In our Choosing the Best MBA Program for You series, you’ll learn how to create a list of business schools that are the best fit for your educational, social, and professional preferences and how creating this list will boost your chances of getting accepted.
As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts in this series, your initial school list isn’t set in stone. It is a firm starting point that allows you to plan and to proceed efficiently and systematically through the often unwieldy application process.
As you progress through your applications, continuously assess and respond to any new developments that might warrant revising your list. For example:
• You receive evidence that your initial assessment of reaches, on-pars, and safeties was off.
For example, if you applied to reaches and on-pars with competitive interviewing and you don’t receive interview invites even from schools you considered on-pars, it’s a sign that you may have miscalculated your competitiveness. On the other hand, if you receive an interview invite from a high reach that you really didn’t expect, a re-assessment might reveal the advisability of adding another reach or two in the second or third round. In either of these cases, revisit your list. Changing it may involve replacing some programs, or simply adding some.
• Your plans or needs change.
As the applications progress, life goes on. Personal needs change: geography, partner and family issues, personal interests. Professional needs and goals change – perhaps you lost your job; perhaps a new healthcare project intrigued you and you now want to consult in this area. Revisit your list, see what works and what doesn’t, and adapt it accordingly.
• You encounter a program that appeals to you that you didn’t initially consider (like in the NYU Stern example in an earlier post in this series).
Look at your list: Would this program replace another one on your list? Or would you want to add it? Either option is fine, depending on your needs and resources.
Good luck in the upcoming MBA season! By following the steps in this blog series you will create a list of MBA programs that meet your needs and will yield admission to desirable programs. This systematic approach will also help you keep sane during the application process.
You can significantly increase your chances of getting accepted by applying to the programs that are the best fit for your unique qualifications, goals, and preferences. Our MBA admissions consulting services will provide you with the one-on-one guidance you need to submit the best MBA applications to the best MBA programs for YOU!
Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• Navigate the MBA Maze: 9 Tips to Acceptance, a free guide
• Which B-School is the Best for You?
• 15 Reasons MBA Applicants are Rejected
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.
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