Reapplying to universities that you were previously accepted to

[Hippogriff]

This is my first post, soI'm not 100% sure that this is the right part of the forum.

BTW, last year I applied for many master degrees with quite good results. Since money was not a problem, I accepted the offer from the best university (without any funding). Unfortunately, only a month before the beginning of studies, I had to "deregister" (I've never been actually enrolled) from the program due to a totally unexpected mix of events. I tried to obtain a deferral, but the only accepted reason was illness (and this was not my case).

Since the problematic situation is coming to an end, I'm planning to reapply this fall. Hence, my question is pretty simple: do you think that I will be automatically rejected by the schools that accepted me last year? And what about the university that I deregistered from? Since my profile improved I'm changing a bit the reach/target universities, but at least 50% of the new list would be equal to last year ones.

Thank you

[raspberry]

I am in a similar situation, though I only applied to one school last year and I was offered a bit of funding.. I too pulled out of the program very late (August) but I was in contact with the administrators and they were very supportive. I do not yet know if I will be accepted this year, or offered funding again, but my impression after my communication with them is that it won't be a problem.

I guess ultimately it depends on the individual programs as well as how you approached them regarding the situation, but I imagine you will be fine.. Good luck!

[Vacuum]

They should evaluate your application the same way they did before. Of course the applicant pool will be different, so you never know! Since I don't know why you pulled out, but I'm assuming you told them these reasons, I'm sure they understand. I would think you weren't the first to have to pull out of the program a bit later in the game. People who work in admissions go through their own problems too and we are all just human. Crap happens.

If you really feel that you need to justify your past of pulling out in your application, you could give a quick mention in your SOP. Depending on the situation, you could even show how you have grown/changed in the time between your last application and now. I don't think this is really necessary, but it might make you feel more at ease.

I deferred from one program and they were more than supportive. I actually deferred one year and then declined them the next (finance related). They more than understood my reasons and encouraged me to apply again once my situation became more stabilized.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Vacuum

[Hippogriff]

Thank you very much for your answers. BTW, I've not been very specific about the reason and only talked about a "problematic family situation" that "makes impossible for me to move and study at your university" (it was actually a problem of my family firm that required a massive outflow of money and a lot of work). I talked also with the department, and they didn't seem to be upset; but who knows?

However, I think that your idea to write something in the SOP is not bad at all. Particularly since I think I've grown since last year from an academic point of view: now I've research experience and a better idea of what I want to study.

I am in a similar situation, though I only applied to one school last year and I was offered a bit of funding.. I too pulled out of the program very late (August) but I was in contact with the administrators and they were very supportive. I do not yet know if I will be accepted this year, or offered funding again, but my impression after my communication with them is that it won't be a problem.

I guess ultimately it depends on the individual programs as well as how you approached them regarding the situation, but I imagine you will be fine.. Good luck!

They should evaluate your application the same way they did before. Of course the applicant pool will be different, so you never know! Since I don't know why you pulled out, but I'm assuming you told them these reasons, I'm sure they understand. I would think you weren't the first to have to pull out of the program a bit later in the game. People who work in admissions go through their own problems too and we are all just human. Crap happens.

If you really feel that you need to justify your past of pulling out in your application, you could give a quick mention in your SOP. Depending on the situation, you could even show how you have grown/changed in the time between your last application and now. I don't think this is really necessary, but it might make you feel more at ease.

I deferred from one program and they were more than supportive. I actually deferred one year and then declined them the next (finance related). They more than understood my reasons and encouraged me to apply again once my situation became more stabilized.