The Application Process

Hi,

I am planning on applying to business school this upcoming fall, my goal is to complete my application and apply early decision at Columbia in Oct. The application process seems like a daunting task so I would like to have a clear plan of action for completing it. I have started studying for the GMAT this week and am planning on taking it in mid Aug but my question is outside of the GMAT, how should I piece together the rest of my application? Also starting now, is there anything extra I can do thats in my control to improve my application?

Thanks

Mark

Hi MarkPaul,

Here is the plan of action I would recommend for you if you were my client:

- ASAP (like this week): Take a full-length GMAT diagnostic test to get an idea of where you stand. Even that score will likely OVERSTATE your real GMAT score, so don't rest on your laurels even if you get a healthy diagnostic score. I'm an admissions expert--not a GMAT expert--but that's what I've seen time and again with my clients.

- Sign up for GMAT tutoring or a prep course with meeting times that fit into your schedule so that you know you will not miss even one lesson. Besides teaching you test-taking strategies, you should have the opportunity to take at least FOUR full-length practice tests under conditions as similar to the real test situation as possible.

- Register for the GMAT for late August/early September. Basically, if you don't get the score you want, you should take several more months to study and retake it in early December and apply in R2. Since you will have been working on your essays in preparation for applying R1, you will have less pressure to juggle GMAT and essays and you can focus on hiking your GMAT score up to your desired level.

- Dedicate June and July primarily to GMAT study.

- Use June and July to finalize your list of schools you plan to apply to. Have a healthy mix of dream schools, match schools, and safety schools. The mix depends on how risk-tolerant you are as well as how urgent it is for you to attend business school next fall (rather than potentially having to reapply).

- August will be a bit of a juggling month. I want you to write first and second drafts of your essays as you wrap up your GMAT studying.

- Use my free checklist to make sure your essays are on track. Get it here: https://theartofapplying.com/essay-checklist/

- In mid-August, send your recommenders your recommender packet. Read my newsletter article about how to do that here: https://archive.aweber.com/artofapp/1QZe ... me_For.htm

- Take the GMAT in late August / early September.

- Dedicate the rest of September to polishing your essays.

- If your GMAT score is good and your essays are outstanding, submit for Round 1 in October. This seems a bit tight, so I'd really recommend you start now, be diligent with your timeline, but apply in R2 to give yourself the opportunity to present your very best application.

I find that most successful R1 applicants have started their process before now. This is not to discourage you--just to help you be open to applying in R2.

Good luck, MarkPaul!

Kaneisha

Oh, I forgot to answer your bit about strengthening your application. Depending on your quantitative background and undergraduate GPA, you may want to take some supplemental coursework. You can read a thread here on BTG about that here: https://bt.www.beatthegmat.com/pre-mba-c ... 63263.html

I agree with Kaneisha has said... and as someone who went through this daunting process last year (and never again thankfully) I would like to caveat all of the previous answers with...

BE WILLING TO ALTER YOUR SCHEDULE AND TIMELINE! In a perfect world, everything would would out as planned and I hope that happens to you, but from what I've seen from my friends... 95% of the time it does not work out as planned. So make sure that if you get thrown off a bit you need to be able to amend the course of action and then continue on. If you let one road block knock you off kilter then you're doomed.

Best of luck!!!

I was wondering if applying in Round 1 is better than applying in Round 2 ? If we apply in Round 1 we have a better or greater chance of getting accepted than in applying in Round 2 ? Is this true ?
Thanks

Ankush : Its a definite point that the chances of getting through in 1st round is little higher than that in second round ,thats the statistics part only. Your profile and your applciation package along with other scores is what counts ,

I am still in the GMAT phase of my application process, but if you intend to apply for financial aid (scholarships in particular), then perhaps you should apply in R1 and R2. Many business school do not offer scholarships in later rounds.

Good luck with the preparation!