Apply to Schools

Getting started: applying for business school is a big project and has to be managed as such.

The application process takes time, energy and money, but careful planning can keep the process from getting out of hand.

Most prospective MBAs take at least a year to go through the application process, including self-assessment, information gathering and school research, test preparation, saving and budgeting, application submissions, and enrollment.

One Year Out:

• Begin the self-assessment process.
• Register and start studying for the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®).
• Start gathering information and researching schools.
• Start saving, budgeting, and trying to live like a student.

Nine Months Out:

• Register for any prerequisite or supplemental classes.

Six Months Out:

• Submit your applications.

When you apply can affect your chances of being accepted. Earlier is generally better, although admissions professionals caution that you should apply only when you feel you can submit your strongest application.

Get More Attention

Your application is more likely to receive the time and consideration it deserves if it arrives before most other applications. Applying early also demonstrates a serious interest in a program and reflects your good planning skills.

Attract Financial Aid Opportunity

You may be able to increase your likelihood of receiving scholarships or financial aid by applying early. You will also have more time to recover and plan if your scholarship applications are rejected or if you get less aid than you had hoped.

Gain Time to Solve Problems

By submitting your application early, you allow time to address any problems that may arise, such as misplaced transcripts or recommendations, before you miss a deadline.

Before you submit your application, use the following checklist to review your content and make certain it reflects your best effort:

• Did you complete the entire application? An incomplete application will not reflect well on you.
• Did you follow the instructions? If not, the school may not consider the application complete.
• Does your application look professional? All schools expect a serious applicant to submit materials that are typed, organized, and complete.
• Have you checked that you are sending the right materials to the right schools? All schools want thorough candidates who double-check their work.
  

Because application costs and the effort required to prepare applications can add up, you may want to limit the number of schools to which you apply. Factor these costs into your application budget:

• Phone calls
• Transcript request fees
• Postage or express delivery services
• Travel expenses for recruiting events, interviews, or campus visits
• Testing fees, test preparation materials, and other miscellaneous costs
• Application fees (ranging from US$40 to US$250),

These costs add up quickly, so be realistic about what you will spend in applying to each school.

Pick at least one school where you’d really like to go, even if your credentials don’t meet or exceed those of the typical applicant. Call this your “dream school.”

In the words of one admissions professional, “I can’t guarantee you admission if you apply, but not applying guarantees you a 100 percent chance of not being admitted.”

It takes time to prepare a solid application, so don’t spread yourself too thin.  Although there are more than 1,900 graduate management programs worldwide, only a small number will be a good match for any candidate. Your career-related goals, academic study, and personal needs should point to a targeted list of schools that meet your most basic requirements. Don’t apply to any school you wouldn’t be willing to attend.

To help keep applications manageable, narrow your list to five to seven schools that have the curricular strength, culture, and program philosophy that will meet your educational and professional needs. Use your best judgment to determine which schools are worth your investment of time and money.

Besides your dream school and others that look like a good match for your qualifications, include at least one school that you believe you are more than qualified to attend, based on your work experience, test scores, and undergraduate grade point average.