We are close to the first round deadlines for many schools. Below is a checklist of steps that would help you keep a tab on submitting parallel MBA applications:
Check the eligibility and shortlist the schools on the basis of your academic and professional credentials, career goals, location preferences and budgeted costs.
Once you have shortlisted your schools, request the GMAC or the ETS to send the official GMAT score or the GRE score with the schools well ahead in time.
Journalise your stories and start working on the application essay drafts. For every school make an excel tracker for the application requirements like number of essays, recommendations, application parts, video essays etc.
Choose your recommenders and discuss their availability and your plans well ahead in time with them.
Prepare your information packets that you want to share with your recommenders and share with them in advance.
Once you have the essay drafts make sure that your essays address each part of the essay question properly.
You must proofread and grammar check the MBA application essays before you finalise.
Pay equal attention to the resume. The MBA resume is much different from the work resume. The general content of your bullet points is likely to change. When applying for a specific job, you must provide proof that you are proficient in the technical skills involved in the role. MBA admissions committees do not really care about these details.
Check with the requirements of the extra curricular and activities section for each application and create a customised template to save your inputs.
Know when to stop your iterations on the essays. It is a never ending process. You must pay equal attention to the rest of the application requirements.
Check with your recommenders from time to time for the submissions.
Reconfirm the submission or despatch of the official score reports on your GMAC or ETS account.
Plan to use the optional essay if absolutely required.
Get together the necessary work experience proofs, education proofs in soft copy according to the system limited requirements for each school.
Always proof read the preview of the ready application before submitting. After submission, download and save the submitted application for the interview process.
Some common questions we are usually asked: Q. How do I choose my stories? A. It's easy to get swept up about what sounds awesome to you or what appears remarkable to your friends, colleagues, or parents. But what you really need to do is look at your application through the eyes of the admissions officers. Q. I have excellent grades, GPA and GMAT score. What more could you possibly need? A. Top business schools receive a huge lot of applicants all of whom are brilliant, charismatic high achievers who would benefit from any programme. That is why you must think over and above your evident accomplishments and distinguish yourself in your essays and interviews by selecting experiences that are distinctive to you. Q. Placement reports mention that more than 30% of the batch at my target school join Consulting careers. Of course that is my short term goal too! Why should I even think twice? A. How can you justify your short- and long-term career aspirations when you're not sure what you want to do in the first place? Perhaps you're seeking an MBA hoping that the classes and people you'll meet will help you discover your goals. The admissions team doesn't expect you to know exactly where you want to be in ten years. However, your response to the question about your career goals is extremely important. If an applicant does not seem to have given careful consideration to his or her own future, this may be a very valid reason for rejection. You must consider whether your dream career is attainable based on your qualifications and previous accomplishments in conjunction with an MBA education. Below is a checklist that you should have ensured before you hit the submit button to your dream MBA School application: 1. Class Profiles At Your Target School: Do you fit the bill for the school you want to apply for? The best way to do a self analysis is go through the class profiles which are freely available and compare with yours. 2. Recommendation Letters: There is a limit to how much you can swagger about yourself. Choose a recommender who would be more than happy to contribute to your story of uniqueness and adds the third party point of view to your suitability for the MBA Application. 3. Have You Shown Your Spike: Have you written down all the skills, capabilities, and talents you possess that will be critical to your future success. The round in which you apply does not matter much if your application misses the spike it deserves. 4. Resume: The resume should show succinctly and systematically the career progression you have achieved till date. Does it show the summary of your profile which can be corroborated from other parts of your application. Is your resume action packed and show you as an achiever or is it full of slow, historic unnoticeable describers. 5. Awards & Achievements: The awards and achievements section does not require a whole list, but does it have just one such award or achievement which shows that you are unique? Finally, the point of this section is to give you an additional scope to reassert the strengths, skills, talents and character that you wish to show through your application. 6. Essays: Do your MBA application essays answer the questions asked or are you on an ego trip of your own? Make sure you address the question and create an impressive outlay of the stories that relate. The admissions committee wants to see an honest portrayal of who you are and how you will add value to the school. 7. What Are Your Chances: If you are sure that you have what the school wants and you are able to show it through various aspects of your application. Go for it. Ensure all the parts of the application are properly in place addressing the FIT with the school.