Six Strategies to Kickstart Your MBA Application
In order to get accepted into an MBA program, it’s imperative that you have a competitive edge. Being prepared and applying early can offer a candidate a range of benefits. The best way to prepare is to start early and give yourself plenty of time to improve your candidacy and to ensure that you are making the best decision for yourself, your future, and your career. Ivy Advisors has compiled a list of six steps to help make sure you’re beyond prepared to apply for your MBA.
Study and Take the GMAT
Now this may sound like an obvious step, but we see too many applicants wait until the end of the summer to take the GMAT, leaving them almost no time to review and evaluate their scores. Applicants should take the GMAT test as soon as they can, while leaving themselves enough time to study. This will leave you with ample time to retake the test in case your score is not competitive enough.
Research MBA Programs
There are so many great MBA programs out there and this makes the decision process that much harder. But researching MBA programs and the culture of the school can help you narrow down your list to schools you want to target. You should explore all of your options. Take the time to write out your program needs, research the school, and develop a list of schools you want to apply to.
Take Leadership Opportunities
Take advantage of any and all leadership driven activities in or outside of work. These leadership opportunities will help you develop a well-rounded profile and a personal story that can be featured in your essay.
Review Your Resume
Before applying to an MBA program, you should be reviewing and updating your resume to the best of your ability. If it’s not 100% complete yet don’t worry, you can adjust and add to it as you continue to gain experience. Getting a head start on your resume will help you piece together all the essential elements of your MBA application.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are a crucial part of evaluating your candidacy as they are the voice of someone else endorsing you, your skills, and your leadership abilities. If you haven’t thought about this already, it’s best practice to make a list of individuals who could truly highlight the value you will bring to an MBA program. When choosing who writes your letters of recommendation, be sure to remember it's not all about a fancy title. Admissions committees don’t want to see a generic letter from a top executive in your professional life. Rather, they want to read a letter from someone who you’ve worked with, who can accurately depict your professional abilities, and someone who can give personal anecdotes of a time when you displayed great leadership abilities.
Set Attainable Goals
To ensure that you successfully get into the MBA program of your choice, it is best to create a pre-application strategy by setting attainable goals. Whether it is studying two hours a day for the GMAT, outlining people to ask for letters of recommendation, or networking with past graduate program applicants, set attainable goals and put forth your best effort to achieve them.
It is never too early to start preparing for your MBA application. Regardless of the round you're applying in, now is the time to take action. Each day you should be taking a small step forward towards accomplishing this goal. With adequate preparation, you will have no problem landing the MBA program of your choice. Book a free consultation with Ivy Advisors today and jump start your MBA application.