Failure is an option

So my second time taking the GMAT exam, one month after the first time I took it, I did better, but still not what I wanted.  I scored a 690, which was a respectable score within the average range of the schools I wanted to apply to.  I debated whether to take the exam again, but decided to run with it.  I didn't have the time to put aside to take the exam again and I wanted to get into school this year so that I could quit my job.

Before I started writing my essays, I consulted my GMAT teacher.  I gave him a quick summary of my experience, my story and my extra-curricular activities.  After that, he gave me some pointers on how I could position myself in my essays and in my application.  Here's my profile:

• Education:  Undergrad at UCLA, B.A. in Economics, 3.2 GPA
• Professional:  3.5 years in public accounting, CPA License, passed all exams on the first try
• Professional:  Founder of a start-up company that sold consumer packaged goods (check it out, www.bakegreek.com)
• Extra-curricular: Choreographed dance (8 years), fitness (mud runs, sprint triathlons, etc) and tons of leadership positions in clubs in college

I want to get my MBA to transition into the marketing/brand management space, but instead of being straight forward with what I wanted to do, my GMAT teacher recommended I try to go another route in my essays.  I had mentioned my firm specialized in non-profits so he told me to pitch myself as wanting to do social enterprise or non-profit.  I have to admit, my GMAT teacher was a very inspiring guy and he told us he had helped tons of people get into top tier schools.  Blinded by my anxiousness to get out of accounting and into marketing, I listened to everything he said.  This was my first mistake when applying to school my first year.  I don't have to tell you that my strategy failed MISERABLY.  When I submitted my applications, I was damn confident.  My GMAT teacher told me my profile was looking good and that my score and credentials were respectable.  As long as I could nail an interview, I wouldn't have a problem selling myself from there.  My instructor had made me feel overly confident, and although I was nervous after submitting my applications, I felt like this:

Watch out Harvard, here I come...like a boss.

Two terrifyingly long months later, not one school bit on my profile and I was devastated!  After my seven rejections, I talked to a couple friends about my profile and they helped me realize my profile was complete shit.  Because I had written about something I had no interest in actually doing, my personality and passion didn't shine through.  Each of the essays were very boring, lacked depth and were predictable.  I tried to anticipate what I thought schools wanted to hear and the admissions committee spotted it from a mile away.  


I could easily pin this fiasco on my GMAT teacher, but the real fault was with me. I was looking for the easiest way into a school and was willing to buy into anyone that could show me that easy way in.  I don't blame my GMAT teacher for what he told me.  He gave me some recommendations based on a 5 minute conversation I had with him and being the naive child I was, I bought into every word. I should have listened to the advice that you constantly hear from admissions committee members, "Be yourself." After I was rejected and read my profile over with my friends, this phrase finally clicked.  I finally understood what they meant.  After a week of denial and experiencing this realization, I was ready to start improving my profile for the coming application season.

Moral of the story, failure is an option. I failed miserably in my first attempt to get into business school.  I didn't deserve it and although I busted my ass, I directed my efforts in the wrong direction and definitely learned from my mistakes. I learned at a young age that it was okay to fail and to look at each of those failures as a learning experience.  I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.