MBA Class of 2013: Get ready…get set…go!

by , May 23, 2010

Yes, you still have quite some time before MBA applications for next year are due, but that doesn't mean that you can'tor shouldn'tget ready now. Whether you are a first-time applicant, a re-applicant, a re-re-applicant, or are still in the camp with all the other maybe-applicants, there's work that can be done now that will help boost your chances of getting accepted in a year from now.

You see those proud new MBA admitsthat could be you at this time next year. So start your engines and get ready for the ride of your life!

The main thing that you'll need to get started onand this is a lot easier said than doneis THINKING. To get you thinking in the right direction, I'd like to offer you two thinking exercises:

1. Think in stories.

When it comes to creating compelling and memorable b-school essays, you'll need to make sure that you're able to describe your experiences in a compelling and memorable way. If you can't tell the intriguing story of your life, then you certainly won't be able to write about your experiences effectively. Start now by thinking about the unique aspects of your job, leadership, or extracurricular activities and about how those experiences have shaped you as a person and as a strong MBA candidate.

You need to be able to describe how you're more than just a compilation of test scores and how your experiences can't be boiled down to an itemized resume. What went into that fundraising event that you organized? What were the obstacles that you faced in a particular project or management experience, and how did you overcome them? The answers to simple questions like these could become the basis of great stories. Think about past and present experiences and narrate them in a story-like fashionwith a beginning, middle, and end, and with a challenge, climax, and solution.

2. Clarify your goals.

Before you apply to a top MBA program, you'll need to have a rather clear (albeit flexible) idea of where you are and where you'd like to be going. Certain programs cater to students with different goals, and in order for you to best establish school fit (which is key in the school search and application process), you'll have to clarify what your goals are.

You should try and be as specific as possible. Deciding that post-MBA you'd like to be an entrepreneur is really not so enlightening. Why are you interested in starting your own business? What sort of business are you considering? What skills and tools are you seeking in achieving those goals? Do you want to work for a firm that does what you're considering before starting up on your own? If so, which firms would you ideally work for? B-schools, and then later on recruiters, love motivated, goal-oriented students, and then potential employees. Again, nothing here is set in stone; but you should have goals that excite you and that motivate you to push forward in a given direction.

Related Accepted.com Resources:

• Create a Better Sequel: How to Reapply Right to Business School, an instantly downloadable ebook.
• Take 2: How to Reapply Right to Business School, a free webinar.
• The Roadmap to Bold and Brilliant Essays, free webinar.
• Navigate the MBA Maze, a free, 9-day email course.