{"id":45506,"date":"2019-05-14T16:53:12","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T23:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=45506"},"modified":"2019-05-15T15:07:00","modified_gmt":"2019-05-15T22:07:00","slug":"key-steps-to-take-before-round-1-mba-deadlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/key-steps-to-take-before-round-1-mba-deadlines\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Steps to Take Before Round 1 MBA Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Key Steps to Take Before Round 1 MBA Deadlines<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n


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Well, it\u2019s already the second week of May. The Round 1 deadlines for the MBA applications are a little over four months away. Having corresponded with several MBA hopefuls who recently reached out to me for advice, I have seen that some are already up to speed, have aced the GMAT and are in the process of researching schools, talking to experienced professionals in this field to formulate a plan ahead,  some are still preparing for GMAT and have scheduled it, while some re-applicants who faced rejections from multiple schools last year (primarily because they applied in a rush) are being proactive now and are beginning to strategize their reapplication. Year after year, I have seen that my most successful students have been the ones who had started their preparation ahead of time, about 6-8 months before Fall deadlines. This proves that by planning ahead and starting early, you can make the application process rewarding as well as enjoyable.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the step- by- step plan you can follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Get the GMAT\/GRE Out of Your Way:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, ace the GMAT or GRE, whichever you prefer. GMAT is the biggest parameter you will need for making a list of your target schools. If you take your GMAT now,<\/g> and do not get your desired score, you will still have some time to retake it before you begin focusing on other parts of the application package (school selection, r\u00e9sum\u00e9, essays, and recommendation letters). However, if your GMAT is 730+, you may not try to score an extra 20 points at the cost of the quality of your applications. Rather you should spend this time in building your application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Begin Researching Schools:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selecting your schools is again an extremely time-consuming process.  Every day, I hear people saying, \u201cI want to apply to the top 5 or top 10 schools. Undoubtedly, ranking and brand are important but more than that, it is crucial to find your \u2018fit\u2019 with the program where you intend to spend the two most significant years of your life. With proper planning, research, and initiative, you can definitely pick out schools that will align with your credentials and aspirations; however, give yourself significant time in researching and selecting your schools. For selecting the right B school<\/a>, you will have to consider many factors e.g. geographical location, loans, scholarships, key projects\/courses, employment reports, and companies that are regular recruiters over the years. Do your research and decide on which schools are the best \u2018fit\u2019<\/a> for your credentials and aspirations. Try to find answers to the questions: \u201cWill this school help me meet my objectives in the areas of education, networking, and career?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Reach out to Current Students<\/strong>, Alumni<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While researching various programs and their offerings, you should also reach out to people with MBA experience: colleagues, friends, current students, and alumni, etc.  Their feedback will help you determine if their perspectives and experiences align with your findings or not.  Also, attending MBA fairs and school information sessions will provide you relevant information on your shortlisted schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Visit the School\/ Schools:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If possible, visit the schools, attend a class or two, meet with a faculty, talk to students, and take a tour of the campus. A campus visit will give you a sense of the culture of the school and help you decide if you see your self spending the two most important years of your life at this school. All these steps should enable you to identify 2-3 dream schools, 2-3 reach schools, and 1-2 safe schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Create a Strong  Resume:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resume is your first introduction to the admission committee. MBA r\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/a> is different from a job r\u00e9sum\u00e9, and you will need a significant amount of time and effort in building it. MBA r\u00e9sum\u00e9s are brief and concise stories of your skills, interests, experience and key accomplishments. Now that many schools have reduced the number of required essay questions, resumes play a larger role in evaluating students\u2019 applications. Make sure that your resume tells the full story of your professional, educational and extracurricular achievements.<\/g><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Choose<\/g> Your Recommenders:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>It\u2019s also time to reach out to your recommenders.  Please note the best recommenders are not just those individuals who agree to write a letter or you; they are people who know you well and are interested in your future goals. Once you have chosen your recommenders, apprise them of your plans to apply to B schools and guide them about how the process works. Make sure that your recommenders get enough time to write the recommendation letters<\/a>. They are busy people, so to make their job easy you should request a meeting with each of them to discuss the key themes (examples of your accomplishments) you would like to showcase in your application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Reflect on your Personal and Professional experiences:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self- reflection is key to building stories for MBA essays.\nSo instead of waiting for the B-schools to roll out their essay questions,\nbegin thinking about your story! Everyone has a unique story; spend the time\nnow to think about yours. Even though B-schools change their essay topics from\none year to another, there are going to be concepts that are the same among\nbusiness schools. For instance, all schools will expect you to write your goals\nessay, so take your time to identify your short term and long-term goals. Make\nsure your goals are realistic as well as ambitious. Also, start thinking of\nyour greatest leadership experiences, accomplishments, your background, life\nexperiences, your greatest strengths (and weaknesses, too) and how these will\nhelp you add value to your target school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most common themes you can organize your\nthoughts on are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n