JD/MBA- will a reject from MBA side preclude JD acceptance? Forum

[jakeoooh]

I had originally posted this question under a JD/MBA 2010 thread, but following a suggestion from another user am re-posting here.

Again echoing the thoughts of another user in the previous thread, I realize there is a small pool of JD/MBA applicants and as a result informed answers might be hard to come-by. Here's my situation; I applied this cycle to several JD/MBA programs, and several schools for just law school (b-school apps are expensive and don't hand out fee-waivers the way law schools do). I have had varying success thus far, including acceptance to JD/MBA programs, though I'm still waiting for responses from most of my schools.

Anyway, here's my question. I was recently dinged from the b-school side of a program that I submitted both JD and MBA apps. I have yet to hear from the law school. It's probably my top choice school so I would still be interested in attending the law school (and re-applying to the b-school as a 1L or scrapping the MBA entirely) if accepted, but am concerned that my rejection from the b-school may have a negative influence on my chances. I know most schools make separate decisions regarding the JD and MBA, but my concern is that when (if) the two programs communicate, and the law school is informed that I haven't been accepted to the business program, they might ding me as well given that I checked the JD/MBA box and am out of the running MBA-wise. I believe(d) going in that I was competitive at both programs, although the business school is ranked somewhat higher than the law school.

Does this seem like a valid concern? Even if the decisions are generally made separately, might it not occur to the admissions staff 'this person is obviously applying to jd/mba programs and hasn't gotten into ours, so we'll be wasting an admission by offering them a spot on just the law side?' Would it be smart to send an e-mail to the law school admissions expressing my continued interest in the JD program despite my MBA rejection? On the one-hand I don't want to go around advertising that I was dinged, but on the other-hand I don't want to keep my mouth closed and get a second rejection because a member of the adcom has the same thought that I did. Again, this school is at the top of my list and I'd like to do whatever possible to re-affirm my interest in the program.

Any input would be appreciated.

Jake

[jafadoo]

Message Deleted

[pulandasu]

Bump - I also am a JD/MBA applicant and will soon be sharing your concerns if (when) I hear bad news from b-schools. Because I applied in early Jan, I would hear from b-schools earlier (latest early April) than law school (earliest early April).

[jakeoooh]

I'm considering the option of writing an LOCI and not mentioning the MBA-rejection, but isn't it generally advised that one SHOULDN'T write a letter until some decision (wait-list, hold) is rendered? I don't want to get hung up on convention, but I also don't want to look like the desperate guy hoping he doesn't get picked last for kickball. I mean beyond the bad news from the b-school I don't really have any new information to add, beyond my continued interest. I assume that admissions offices are busy this time of year, and most tell you to just wait patiently until your name is called- unless you have some new info for the file.

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with applying concurrently to both programs, and getting into one, and rejected from the other?

[reasonabledoubt]

You know what.... I was dinged by a school I had the numbers for because (I believe) I expressed interest in the JD/MBA program on the application. I think it's smarter to apply just JD and then apply for a joint degree program later once you're already accepted.

[jakeoooh]

Yeah, in hindsight I think I should have just applied to both, but not selected 'jd/mba' on the application. That way the schools wouldn't have any reason to compare notes with each other. Given that I though I had good numbers for both schools, I didn't think it could do anything but help me, but I'm (obviously) not feeling that way now.

Does anyone disagree that sending an unsolicited LOCI that contains no new information at this point is a bad idea?