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Seth
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How long should it take to prepare all application stuff.. 10 Oct 2006, 03:45
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Could you please suggest me how long should it take to prepare all application documents to complete the process in time?

3 weeks? 4 weeks?

In addition, if you have any suggestion or the URL that let me know the whole process, what to do in the application process, please let me know. It would be really appreciate.

Thanks for your valuable information.
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tkkoh
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How long should it take to prepare all application stuff.. 10 Oct 2006, 04:08
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The few keys things that you need are: essays, resume, recommendations, test scores, transcripts. The minimum, I would say, are:

Essay - at least 2 months
Resume - 2 weeks
Recommendations - need to give your recommenders sufficient time, as well as buffer for contigencies. 2 months
Test - you should get your *ideal* scores at least 2 months before deadline.
Transcripts - depends on how efficient your schools are.

All-in-all, you should start preparing for the application at least 4 to 5 months before the deadline. Anything less than that will be quite a rush job.

URL - go to the respective schools that you want to apply to. They will tell you the application requirements. Check out their FAQs.
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How long should it take to prepare all application stuff.. 10 Oct 2006, 05:41
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Seth
Could you please suggest me how long should it take to prepare all application documents to complete the process in time?

3 weeks? 4 weeks?

In addition, if you have any suggestion or the URL that let me know the whole process, what to do in the application process, please let me know. It would be really appreciate.

Thanks for your valuable information.
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There is a lot you need to start gathering.

The big elements - Essays, Resume, Transcripts, Rec letters, GMAT scores break down as follows in my experience:

Essays: First school took me about 100 hours of work, second school about 50.
Resume: 10-15 hours of edits (you keep coming back to this as you write your essays to make sure things "flow" logically between the two)
Transcripts: Expect 7 business days to get a copy to you, and roughly 2 to 3 hours to transcribe them and validate them. You'll also need to calculate each year's GPA - something you want to make sure you do very very carefully.
GMAT Scores: I dont know where the 2 month thing came from, they told me it takes up to 14 bussiness days to get to the schools but thats hardly 2 months.
Rec Letters: Allow as much time as possible. I've had some recommenders who have been very good and very responsive and I've had two that have been a royal pain. Constant follow up required and a real hassle. The sooner you do this the better. Give them deadlines at least a week before theschool's real deadline.

Beyond this, you need to

1) Find exact titles of each of your previous jobs
2) Get addresses, fax # and phone # of all your previous employers
3) Get exact annual bonuses, starting salaries, ending salaries and precise dates of employment at each school
4) Determine precise dates of attendance at each school you attended.
5) Determine your parents job titles and degrees as well as which institutions granted them.
6) Obtain contact information for all your major extracurricular activities as some schools request this, and even if they didn't, you'd want to be able to provide it if they ever asked for it.
7) Schedule visits or info sessions to your major schools well before the deadlines if possible so as to get the most for your essays early in the process.
8) Determine dates, hours of work, title, etc for each extraccuricular you had in college.
9) Repeat #8 for all extracurr you've had after college.

There's a lot more to do but it all escapes me now.
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How long should it take to prepare all application stuff.. 10 Oct 2006, 18:37
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rhyme

GMAT Scores: I dont know where the 2 month thing came from, they told me it takes up to 14 bussiness days to get to the schools but thats hardly 2 months.
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Wharton says:

"It has been our experience that students often underestimate the time it takes for the School to receive grade transcripts and test scores. Since this time period may be as long as two months, students are well advised to send requests for grade transcripts and to schedule the appropriate tests as early as possible. Photocopies of test scores will be accepted pending receipt of official scores from ETS."

This is for the doctoral program, but I think it is also applicable for the MBA. https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/doctoral/admissions/gmat/

I have heard of cases where the GMAT scores were ordered but not "delivered" to the schools. Apparently ETS screwed up the process (and I don't think they are liable for it). You may only know about the missing scores say 3 to 4 weeks after ordering them (1st 2 weeks thinking they are being delivered. 1 more week of refreshing your online status and checking with the school. 1 week to get the confirmation that "No, it is not here".) Then you have to give another 2 weeks for the scores to be delivered. (After that there is the table-banging.)

Hence it would be better to send the score out early, preferably before the peak season. With the new service provider, things may be better. Still, I wouldn't want to take the chance.

I also know (yes, "know" as in "personally know") someone whose application materials package (transcripts, etc.) were lost in the mail. I can't remember whether it was before or after the deadline, but it was very close. He had to resend them for the admit. This is for a top 10 B-school. So it is good to keep some extras on standby.
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How long should it take to prepare all application stuff.. 10 Oct 2006, 22:19
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Thank you very much for your information.