Re-applying after fumbling

[GradSkewlHopeful]

So, I'm trying to decide if I should re-apply to a graduate program I believe could be a great fit for my research, but I have some concerns.

When I last applied a couple years ago, I was left in limbo after the department had made its initial round of offers (I believe I was on an unofficial waitlist, having not been rejected either).

In a moment of green overkill overzealousness, I reached out to the graduate program coordinator, and 2 professors with whom I wanted to work. I shared an additional writing sample - and I never heard back / was rejected shortly afterwards (unsurprisingly).

However, I feel that I have grown and matured a lot since this experience, I have higher test scores, a stronger research proposal, and an all around better application. If I hadn't made the mistake of emailing while waiting to hear back, I'd have been happy to re-submit to see if I could have a better result.

My main concern is probably on the paranoid side, but essentially I'm unsure if admissions committees across schools and programs speak with one another about an overlapping applicant pool, and if I could stand out in a negative way upon re-applying. I think I have a good shot at other programs I am interested in, but I'm not sure if re-applying and putting myself on their radar as someone remembered for an early mistake could inflect upon my overall chances.

Would it help to reach out to the program coordinator briefly explaining the situation / to ask if my application would indeed be welcome? Should I just re-apply without saying anything, knowing that admissions committees rotate? Should I not apply at all?

Or, am I just overthinking all this?? Any thoughts or perspective on the matter would be much appreciated

Edited November 17, 2018 by Bambina
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