This question coming of course from a Brave Supplicant with a really low GMAT.
And the answer is…. actually, yes! Or at least, maybe! Depending on the school, and particularly if you’re trying in Round 1.
In Round 2, it’s much less common for even the friendliest most culture-driven schools to be quite so accommodating. What is more likely to happen with an appropriately-enthusiastic applicant with a less-than profile in the January round is that the school could waitlist them, and if they don’t make it in, then that school would likely be very receptive for a Round 1 app in the Fall.
Reapplicants are often looked upon favorably by many schools because it shows a) dedication, and b) commitment to that school. It’s no easy feat to dust yourself off and go at it again. If someone is motivated enough to try applying again after not making it in the first time, lots of admissions teams see that as a positive. (Pro Tip: You need to improve your profile in some way as a reapplicant; you can’t just try again with the same flawed approach and expect a different result the next time.)
For someone who’s trying in Round 2 with known flaws in the profile, especially a marked weakness like a 660 GMAT or worse, then does extreme enthusiasm in the application make a difference? Can that be enough to tip the scales and convince the adcoms to admit?
We don’t see it happen very often, mostly because the competition is just too severe at this stage.
We definitely do see applicants with big dents in the profile like the 660 score have much more possibility in the earlier stage of the season — and especially when the enthusiasm is honest!
You cannot manufacture enthusiasm for your school. It needs to come from a place of authenticity, and the way you talk about your interest in what the school offers needs to be genuine.
The schools can spot a fake applicant from a mile away.
And the opposite is also totally true.
Every now and then — like, probably only once per admissions cycle — we encounter a BSer who is too legit to quit. We always get super excited when we meet them! And it’s because their own excitement is so contagious. The adcom will feel this too — and note we said “adcom” and not “adcoms.”
It’s impossible to feel this level of enthusiasm for multiple schools simultaneously. When you’re targeting the one that you love, that target knows it, and very often is inclined to respond. Even in the face of a flawed test score or whatever.
What we’re talking about is someone who isn’t just reciting names of courses or mentioning a professor or a club in their essay. It’s someone who hasn’t just talked to one or two students, but who’s been doing their research on this school because they are practically obsessed. It’s someone who’s convinced that it’s their destiny to go there — not because they really super want to go there, but because they can feel it b@lls to bones.
If you don’t feel that way about your school, you can still get in — but you can’t fake feeling that way if it’s not there.
It’s just like true love, ya know?
Whenever we encounter this type of reaction from a BSer then we’ve always been blown away and so optimistic, because it comes through in how they write their essays and the things they say in their app. Again, not manufactured. Legit. And it always works out, because the adcom can feel it too.
At least, the ones we’ve ever seen have this, have made it in to the school that they love. And all of them have been in the first round.
If you fall in love with a school like this and don’t apply till January, is it impossible? Well, no, but one factor of love is that it makes you impatient. So it’s not a causal relationship, the Round 1 -> admit thing, it’s correlation. Which means that sure, if this happens later in the season and you’re convincing in how you express it, the outcome could also be the same. (We just haven’t seen it happen that way before.)
For all of you crafty BSers who are reading this wondering how they can insert this “love” into their essays…. Go ahead and try if you want. But smarmy synthetic affection is not gonna earn you any hearts. It all happens when it’s natural and sincere.
Here’s wishing all of you make it into the schools you’re in love with! When the hand of Destiny plays a part then it is especially gratifying to see.
Wanna see if your essays sound authentic and true? Hit us up for the Essay Decimator — you can try our Single Shot Express if you’re feeling stressed about time!!
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