Spring is a wonderful time of year for us here at Gurufi. As we hear more about our clients’ success stories, we take pride in helping them earn admission to their dream schools. Just last week, we had multiple clients reach out to us about their plans for the fall, which include matriculating into HBS, Wharton, Stanford GSB, INSEAD, and many more.
Our record speaks for itself, but we also know that not everybody can afford us, so we try our best to provide free information that, if followed, can improve your chances of admission to your dream MBA program.
Thus, over the next few weeks, we’ll but putting out a 12-part video guide about how to approach your MBA admissions journey. Before we start, though, I wanted to provide a quick-and-easy breakdown for people who are just beginning to think about applying for an MBA. Below is a breakdown for people starting now who intend to apply for Round One admissions (due dates in September or October). Obviously, this is a rough guide, and so be sure to check the due dates for the particular schools you’re applying to!
April – Establish Your Strategy
- Research MBA programs: Research MBA programs to determine which schools align with your career goals and personal preferences. Rankings are a good place to start, but don’t end there! A good tip is to make a list of three strengths in a business school, three areas of emphasis, and three “miscellaneous” factors (geography, cost, length of program, etc.) and use that list to inform your Google searches. Remember, in this initial phase, you want to create a fairly extensive list that you can then pare down.
- Connect with alumni and current students: Reach out to alumni or current students from your preferred MBA programs to understand their experiences and the school’s culture better. View this as an opportunity to being ranking and even eliminating some candidate schools.
- Identify your recommenders: Think about who you could ask for recommendation letters and inform them about your MBA plans. Be smart about your strategy here. Select people who know you well, and think of the recommendation process as an interactive one, where you provide the letter writer with as much information as they need to write you a great letter. For additional insight, check out these videos.
May – Prepare for GMAT/GRE
- Study for GMAT/GRE: If you have not taken these tests or want to improve your score, now is the time to start preparing in earnest. Every candidate’s GMAT process is different, and it often comes down to how much time you need to earn the score you’re looking for. I’ve known candidates who’ve prepared for 18 months because they were never very quant-heavy in their educations so they needed a lot of help. Others only need a few weeks.
- Register for the exam: Make sure to register for the exam to give you enough time to retake it if necessary.
June – Take GMAT/GRE and Begin Applications
- Take the GMAT/GRE: Aim to take your GMAT/GRE in June. This leaves enough time to retake the test if you’re not satisfied with your score.
- Start drafting essays: Begin working on your application essays. Be sure to customize each essay to the specific MBA program.
July – Refine Your Applications
- Continue refining essays: Spend this month polishing your essays, ensuring they reflect your experiences and ambitions accurately. If you need professional help, we can certainly help with that! When you get help, though, be sure to remember that you should retain active ownership of your essays. What that means is that you shouldn’t just passively accept whatever changes and advice they give you. Ask questions, and be sure that the final polished version sounds like the best version of what you had in mind, and not somebody else’s essay. Here is a useful primer on how to get great advice on your Personal Statement.
- Prepare your resume: Update your resume to highlight achievements, leadership roles, and skills relevant to an MBA program. Similarly, we can also help you with your CV revisions!
August – Finalize Your Applications
- Review applications: Thoroughly review your application, checking for any errors or inconsistencies.
- Get feedback: Have a mentor, friend, or family member review your essays and overall application.
- Finalize letters of recommendation: Remind your recommenders about the upcoming deadlines and provide them with any necessary information about your achievements and goals.
September – Submit Your Applications
- Final review and submission: Give your application a final review and submit it well ahead of the deadline.
- Prepare for interviews: Begin preparing for potential interviews by practicing common interview questions and formulating questions you would like to ask.
- Thank your recommenders: Send a follow-up ‘thank-you’ note to anybody who wrote you a letter of recommendation. A short, sincere, hand-written note is the gold standard.
October – Interviews and Follow-ups
- Attend interviews: If invited, attend the MBA program interviews. Remember to ask thoughtful questions and demonstrate your interest in the program. Here are some quick tips for your MBA interview.
- Send thank you notes: After your interview, send a thank you note to your interviewer expressing your appreciation for their time. Again, the ideal way is a short, sincere handwritten note. If that’s not possible, an email will do.
Remember, applying for an MBA is a process that requires meticulous preparation. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to reflect on your career goals, research potential programs, and craft a compelling application.
| Month | Activities |
| April | 1. Research MBA programs
2. Connect with alumni and current students 3. Identify your recommenders |
| May | 1. Study for GMAT/GRE
2. Register for the exam |
| June | 1. Take the GMAT/GRE
2. Start drafting essays |
| July | 1. Continue refining essays
2. Prepare your resume |
| August | 1. Review applications
2. Get feedback 3. Finalize letters of recommendation |
| September | 1. Final review and submission 2. Prepare for interviews |
| October | 1. Attend interviews
2. Send thank you notes |
Again, do remember to tailor this grid to align with specific school deadlines and your personal schedule.
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.