

Survivify: School
- How to Survivify: Applying to Business 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.
Read moreSo 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 m...
Look on the bright side:
- At least you will get to relive a part of your youth while you relearn high school math.
- Writing the application essays will give you a nice chance to do some reflection, without having to pay for therapy.
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Tips from the trenches:
- Brace yourself - this is a process that should take at least 6 months to a year and will require a lot of discipline.
- Enroll in some local courses to refresh your math skills while you study for the GMAT.
- Plan on applying to a good number of schools to maximize your chances of getting accepted.
- You may need to take the GMAT a second time. If you don't do well the first time, consider taking a prep course.
- Cultivate good professional contacts who are willing to write a good recommendation for you - people who can vouch for you personally and professionally.
- Alumni recommendations do help.
- Take a lot of practice tests, and remember to time yourself.
- Like anything worth having, this process will require sacrifices. Think of it as a warm-up for actually being in B-school.
- Start saving lots and lots of money. Investigate student loans.
- Allow time to unearth your college transcript.
- When the going gets rough, remember: you actually want this.
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Survival kit contents:
(replenish as often as needed)- Read
- Your MBA Game Plan: Proven Strategies for Getting into th...
- The Best Business Schools' Admissions Secrets: A Former H...
- Forgotten Calculus
- Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side ...
- Business School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Bus...
- How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs, 5th Edition
- Great Application Essays for Business School (Great Appli...
- MBA Admissions Strategy: From Profile Building to Essay W...
- The MBA Reality Check: Make the School You Want, Want You
- The MBA Application Roadmap: The Essential Guide to Getti...
- Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance
- Secrets to Getting into Business School: 100 Proven Admis...
- Essays That Will Get You into Business School
- Accepted! 50 Successful Business School Admission Essays
- Kaplan GMAT 2011 Premier with CD-ROM (Kaplan GMAT Premier...
- Marketing Yourself to the Top Business Schools
- Cracking the GMAT with DVD, 2011 Edition
- Kaplan GMAT Math Workbook
- Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook
- 30 Day GMAT Success: How I Scored 780 on GMAT in 30 Days....
- Kaplan GMAT 2011: Strategies, Practice, and Review
- The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review, 2nd Edition
- The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review, 2nd Edition
- Chili Hot GMAT: Verbal Review
- Chili Hot GMAT: Math Review
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- How to Survivify: Business School
- How to Survivify: Unemployment: New College Graduate Edition