Tips for Reapplying to School: How to Win the Admissions Committee Over a Second Time

You did your best applying to your schools of choice, but despite your best efforts to get that letter of acceptance in the mail, you discover you're suddenly wait listed-or worse, rejected. Where do you go from here?

Don't worry. When one plan fails, all you need to do is come up with another. Eventually one plan will succeed, and you'll be able to achieve your goals. Maybe you can even re-apply to the college(s) you received the rejection slip from. If you decide this route is the most appealing, take your entire application into account and see where it could stand some improvement.

First, figure out where exactly you need to improve upon your application. Was it a weak essay? Lower GPA or SAT scores than usual? Look at your application with a critical eye and see where it can be improved.

Compare your own scores and abilities with that of your preferred school's average accepted student. If you find your test scores and/or abilities below the usual "accepted" student's qualifications, you may need to shift the focus of your attention to a school that will have a better chance of accepting you. If you have your heart set on attending that particular school, you may want to wait until your scores, GPA, etc. are in a more acceptable range.

Ask for feedback from the school that rejected you. Many colleges are willing to give feedback to rejected applicants. It's in your best interest to take advantage of such a service, especially if you're going to re-apply later. You'll need to hear the feedback as soon as possible in order to have time to handle any potential weakness. Also, many college will only offer such feedback for a limited time, so ask as soon as you can.

Critique your own application. Do the essays or LORs (Letters of Recommendation) give the school an accurate picture of you? Or can you improve that image? Accepted.com offers a critique of your application to help you better understand how others are "reading" you.

Once you've identified any weaknesses, try to work on improving them. This will depend on the type of school you're applying to: for med school, it may mean shadowing more doctors at the hospital, while a graduate school may expect a higher GMAT score.

Lastly, don't hesitate to promote yourself and what you can do for the school. (This is good practice for jobs that come after school, as well.) Emphasize valuable experiences in your life. As you reapply, highlight the changes you've taken to improve your chances. Hopeful law students may want to mention that year-long internship at an attorney's office, along with any new honors or other related feats, and what they've learned on their resume when they apply a second time.