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Most MBA Applicants face a harsh reality when it comes to prepping for the GMAT and working on their applications – EVERYTHING takes longer than the Applicants think it will. You’re not the exception. You may have read a few stories about the exceptions, but those stories don’t apply to you. You need more time than you think you do, so plan accordingly.
Most Test Takers spend 3 months (or more) preparing to take the GMAT. You probably read a story about someone who picked up a book, studied for 2 weeks, then scored 750. That’s not you nor is it any of the other 99% of Test Takers. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a shorter deadline; if you want a 700+ score, then you have to put in the time and effort.
Now, if your first GMAT score isn’t to your liking, then you have to wait ANOTHER 31 days to retake the GMAT, which extends the overall study timeline significantly. Many Test Takers will take the GMAT repeatedly; thankfully, doing so is not a big deal (Business Schools don’t care if you take the GMAT more than once). However, you have to consider if you’ve given yourself enough ‘lead time’ to take the GMAT again before your application deadline(s). If your score isn’t competitive, then your whole plan and timeline can derail.
Applications need to be ‘tailored’ to the individual School/Program and each Essay (or Personal Statement) should likewise be tailored. All of THOSE activities also take time. Well-written, compelling essays are one of the greatest ways for an Applicant to make up for a ‘weak spot’ in an application. Are there any areas of YOUR profile that seem lackluster or boring? How is your undergraduate GPA? Is your work experience interesting or exciting? If you cringe when thinking about any of those details, then killer essays are a MUST.
You CANNOT treat the essay-writing process as if you were back in High School writing a last-minute book report. You should write and rewrite, have friends and professional associates give you honest critique on your work, then rewrite again. Putting together effective applications with well-written essays can take another 1-2 months of time. If you want to apply to a Top20 School, then you have to ask yourself what you’re willing to do to make that happen. The other 10,000+ Applicants that you’re up against at each School are thinking about these exact issues.
While all of this might seem shocking (and possibly upsetting), this ‘investment’ of time, money and energy is all meant to get YOU into an elite Business School Program. Top Programs reject 70% - 90% of applicants, so you have to think about what you are willing to do to increase your chances at getting an invitation to your First Choice School (and all the benefits to your career and life that having that MBA will afford you). When the idea is put that way, you really MUST embrace the entire task and work diligently to make it all happen.
Considering that most MBA Programs have a Round 1 Deadline in October, this is the PERFECT time of year to begin your GMAT studies and give yourself enough time to work on everything else that will go into your applications.
To that end, we’re here to help.
GMAT assassins aren’t born, they’re made,
Rich
