MBA Application Timeline: Month by Month Checklist
B school application is an arduous journey that needs careful planning. If you looking for guidance on where to start your MBA application journey and what the process entails, you are in the right place. In this article, I will elaborate on the ideal MBA application timeline, and what you need to work on month by month to be able to apply to your dream schools on time.
12 months to 6 months before the deadline:
Prepare for and take the GMAT
GMAT is generally the first step in your MBA application journey. So, start early and dedicate time and resources to ace the test. Set aside at least 3 months to prepare for the test, more if you are working full time or have other commitments.
The reason you need to start so early with the test prep is to have buffer in case you are not satisfied with your initial score and want to retake the test. You can take the GMAT 5 times in a 12-month period.
However, if you feel that you are unable to crack the GMAT even after multiple attempts, many schools are increasingly accepting the GRE instead. You can also consider EA (executive assessment) should you qualify for it.
Starting your test prep early will give you a chance to switch tests and find what suits you, and get the optimal score.
School research
Start looking into potential schools. Do not base your decision solely on rankings, rather take into consideration factors like your post MBA goals, mainly the industry and the location you want to work in after your MBA. Also, research into school culture to determine if it is a good fit for you.
Go through the schools’ websites. You will find a plethora of information here about the program, curriculum, school culture, life on campus, current class profile, etc which can help you narrow down your target schools. Check the schools’ latest employment reports to see the hiring trends and check if they align with your goals. You can also go through the admissions requirements to check if you qualify for their program.
It’s a good idea to use professional networks like LinkedIn to connect with some current students/alumni of your target schools to get more info about the school/program.
Supplemental coursework
Despite all your efforts, if you are still not satisfied with your GMAT score or if you have poor academic performance, consider taking courses like MBA math or Harvard Business School’s CORe program.
Adcoms consider your academics and test scores to be indicators of your potential performance on the rigorous MBA program. Taking these additional courses can demonstrate to the adcom your quantitative and analytical skills, and readiness for the program. Besides, they are helpful in preparing you for the program if you have majored in an area that is low on quantitative subjects.
How to craft the perfect application?
6 months to 4 months before the deadline:
Shortlisting schools
By now you have done enough research about schools to have an understanding of which ones align with your goals and interests. You also have your final GMAT score (or other standardized test score) that you are going to use for your applications.
You can check the median GPA and GMAT/GRE scores of the current class on the school website to understand where you stand with respect to your competition. Although, bear in mind that test scores and academics alone do not determine your chances of an admit. Adcoms evaluate your application holistically. Read this article to know how you can build a strong application with low GMAT score.
Finalize a few schools based on above criteria. It is generally advised to apply to between 5 to 7 schools, with a healthy mix of ambitious, realistic, and safe schools, to maximize your chances of an admit.
Recommender outreach
Most schools ask for at least 2 recommendations, with one being from your direct supervisor. Reach out to your potential recommenders and check if they are willing to give you a good recommendation. Also, discuss the timeline with them so that they can set aside time for your recommendation in their schedule.
4 months to 2 months before the deadline:
Essays
This is probably the most crucial, yet most overlooked part of the application process. So do not take it lightly and set aside enough time and bandwidth for this step.
Visit the admissions portal of the shortlisted schools and start your online applications. Go through all of the requirements so that you are not blindsided in the last minute. The schools usually open applications for the new intake around this time and the portals will have updated essay questions.
However, before starting on the essays for each school, I highly recommend brainstorming and forming a strong personal narrative. This narrative should tie together your unique experiences, differentiators, your goals, and how an MBA fits into this picture.
Once you have the narrative in place, start working on essays for each school. Most essays have a word limit; try and stick to this. It will take you multiple iterations to get the essays right. For each essay, make sure you are addressing what is asked in the prompt; nothing more or less. You can always use the optional essay to address additional aspects like low GPA, poor academic performance, gap in employment, or choice of recommender. Some schools also ask for video essays. All the essays taken together should tell your story and covey your motivation for doing an MBA.
Depending on the number of schools you are applying to this stage can take longer. So, plan accordingly, and push your entire timeline to start sooner if you plan to apply to more schools.
Resume
You should finalize your resume in parallel with your essays. A B school resume is typically single page listing all your academic and professional accomplishments along with extra curriculars. Check the application portal for any specifications related to font size, margins etc.
Admissions events
Around this time, schools start conducting online and in-person admissions events. Attend as many as you can to get a good understanding of the application process, program specifics, and other info. A lot of schools also offer application fee waiver to attendees.
Get your profile evaluated
2 months before the deadline to D-day:
Filling up the applications
Most B school applications are really long with several fields you need to fill related to your academics, work ex, extra curriculars, etc. Many also have short questions, generally related to goals, and other such topics. So, ensure you set aside enough time for this and start filling out the applications at least 2 months before the deadline (or earlier depending on the number of schools you are applying to).
LOR submission
As you fill the applications, there will be fields for you to enter details about your recommenders. Reach out to your recommenders to see when they will be available to submit their recommendation. Depending on their availability, submit the recommender details on your application portal. The recommenders usually get a mail immediately with a link to the recommendation form. It is ideal if the recommenders fill out these forms themselves. Do follow up with them to make sure the recommendations are submitted well before the application deadline.
Application Submission
Make sure you have all the required documents, upload the essays and resume, and submit the applications on time. Pay attention to the time zones mentioned in the deadlines. It is highly advisable to submit your applications a few days before the deadlines to avoid any last-minute technical glitches/rush on the portal.
After submission
KIRA assessment
Schools like INSEAD, Oxford Saïd and Kellogg have an additional KIRA assessment the you will need to complete along with your application. Once the application is submitted, you will receive an email with a link to the KIRA assessment. Deadline to complete this assessment varies depending on the school. But information about this is generally listed in the application portal, so make sure not to miss this and set aside time to prepare for this.
Interview prep
This is probably the most dreaded yet anticipated stage of the MBA application process. After spending months in the application journey, you are perhaps exhausted by this stage. But you cannot hang up your boots yet. Start preparing for the interviews once your applications are submitted because schools start sending out interview invites as early as a couple of weeks after submission of application. You should receive an email with a link to book slot of your choice, with interviews usually starting in a few weeks from the receipt of interview invite. Read this article to know more about the most common MBA interview questions.
Set your timeline depending on which round you are targeting. For example, R1 deadlines are usually in September. So, if you are targeting this round (which is advisable for international applicants), the timeline will look something like:
- September to March – GMAT, school research, supplemental coursework
- April, May – shortlisting of schools, recommender selection
- June, July – Essays, resume, admissions events
- August, September – filling out applications, recommender outreach, submission
- After submission – KIRA, interview prep
In essence, this is the ideal MBA application timeline that you should follow to send out perfect applications on time without getting overwhelmed.
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