<p>How do they check if i’ve applied the year before? I’m actually used my Asian name in the wrong format last year, and I’m using the correct one this year, so the name iwll be slightly different.</p>
<p>Will they be able to check if i’ve applied last year, even with a different name?</p>
<p>My name last year:</p>
<p>“X Y” first name, “Z” last name</p>
<p>This year:</p>
<p>“Y” first, “X” middle, “Z” last.</p>
<p>They ask you on the application, and they will know from your truthful answer.</p>
<p>They ASK you in the application if you have previously applied . If you do not tell the truth, and they find out, it probably will result in automatic rejection</p>
<p>If you applied a year ago, it is likely they still have your file from then. The computer used for tracking applications can match up files by name (beginning with last), social security number and address. Also, colleges usually ask on application if you have applied before.</p>
<p>hm. does it hurt me if i say i applied before, though?</p>
<p>oh i don’t have a SSN, i’m internatrional</p>
<p>PM</p>
<p>I think the computer systems will able to search by any criteria in any order.</p>
<p>Either the way i think it is always to let them know you were there and have a consistent transcript.</p>
<p>Why is this question asked? Sorry to be harsh but you seem to know the answer but wanting to see if you can get away with it. You need to answer it truthfully whether or not it’s going to hurt you because if you don’t and they find out, it will hurt you worst. If you have been accepted, they will recind offer, if you are enrolled, they will kick you out for lying.</p>
<p>If you applied before and were rejected, you will most likely be rejected again, unless you have some something truly remarkable in the past year-i.e. cure cancer, International award, etc.</p>
<p>your name would be in the database.</p>
<p>but in the end, does it hurt if they know i’ve applied before? can anyone give me a definitive answer? will they lean towards rejecting me because ive been rejected before?</p>
<p>They might check </p>
<p>[National</a> Student Clearinghouse: Degree verification & enrollment verification](<a href=“http://www.nslc.org/]National”>http://www.nslc.org/) </p>
<p>a resource I learned about from another CC member. Colleges may have other ways of sharing and checking information besides that.</p>
<p>IMO, Yes, if they reject you before, most likely they will reject you again unless you have something significant to add to the application.</p>
<p>^^ I think what pmwosa is asking is whether there would be some sort of BIAS towards rejecting the applicant SOLELY due to the fact that he’s been rejected before. Whether his application’s improved is a different thing. He’s asking about the question itself.</p>
<p>Personally, I think if your application’s improved and is good enough, I don’t see any reason why they’d wanna lose a qualified student.</p>
<p>And oh, any good database would have something called “fuzzy search”. I don’t think rearranging your name helps.</p>
<p>Depending on the college, they may not be able to tell. But there are schools that do cross check. Also, the adcoms I know have phenomonal memories. They usually take a region or the international students, and they just might feel that old deja vu with your app. A little research could probably cough you up even with a slightly different name once someone gets a whiff of you. </p>
<p>I don’t know whether you are likely to get rejected a second time just because of your first app. If you added significantly to your activities, spent a worthwhile year off, your strong interest in the school may be a plus. It depends on the school and the person reading your app. In some schools, you can get waitlisted and denied just because they did not feel you really were interested in the school. A second app would take care of that thought. But if you sat stagnant for the year, I would think you would have less of a chance.</p>
<p>I don’t know why we assume that only a computer match will reveal that you applied before. All applications from your country may well be read by the same person, who may well remember you from your other personal information.</p>
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<p>A very good point. And if you are not distinctive enough to remember, you may not be distinctive enough to get in.</p>
<p>Also, many colleges do personally check up on their international applicants. I know one college that does not as a rule accept any international unless there is someone that they know in the country who can vouch for him. There have been cases of identity fraud and false credentials.</p>
<p>As a practical matter–</p>
<p>don’t you think that your counselors’ recommendation, teacher recommendations, transcripts, etc might be a bit of a tip-off? Even with new essays, etc your application would have a lot from last year.</p>
<p>What about re-applying with the truth up front, telling the admissions office “I really, really want to go here and this is what I have done the past year to make myself a more desirable admit…”</p>