In a follow-up post this week to an earlier blog entry directed toward those considering reapplying to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Director of Admissions Rose Martinelli provided more specific advice on how to tackle the various components of the application itself.
“It’s important to approach this as if you are writing your personal business plan for the future,” she began. “Know what messages you want to convey and map them into the different components of the application before you begin writing.”
As for the data forms, make sure to complete them entirely without assuming that her office will have the information from your last application submission, Martinelli advises. That said, keep your answers concise and relevant – limiting the amount of information you provide to that which is important for the admissions committee to know about you. You resume, too, should include information that is relevant for the committee – not absolutely everything under the sun.
On to recommendations: Martinelli acknowledges that re-applicants may very well choose to use the same recommenders as in their previous application, which is fine. But do ask those recommenders to update the information with any progress you’ve made in the time since, she says. “It might also be helpful for you to take the time to meet with them to review your progress during this period and to highlight areas they might use as examples within the recommendation,” she adds.
As for essays, Martinelli repeats some of what she said in her earlier blog post, namely, that re-applicants should avoid just regurgitating last year’s material. “Be bold and start from scratch,” she says. And pay close attention to essay question 1, part B, which provides a specific opportunity for re-applicants to explain to the admissions committee how they have changed or grown since the last time they applied.
Finally, do not assume that if you were invited to interview last year you will automatically be invited to interview again this year. You’re up against an entirely new applicant pool this time, and your success in the process will depend solely on how you approach the application this year.
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