The MBA Admissions process can be long and hard, to say the least. Juggling deadlines for the GMAT and school applications can become a full time job, making it hard to attend to work, school and family. While you would be hard-pressed to completely alleviate the pressures of the admissions process, there are many ways to "help it run more smoothly", culminating in a desirable outcome.
When it comes to applying to business schools, organization is key. Not only will strong organization help you stay on track, it will also reflect positively on you during evaluation by admission board(s). Once you have decided to apply to business school and narrowed your school choices, the first thing to do is contact your choices and get the literature on each school's application process. This can usually be done over the phone or on the internet. It is important to do this early in the admissions process so that you can develop a schedule that meets the criteria of all your school choices.
This can be harder than it seems given that different schools will have widely varying application processes and deadlines. Naturally, you must pin down all your application deadlines, which can vary greatly if some of your program choices have rolling admissions.
Most business schools will require you to take the GMAT. It is important to properly fit the GMAT into your application schedule. Depending on familiarity with GMAT subjects and material, applicants may need weeks or months to properly prepare for the exam. Consider your time frame and budget. So, if you feel you need to take a GMAT prep course, make sure the class dates will allow you to meet all your deadlines. For instance, if three out of four of your program choices have rolling admissions, it would be easy to be lulled into a false sense of "having time". However, if just one of your choices has an early, set application date, you will need to adjust your GMAT study schedule and exam date accordingly.
Another important aspect of the MBA admissions process is the admissions interview. Some schools will not hold interviews, however, most will, and some push for them. If a program allows interviews, take the opportunity if at all possible. Depending on the number of schools you are considering and their locations, you most likely will not be able to travel to all of them. Just keep in mind, an interview will most likely be your best chance to differentiate yourself in a sea of impressive GPA's and GMAT scores.
If you are trying for any sort of financial aid or scholarship, your application process may need to be accelerated. Money is limited and quickly allocated to eligible applicants, so make sure to inquire for each school choice. And remember, a change in one school's deadline will often affect another.
Whatever path you take to business school, stay organized and keep your end goals and ambitions squarely in sight. Doing so will help keep you on track and motivated during the MBA admissions process as well as during your time as an MBA student.
For more detailed information on the MBA admissions process, GMAT, and admissions interviews, check out http://www.get-mba-info.com |
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