6 Ways to Play the MBA Waiting Game

by Stacy Blackman Consulting, Jan 30, 2013

After months of planning, studying for the admissions exam, writing essays, and wrangling recommenders, you have just hit the submit button for yourbusiness school applicationsand are now wondering what's next as theMBAwaiting game begins. Here are six tips to make the most of this period.

1. Be happy

What did you enjoy before essays andGMATscores became the focal point of your life? Take this opportunity to relax a bit,read a book, or go for a run.

It's likely your social life has languished on the back burner for the past few months, so spend some time reconnecting with your family and friends before every waking minute is spent job hunting and networking with your fellow MBA classmates. While accomplishing a huge goal such as gaining admission to an MBA program will feel good, friends, exercise, and relationships are the path tolonger-lasting happiness.

2. Fantasize about your plan B

It's tempting to start planning out your first few weeks on campusthe clubs you plan to join and the apartment you will hunt forbut reminding yourself that you have alternatives is healthy. You're young, intelligent, and accomplished. If youdidn't go to business schoolin the fall, what career shift or huge dream might you fulfill?

Maybe you would flee to Paris and take art lessons, learn Mandarin (in China), or hike the Appalachian Trail. Fantasizing about plan B is more practical than you think; when you start receiving those acceptance letters, you'll have a head start on your summer plans!

3. Avoid discussion boards

While commiserating with strangers over the Internet may seem like an attractive outlet for your anxiety, focusing on an outcome you can no longer control will only add to stress in your life. While it's certainly positive to network with your potential future classmates, make sure you approach any rumors or myths with a balanced perspective.

In fact, Internet rumors are so rampant in the MBA admissions process, schools like theStanford Graduate School of Businessand the University of ChicagoBooth School of Businesshavepostsor webpagesdedicated to dispelling some of the most common offenders.

It is natural to search for certainty in an uncertain process. With admission rates hovering at 10 percent for the most competitive programs, many candidates feel anxiety about the final decisions. However, if you have put together the strongest possible application you can and worked to impact every factor under your control, it's time to relax and wait for the results.

[Editor's Note: But don't avoid us] :) We here at Beat The GMAT are a supportive community!

4. Prepare for interviews

If you absolutely must remain focused on your MBA plans, starting yourinterview prepis a good outlet for your energy. Working on your communication and presentation skills can be an ongoing challenge.

Practicing common interview questions with friends and family will both make you more prepared when the interview invitation arrives and minimize your anxiety.

5. Become a local, even if only for a few days

Kurt Ahlm, associate dean of student recruitment and admissions at Booth, says MBA candidates should remember that they will be choosing not just a school but a city or town as well. Therefore, now is an ideal time to plan that campus visit, and to explore the region you may soon call home for the next two years.

"Investigating average rent prices, transportation, cost of living, entertainment and overall appeal will give you even more information with which to make a final decision," Ahlm says.

6. Stay connected

Demonstrating continued and genuine interest in your MBA program of choice is one of the best ways to show the admissions committee that you are strongly committed to attending their program. How to do this? Reach out to alumni for an insider view of the program, and perhaps some interview pointers as well.

If the school plans to hold an information session online or in a city nearby, sign up or show up. You can never have too much information about your target school. The more opportunities you create to connect with the program, the better you'll be able to judge its culture and community to determine if it's the right fit for you.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more.