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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Here are seven things you should be doing now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019t mean that you need one too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you haven\u2019t 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\u2019T WAIT! Trust me. You do NOT want to be working on essays while studying for a standardized test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GMAT Ninja Founder Charles Bibilos notes, \u201cIf you truly JUST need to learn a test\u2019s content, it\u2019s totally fine to study on your own, or to use an expensive on-demand course. (Check out GMAT Ninja\u2019s YouTube channel<\/b><\/a>!) 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\u2019re studying on your own, those bad habits can become more entrenched as you practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe key,\u201d Bibilos continues, \u201cis to understand exactly where your errors are coming from. If all of your errors come from weaknesses with the test\u2019s content, you probably don\u2019t need a tutor, unless you just want to save time. But if your results are inconsistent, if you\u2019re making careless mistakes, or if you don\u2019t understand why you\u2019re getting disappointing scores, then please don\u2019t wait\u2014you\u2019ll want to ask a good tutor to diagnose your strengths and weaknesses ASAP, so that you don\u2019t ingrain those bad test-taking habits even further.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t 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\u00a0do your homework before connecting with students<\/b><\/a>. Keep an eye on academic calendars since many programs will wrap up their spring semester in late April or early May. Consider following your target programs on social media. Instagram posts may offer an unfiltered look at what the community is celebrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Explore and engage with target business schools.<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n