Second (3rd, 4th) Time Around

[roselind8306]

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Hi Everyone,

As June 7th approaches I can't help wondering a few things about being a second time applicant....

1. Will admissions evaluate last year's application as well as this year's?
2. Will admissions want a new PS? If I write a new one will they read both?
3. Would it be to my benefit to mention in my PS that this is my second cycle and what I have done since last year?

I am looking forward to reading this year's threads!

 

[shortnsweet]

Schools want to see that you have changed/bettered your application from the previous cycle. You for sure need to re-write your PS, and talk about what you have done since the last time you applied. Did you do a application review with any of those schools? If so, talk about how you have tried to strengthen those areas they mentioned.

 

[katryn]

Hi Everyone,

As June 7th approaches I can't help wondering a few things about being a second time applicant....

1. Will admissions evaluate last year's application as well as this year's?
2. Will admissions want a new PS? If I write a new one will they read both?
3. Would it be to my benefit to mention in my PS that this is my second cycle and what I have done since last year?

I am looking forward to reading this year's threads!

I honestly don't know that schools look at last year's app to compare it to the current year's app for changes. As far as knowing what you did in the last year, they will look at the dates for everything. So if you started an awesome volunteer gig this year, they will see the dates on your app and know that it is an "update" from the previous year.

On the last note, definitely consider rewriting your PS, but that does not necessarily mean you will end up writing about what you've done since last year. That will depend on the format of your PS. I used my PS as an "update" between app 1 and app 2, and both PS's were horrid failures. My third PS had nothing in common with either of my first two and only talked specifically about two of my experiences (one of which was several years in the past), so it did nothing to tell adcoms what I had been doing in the in between. I got complimented on that one, and ultimately think it's part of what landed me a spot. How you write your PS, though, is personal preference.

 

[Whyevernot55]

Hi Everyone,

As June 7th approaches I can't help wondering a few things about being a second time applicant....

1. Will admissions evaluate last year's application as well as this year's?
2. Will admissions want a new PS? If I write a new one will they read both?
3. Would it be to my benefit to mention in my PS that this is my second cycle and what I have done since last year?

I am looking forward to reading this year's threads!

rose, have you had file reviews with any of the schools you applied to last time? Most of these questions have answers that vary by school, and as always, the admissions office there will be best able to answer for you. I applied for 3 cycles before being admitted anywhere. I know personally, Tufts often compared my previous application with the current year's, but I'm not sure any of my other schools did.
2. Yes, you will want to re-work/update your PS. Some people simply edit their old one, if they like it and got good feedback on it. Some people will completely trash the old one and start fresh.
3. Yes - if you have space and it fits. Otherwise don't worry about. All the experiences and things you have in your application that are new will demonstrate this, and your PS has a VERY short character limit. Trust me, you don't want to waste letters on something that doesn't add significantly to your PS overall!

 

[orca2011]

Hi Everyone,

As June 7th approaches I can't help wondering a few things about being a second time applicant....

1. Will admissions evaluate last year's application as well as this year's?
2. Will admissions want a new PS? If I write a new one will they read both?
3. Would it be to my benefit to mention in my PS that this is my second cycle and what I have done since last year?

I am looking forward to reading this year's threads!

1. Some schools will carry forward you application from the previous cycle. This pretty much only applies to LORs, GRE scores and transcripts. I know Tufts and Penn keep your applications for a couple years so I didn't have to resend them GRE scores or transcripts for this year. I'd contact specific schools to find out if they keep anything. However, I would get new, additional LORs. Penn said they would read the ones from both cycles. Not sure what Tufts did. As for evaluating it as a whole, like someone said, they want to know that you improved from your previous application, so they might just glance at in comparison to see that you have actually gone and improved your weak areas.

2. I honestly didn't really write a brand new PS this past cycle. I changed it up a little bit but it pretty much said the same thing. Although, I do think this one was better written. For supplemental essays and for the essays required by Tufts, I was told to write brand new essays, which proved difficult since I don't have many life experiences to draw on at the age of 22. And the ones I do have, I talked about the year before. I honestly probably would have completely rewritten my VMCAS PS if I hadn't been told that it was fine and wasn't having such a huge writers block and stuck on old ideas. If you want (and if I still have both copies) I'd be willing to email you both versions so you can get an idea of what I changed. PM me if you're interested.

3. As for your third question, I honestly don't know. I know when I was at my Penn interview two of the current students I was talking to told me they were impressed that I applied again because they weren't too sure that they would have done the same. I didn't mention it in my PS, so I'm not sure what the effect might have been if I had. I say, why not though? I think it shows dedication personally.

 

[nyanko]

I can address your third point. I applied to UC Davis twice. The first time (for class of 2012), I got an interview and did not get in, and the second time (for class of 2014), I got in. Between the two applications I did a (2 year) thesis-based Masters degree with a professor at the vet school. I absolutely addressed my first failed application in my second. I even said that I suspected they were wise to not admit me then, and that I was much more well equipped to handle everything this time. I honestly believe that - I learned a lot about myself in those 2 years that I think has helped me considerably.

 

[catlady816]

I'm working on my second application as well and when I did file reviews they all recommended kind of completely starting over. Obviously your grades won't change, but they wanted all new LoR's and a new personal statement. But if you're really that curious, I would call the admission counselors and ask> That's what they're there for!