<p>If rejected the first time, is reapplication to graduate school ever a good idea? Will the admissions people remember who you were and why they didn't want you to begin with? Thank you.</p>
<p>Unless you made a really bad impression, there's no way they'll remember you after rejecting you. However, unless you were borderline - i.e. got admitted to similar level schools -there's not really a good reason to reapply without doing anything in between. A year or two in a lab, or doing a MS would be good options if you want to pull yourself up.</p>
<p>Would something like forgetting to submit all supplemental materials constitute as making a "really bad impression"? The reason I ask is because I forgot to turn in some supplemental materials to the program that I am applying to at my top choice UCLA.</p>
<p>Um, we DO remember you. We also keep copies of the forms we had to send back to the Graduate School when we denied you admission. </p>
<p>However, forgetting to submit all supplemental materials in NO WAY constitutes making a bad impression. It merely looks like you lost interest in that program, or in the entire application process, or simply decided not to apply that year.</p>
<p>My advice? In your SOP, mention BRIEFLY that you applied to some schools in a previous year, but now you are much more prepared for (and excited about) graduate study.</p>
<p>Hmm, I was told personally told by an adcom head that they rarely remember students year to year, and that they definitely don't keep track of who they rejected. Then again, this was for engineering. Maybe it's different in humanities. But yeah, either way, forgetting supplemental materials is not a huge mistake. Usually, they send you e-mail after the deadline saying your app is not finished and give you a couple weeks to turn things in. Don't they do this for whatever program you're applying to?</p>
<p>Lots of people who get rejected the first time reapply and get in.</p>
<p>However, they are unlikely to do so without an application that's improved in some way.</p>
<p>I suppose it really depends on why you were rejected. Does it involve restraining orders or inappropriate personal information in your SOP? A Facebook page you linked to your CV? If not, well, go ahead.</p>
<p>Haha, oh no, nothing of that nature. I'm just being paranoid because I turned in my supplementals before my actual online application. I thought it would be a problem, big enough to get me rejected. But I guess not according to the UCLA History Department. Thank you for your input everybody.</p>
<p>Unless a department SPECIFICALLY requests submission of materials in a certain order, everyone may assume that the order in which you submit materials makes no difference.</p>
<p>It makes no difference in my program, that's for sure. Right now, I've gotten letters of rec, transcripts, SOPs, etc. from applicants who have not yet submitted The Graduate School's formal application, and vice versa (formal apps with no additional materials).</p>
<p>This causes absolutely no problems for me as DGS, or for any applicant.</p>
<p>Let me just summarize the process for those who may not know:</p>
<p>Your electronic or paper application form, GRE scores, and transcripts go to The Graduate School of University X. The Graduate School staff determines whether you meet basic admission requirements (and I mean BASIC), and then sends on your application to the department to which you are applying, along with a form recommending acceptance (depending ONLY on whether those BASIC requirements are met) or denial. For instance, if University X or Department Y requires a 3.0 minimum GPA, and an applicant has a 2.8, the Graduate School may recommend denial, but ultimately, the department makes its own choices.</p>
<p>Depending on the program, your LORs, SOP, writing sample, etc. may be sent directly to the department, or to the Graduate School. (In my program, they are sent directly to me.) </p>
<p>In cases in which the Graduate School receives these materials, they just send them on to the department to which you are applying.</p>
<p>Admission decisions are, of course, made at the department level.</p>