How to Deal with MBA Rejection

With Round 1 decisions fast approaching this month, many applicants may be feeling on edge as they await good news or bad news.

Dr. Marlena Corcoran, founder of Athena Mentor and contributor at Forbes, recently offered a few tips for how to cope with a rejection letter and how to reframe bad news as an opportunity for growth.

RESPONDING TO: “DID YOU GET IN?”

Holiday gatherings are a ripe opportunity for family and friends to ask the question: “Did you get in?” Getting asked this question over and over again can create stress and anxiety for applicants. But Corcoran recommends not getting worked up over it.

“Rarely will they know as much about the MBA admissions process—or individual schools—as you do,” Corcoran says. “You’ve just spent months researching business schools to decide which programs can offer you a solid foundation on which to build a life’s work, not just a fancy name to announce at holiday parties.”

FEELINGS OF ENVY

During this month, many applicants will also receive good news from friends who have been accepted into their dream B-school. Hearing the news may bring about feelings of envy and jealousy. But Chioma Isiodinso, founder of the admissions consultancy Expartus and a current Ph.D. candidate in psychology, says these feelings are natural. It’s how you control these emotions that matters.

“It is important to remain regulated,” Isiodinso says. “While a part of you may feel jealous, being genuinely happy for your friend is not only a sign of maturity but also of true friendship.”

DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTING NEWS

A rejection letter or waitlist notification is never the decision an applicant wants to hear. Still, these are very real outcomes that many will have to face. While you can’t control the outcome of an admissions decision, you can control your emotions and how you act upon them.

“It isn’t easy to manage the disappointment of a rejection, deferral or waitlist,” Isiodinso says. “But keeping an open communication with your friends and family about your feelings can help you navigate this tricky situation and help you rise to whatever the outcome.”

Sources: Forbes, P&Q

Next Page: Outgoing George Washington Dean Reflects On His Tenure