Happy New Year!

Happy Happy, everyone!  Hope all of you had a glorious and festive holiday season and that 2012 has treated you well so far.  For those of you who are applying Round 2, don’t freak out – I realize that deadlines are upon you and that it likely seems like 2012 is bleak.  Never fear!  Focus on getting your applications finished to the best of your ability, and then release them into the universe.  Remember:  What will be, will be.

For those of you who are recent admits to your dream school:  Congratulations!  That’s fantastic and you deserve it.  Before you start to freak out about roommates / moving / student loans / other logistics, take a deep breath and allow yourself to revel in this accomplishment.

For those of you who are bummed about recent Round 1 admissions news:  Don’t get too down on yourself.  Maybe not getting into what you thought was your dream school will actually pave the way for you to go to a school that is just perfect for you.  Not buying it?  Are you absolutely positive that your dream school is your dream school?  If that’s the case, consider re-applying.  Now, before you start studying to re-take the GMAT, hear me out:

If you are blatantly nowhere near the average GMAT or GPA averages for your target school, maybe it doesn’t make sense.  If, however, you are right there on the cusp, and really feel that with another year of work experience you could beef up your story…well, I say go for it!  As an inspirational tidbit:  I have a friend at HBS who applied and not accepted the first time she tried it.  Upon hearing this bad news, she refused to languish in her disappointment.  Instead, she worked her ass off, got more experience, re-applied, and is now getting not only one but TWO Harvard degrees!  It can happen, people.

Anywho, those are my initial musings of 2012 for you.  Good luck to everyone on Round 2 applications!