In this fifth and final article in our 5 Steps to Applying for an MBA series, we come to the final four weeks before the deadline, which we refer to as the last mile. Even if you’ve built a strong foundation, followed every step we described, and executed your application strategy flawlessly, pressing the submit button is the toughest step of all. Here’s what you can do to reduce your anxiety and arrive at the finish line in style:
Triple-Proof Your MBA Application
First, have every component of your application proofed at least three times by three different people. A typo or two is not going to sink your chances but a sloppy application will seriously hurt you. Your application package is a representation of you – and you want it to sparkle. You may even enlist the help of professional editors and proofreaders. MBA Prep School provides these services if you would like our help.
Submit Your MBA Application Early
Another step you’ll want to take to ensure that your masterpiece isn’t left on the virtual loading dock is to submit everything to the business schools a couple of weeks before the deadline. Not only will you avoid the possibility that an MBA program’s overloaded server somehow prevents you from uploading your work or loses your application in cyberspace, you might even get an early read if the admissions office practices a first-in-first read application review process.
Ensure MBA Recommendation Letters Are In
Once you’ve submitted your application, you want to check in with your references to ensure that they’ve submitted their recommendation letters. I suggest you set early deadlines for your MBA references. Presumably, because you started working with them months in advance they won’t feel rushed at all. One other note, these folks have worked very hard for you. At a minimum send them a thank you note – but a thank you gift is probably in order.
Prepare for MBA Admissions Interviews
Okay, so you’ve taken all five steps — now you’re done. Right? Not exactly – you still have the final exam ahead of you. After you submit your application you may be able to take a couple of weeks off, relax, and reconnect with family and friends. Then, get ready for the final – your MBA admissions interview. When the interview invitations start coming in you’ll only have a few weeks lead time; so you should start preparing for interviews a couple of weeks after sending in your application to ensure that you’re fully prepared by interview day.
Welcome to the Finish Line!
When you look at the long climb to the top of the MBA Prep Steps™, you might feel a little overwhelmed. The good news is that if you’ve read all the article in our 5 Steps to Applying for an MbA series, you are now conscious of how demanding the business school application process will be. Our advice — take it a step at a time and you’ll get to the finish line knowing that you did everything you could to achieve the goal of getting into your dream school!
MBA Prep School can Help!
And remember you don’t have to do it all alone — MBA Prep School can help you every step of the way.
MBA Prep School is an online learning community offering a comprehensive suite of courses, resources, and interactive services designed to give aspiring MBAs a distinctive edge in applying to the world’s leading business schools. Our online courses cover every facet of applying to business school including create a winning application strategy, how to write outstanding essays, how to optimize your resume, reference letters, and application forms, and how to ace your admission interview.