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May 2208:30 AM PDT
-09:00 AM PDT
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great and how you can present a strong MBA application. Explore the difference between our One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs, talk to our admissions team, and meet students.
May 2208:30 AM PDT
-09:30 AM PDT
For many Indian MBA applicants, the default dream has long been a top US MBA. But as career goals, visa considerations, timelines, and global mobility priorities evolve, more candidates are seriously considering MBA programs in Europe.- May 21
08:30 AM PDT
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Are you applying to business school but feeling overwhelmed by where to actually apply? Applying to the wrong MBA programs is the #1 mistake that costs candidates time, money, and their acceptance letters. 
May 2110:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
Most candidates submit a resume built for a recruiter. Admissions committees are reading for something else entirely. This session covers what adcoms actually evaluate, where strong candidates lose ground before a single essay is written, and why...
May 2203:00 PM EDT
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The old MBA recruiting playbook is dead. Here’s how top admits are getting ahead this summer.
May 2311:00 AM PDT
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Transform your MBA application from chaos to clarity with Admit Expert. Get personalized guidance to make your application stress-free and streamlined. Say goodbye to overwhelm and start your journey to success today. Partner with Admit Expert now.
May 2308:00 PM PDT
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Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
May 2611:00 AM EDT
-12:30 PM EDT
This week, Columbia Business School announced the 2025-2026 application deadlines and essay questions. Check out Personal MBA Coach's quick tips video to help you navigate the CBS application!
May 2707:30 PM EDT
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Learn how to choose the right recommenders and strengthen your MBA candidacy in this live AMA with Stratus experts.
May 2910:00 AM PDT
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Download the MBA Launchpad App, for FREE access to the largest MBA database - Data backed read on your profile - Identify gaps before you apply - Build a balanced school list - Track your deadlines - Mock interviews - Extensive content library- Jun 10
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Register for the GMAT Club Virtual MBA Spotlight Fair – the world’s premier event for serious MBA candidates. This is your chance to hear directly from Admissions Directors at nearly every Top 30 MBA program..
29 Oct 2015, 08:21
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Bookmarks
I plan to start applying for MBA programs after at least another 3 years of work experience and I'd greatly appreciate any tips on how to best prep in the interim. Thanks in advance!
I currently work as a Business Development Associate and I've recently started looking into volunteer opportunities. I graduated from a T5 public university last May with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Applied Statistics, but my undergrad gpa was very underwhelming (2.5 range) and neither my major nor my minor gpa were stellar (no compelling story here, just some family and personal issues). I plan to build an alternative transcript, but I'm not sure when/where to start taking courses, or even what courses to take. Some quant and econ classes are a must (my only college calc class was honors multivariate freshman year and I barely scraped by with a D), but I'm also looking at Accounting/Finance. Apart from Business Law and Accounting, I was in the B-range for any B-school classes I managed to take (basic intro to finance, strategy, and business operations) - should I try to retake Business Law somewhere? Should I also take a few advanced Stats classes to address my minor gpa?
Also, is it too soon for me to start prepping for the GMAT? I was planning to start late next spring, when work calms down after the end of the fiscal year, but given my low gpa I don't plan to apply until 2018/2019 at the earliest, to try and gain some meaningful work experience.
I currently work as a Business Development Associate and I've recently started looking into volunteer opportunities. I graduated from a T5 public university last May with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Applied Statistics, but my undergrad gpa was very underwhelming (2.5 range) and neither my major nor my minor gpa were stellar (no compelling story here, just some family and personal issues). I plan to build an alternative transcript, but I'm not sure when/where to start taking courses, or even what courses to take. Some quant and econ classes are a must (my only college calc class was honors multivariate freshman year and I barely scraped by with a D), but I'm also looking at Accounting/Finance. Apart from Business Law and Accounting, I was in the B-range for any B-school classes I managed to take (basic intro to finance, strategy, and business operations) - should I try to retake Business Law somewhere? Should I also take a few advanced Stats classes to address my minor gpa?
Also, is it too soon for me to start prepping for the GMAT? I was planning to start late next spring, when work calms down after the end of the fiscal year, but given my low gpa I don't plan to apply until 2018/2019 at the earliest, to try and gain some meaningful work experience.
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Expert reply
29 Oct 2015, 17:14
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mzhang
It is great that you are starting to plan early! You can definitely start to study for the GMAT, since you will need a very high score given your undergrad GPA. The GPA will actually be a major factor so you will want to do everything you can to counteract that. Some schools will have a hard time getting over that, so it is something to keep in mind. You should focus on the quant classes and then shift gears to prepping for GMAT and perfecting the rest of your story. Let me know if you are interested in more specific guidance. Good luck!
Best,
Scott
02 Nov 2015, 09:54
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Here are some things to start working on given the amount of time you have:
Improve Your Resume
Take advantage of the additional time by really focusing at work. Improving your performance and taking on additional leadership opportunities affects so many different application pieces. From your resume to the recommendations to even your essays, being a rockstar in the office is one of the best things you can do with the additional time.
Identify Recommenders
This is usually one of the last decisions candidates make when it comes to the application and it really should be one of the first. Picking a recommender is not just about having someone fill out the form. In the best situations it is someone you trust and have built a close professional and sometimes personal relationship with. If that person does not exist, then its time to start identifying and preparing someone for the upcoming application season. Recommendations are very time consuming so make sure you are identifying someone who is not only willing to dedicate a good amount of time to these but also who puts a strong representation of you forward.
Take the GMAT
Get the GMAT out of the way as soon as possible. Nothing distracts qualified applicants more often than trying to prep for the GMAT while working on essays and other application components as an application deadline approaches.
School Selection
One of the easiest things you can do with the additional time is finalize your school list. Start broad and narrow down using a filter of what you are looking for in a school like location, academic programs, reputation, etc. Once you secure your GMAT score you can kick the school selection process into high gear. Engage in some primary research by visiting schools and getting a more in-depth understanding of your target programs. This will also help you develop some real essay and interview fodder when discussing “fit.”
Essay Prep
A lot of schools change their essays every year. Others keep them pretty consistent with slight tweaks. Either way it won’t hurt to get a head start on looking at the type of questions your target schools have historically asked. This will help you as you start sorting out potential approaches to the essay portion of the application. Also, there are traditional essay questions that will be asked in one form or another in almost every application like “Why MBA”. “Why School X”, and “What Are Your Short Term and Long Term Career Goals?” You know these questions are coming so get a head start on answering them.
Improve Your Resume
Take advantage of the additional time by really focusing at work. Improving your performance and taking on additional leadership opportunities affects so many different application pieces. From your resume to the recommendations to even your essays, being a rockstar in the office is one of the best things you can do with the additional time.
Identify Recommenders
This is usually one of the last decisions candidates make when it comes to the application and it really should be one of the first. Picking a recommender is not just about having someone fill out the form. In the best situations it is someone you trust and have built a close professional and sometimes personal relationship with. If that person does not exist, then its time to start identifying and preparing someone for the upcoming application season. Recommendations are very time consuming so make sure you are identifying someone who is not only willing to dedicate a good amount of time to these but also who puts a strong representation of you forward.
Take the GMAT
Get the GMAT out of the way as soon as possible. Nothing distracts qualified applicants more often than trying to prep for the GMAT while working on essays and other application components as an application deadline approaches.
School Selection
One of the easiest things you can do with the additional time is finalize your school list. Start broad and narrow down using a filter of what you are looking for in a school like location, academic programs, reputation, etc. Once you secure your GMAT score you can kick the school selection process into high gear. Engage in some primary research by visiting schools and getting a more in-depth understanding of your target programs. This will also help you develop some real essay and interview fodder when discussing “fit.”
Essay Prep
A lot of schools change their essays every year. Others keep them pretty consistent with slight tweaks. Either way it won’t hurt to get a head start on looking at the type of questions your target schools have historically asked. This will help you as you start sorting out potential approaches to the essay portion of the application. Also, there are traditional essay questions that will be asked in one form or another in almost every application like “Why MBA”. “Why School X”, and “What Are Your Short Term and Long Term Career Goals?” You know these questions are coming so get a head start on answering them.
