I applied to colleges in USA last year, and got rejected from some top tier colleges. I am applying again this year, and will apply to some colleges that rejected/waitlisted me last year. There is an option on CommonApp that asks if I have applied to their college before, and I’ll obviously have to tick that option. So my question is: Will colleges remember my previous application? Will they open up my application from last year, and analyse it alongside my new application, or will they base their decision solely on my new application?
If they won’t open up my previous application, why do they ask on CommonApp if I have applied to their college before?
I know it depends on a person’s application, and how much they have improved during the gap year, but is it unlikely for a top tier (ivy league or similar) college to accept an applicant next year after having rejected them the year before? Like, does being a rejected applicant the year before reduce your chances in that same university if you apply again?
Have there been any cases where an ivy league or top tier university rejected an applicant, and then the applicant applied again the next year and got in?
If you were waitlisted, at least they took a keen interest in your file. If you were outright rejected, that means that there were 100s if not 1000s of people ahead of you whom the college found more interesting. That hurts but that’s the truth. Unless this past year has included some astounding achievements, I think it’d be a waste to apply to those that rejected you before. Maybe try those that waitlisted you.
Okay. But will they open up the previous application of those that apply again to the same college? Or will the decision for admission solely be based upon the newly submitted application?
They will check to see why you were rejected in the first place.
Usually, if it is a straight reject (not waitlist) then there were better candidates from the international pool, and your odds are not good. It will be tougher the second time because they will check what you’ve done in your GAP year. Apply to new schools because you will probably be rejected again.
You can check the admissions websites to see what the school policy on retaining applications is, but it is common to retain the records for one year. If the records have been retained they will be checked along with your new application. The good news is you may not have to resend transcripts and test scores that are already on file. Again, check with the schools you are applying to.
Are you thinking of putting information on your second application that contradicts your first? Colleges are certainly going to be on the lookout for that. If the contradictory information is legitimate then you’d simply need to explain it.
@AroundHere: What about recommendations? They already have two teacher recommendations… am I supposed to send new ones from different teachers? And am I supposed to get a new recommendation from the same counsellor?
They also won’t have my final transcript, which was obviously not sent because I wasn’t accepted.
And will I have to write an entirely new activity list? Will they like compare the new activity list with the previous activity list to figure out what I did in my gap year?
They already have my recommendations and transcripts, but CommonApp will still have the option to send that stuff, and it won’t show a green tick for recommendations and counsellor related stuff unless I send it. Will I be able to submit my application without them on CommonApp?
@Otterma: Well, I think my previous application wasn’t strong enough because I didn’t focus much on my essays and recommendations. Also, this time I want to change the central theme of my application to focus on some other aspect of my life. It just feels weird to me that they will be looking at my failed/rejected application… instead of just focusing solely on the new one because that would be a better picture of who I am at the current moment.
For example, I could develop my new application around my recently found passion for a new type of extra curricular activity which I started working on recently. But it’s discouraging that they’ll be looking at my previous failed application and that will reduce my chances, especially since I am applying to highly selective colleges.
Reworking your application to be stronger is perfectly fine…and expected. Don’t stress about that at all!
I was concerned that you might be adding multiple and significant high school activities and awards that weren’t mentioned previously. If the application says these significant activities took place in 11th grade or earlier, that might raise questions.
Reworking your essay and adding recommendations is absolutely legit.
This all varies by school - you will have to check with each one. It is perfectly fine to update anything you want to. Indeed, if you don’t update anything, you won’t get a different result! But, stuff that didn’t change, like a test score, they may be able to pull from your file. You have to ask.
If you were rejected once, it lowers your odds. The same counselor (in charge of your region) will read your application and will look for things they missed the first time around.
Yes you have to send everything again.
It would be good to have an extra recommendation from a supervisor or someone who knew you during you gap year, and can shed light on your new activity.
It is absolutely necessary to have a new essay.
But all in all
don’t bother applying again to universities that straight up rejected you (or only do so once you’ve done the rest of your list)
apply to a handful that wait listed you
half to 2/3 of your list should be new colleges so that you do have a shot at better results this year.