Every spring, I speak to aspiring business school students who are content to wait until the essay prompts are released in June to start working on their applications. However, I find that the most successful candidates take a long view on the application process.
Before the weather gets really nice and you can be enjoying the outdoors and engaging with friends and family, take the time NOW to prepare for your Round 1 MBA applications this fall.
Here are seven things you should be doing now:
1. Articulate “Why an MBA?” and “Why now?”
Earning an MBA should be a transformational experience. For two years, you will develop your skills, knowledge, and relationships to take your career to the next level. But WHY do you want an MBA? And WHY is NOW the right time to get one? What are your short- and long-term goals for which an MBA is the obvious next step? Just because your friends are getting MBAs doesn’t mean that you need one too.
2. Recognize where you stand with the GMAT/GRE—reassess!
Before you spend too much time researching MBA programs, it is important to understand how competitive you are based on your standardized test score. All programs are test agnostic regarding the GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, and GRE, so take a practice exam for each to figure out which you will perform best on. You can take either exam in a testing center or online.
If you haven’t achieved the score you are targeting, you may want to investigate additional support such as an online test preparation class or even a tutor to provide focused guidance. DON’T WAIT! Trust me. You do NOT want to be working on essays while studying for a standardized test.
GMAT Ninja Founder Charles Bibilos notes, “If you truly JUST need to learn a test’s content, it’s totally fine to study on your own, or to use an expensive on-demand course. (Check out GMAT Ninja’s YouTube channel!) But for many test-takers, the main problem is bad test-taking habits that lead to sloppy errors, bad time management, or inconsistent approaches to questions. On an adaptive test like the GMAT or GRE, a few mistakes on easier questions can destroy your chances at a great score. And if you’re studying on your own, those bad habits can become more entrenched as you practice.”
“The key,” Bibilos continues, “is to understand exactly where your errors are coming from. If all of your errors come from weaknesses with the test’s content, you probably don’t need a tutor, unless you just want to save time. But if your results are inconsistent, if you’re making careless mistakes, or if you don’t understand why you’re getting disappointing scores, then please don’t wait—you’ll want to ask a good tutor to diagnose your strengths and weaknesses ASAP, so that you don’t ingrain those bad test-taking habits even further.”
3. Explore and engage with target business schools.
If you haven’t already done so, sign up to receive emails from any program that looks interesting to you so you know what events are on the horizon. Most MBA programs offer online information sessions, student chats, and more. These can be a cost-effective way to explore a longer list of programs. Many offer a limited number of on-campus visits, which enable you to sit in on a class and engage with students, but be sure to do your homework before connecting with students. Keep an eye on academic calendars since many programs will wrap up their spring semester in late April or early May.
Join me and my colleague, Melisa Prevost, to learn about Stratus’s framework for creating your own top ten list. Register now for this free event!
4. Identify resources you will leverage to reach YOUR goals.
Although there are many great MBA programs, you need to find those that offer the resources that will move you toward YOUR goals. Investigate course offerings in your intended field, and then identify specific classes or professors you hope to learn from.
Outside of the classroom, think about which clubs, conferences, and experiential learning opportunities will allow you to enhance your career. Reach out to current students who hold leadership roles in clubs that you are interested in joining. Not sure what to ask? See “25 Questions to Ask Students and Alumni While Researching MBA Programs.”
Think beyond just the business school itself; are there university-wide initiatives that support your interests? Perhaps there’s an entrepreneurship center that brings together students from business, law, engineering, health care, and public policy. Be sure to consider all offerings available on campus that might support your goals.
5. Maintain contact with your recommenders.
At this point, you should have a short list of individuals whom you might ask to write your recommendations. Take a look at GMAC’s Common Letter of Recommendation to understand how you will be evaluated, and then take steps to ensure that you are positioning yourself to get strong support.
If your recommenders are your work supervisors, ask them for constructive feedback that you can address over the next few months. Tell them why you want an MBA, and then ask for additional work that will better prepare you for success in business school.
6. Remain committed at work.
Whether you are in the office full time, working from home, or managing a hybrid schedule, now is NOT the time to take your foot off the gas. Use the next few months to focus on addressing any weaknesses or gaps in your professional experience. Look for creative ways to keep your team engaged and motivated. Explore opportunities to lead a company-wide initiative. Ask for an assignment through which you can develop new skills or knowledge.
7. Start with busy work.
Unlike undergraduate school, there is no Common App for business school, so you’ll need to create a centralized repository of the “standard” materials that you will use across multiple applications. Put together a document that captures your undergraduate and post-graduate extracurricular activities; include the organization name, the dates involved, your leadership roles, your responsibilities, the time commitment you made, and a summary of your accomplishments.
September deadlines may seem far away, but there is work you SHOULD be doing now so you won’t be furiously multitasking throughout the summer. In fact, if you take the time now to develop a strategy and plan, you may even be able to take a vacation this summer! This is a marathon, not a sprint.
Not sure where to start? Need help unpacking your experiences to date and figuring out what path you want to take? Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation with one of our Stratus MBA admissions experts.