Survivify: School

So you want an MBA, eh? It's a worthwhile goal, and it's a shame no course credit is given for the application process. Between studying for GMATs, researching schools, writing application essays, planning a possible relocation, and gathering up the needed supporting documentation, this whole process takes approximately a year. But as strenuous as it is, it will be a piece of cake compared to the MBA program itself.

The easiest way to approach this is to divide it up into stages. There is the pre-application stage, the application stage, and the waiting stage. Most of the work takes place in the first stage (relearning all the math you swore you'd never have to see again), learning new fields (e.g., accounting, statistics, finance or others you may not have been exposed to previously), taking lots and lots of practice GMATs, and more. The application stage is also time-consuming. You need to figure out what type of program you want (full-time vs. executive/part-time), determine whether or not you will relocate, investigate the availability of student aid, and get hold of recommendations and transcripts. The final stage is hard for other reasons. At the point you've taken the GMAT and submitted your applications, you have to wait for news from the schools you've selected. Use this time to reacquaint yourself with friends and loved ones. Enjoy sleeping while you can, and be sure to have as much fun as time permits. Once you get on the MBA roller coaster, it'll be at least 2 years before you can get to a movie or read a book for fun. But it's worth it in the end. You'll be positioned to earn more money and having another diploma is always something to be proud of.