched the program and really want to attend. Your interaction with the interviewer speaks volumes about what kind of teammate you will be when you're in the program, so make sure you send the right message loud and clear.
5. Playing it safe and conforming: If you tailor your MBA essays in an attempt to make yourself into the so-called perfect MBA applicant, you've completely missed the point of the essay in the first place.
Your goal is to show what an introspective and interesting candidate you are. While many applicants have similar credentials, the beauty of the MBA application process is that it allows candidates a chance for self-reflection and to discover that they are more unique than they first imagine. So be yourself and write in a way that allows the admissions team to genuinely get to know you.
After you've mastered these aspects and a ready to reapply, submit your applications no later than round one, when admissions committees are just beginning to assemble the next incoming class. Accept that a small part of the application process has to do with timing and luck. The composition of the class matters, too.
The truth is that only the admissions committees know what they're looking for. Reapplicants often fare better than first-time candidates, but they still might not make the cut. Resilience is key, and reapplying – even if unsuccessful – will still help you grow as a person. | 
