When dealing with college applications, especially for the MBA applicant, taking the required steps early enough can contribute to the success of your career goals. Many people usually procrastinate doing relevant things, which end up costing them in the future. That is why this article features tips on how to optimize the timeframe for MBA applications.
The real question now is, how do you minimize last-minute rush when making an MBA application? Remember, you are likely to be anxious and stressed out when you do things in a hurry. Why experience all these when you can plan your activities adequately? Consider breaking the entire idea into two:
- Know the year you will apply- The exact year and application round
- Understand when you will work on each business section during the application process.
Pre-MBA work experience you Require
Before taking the step to applying for an MBA degree, you must know that it takes around four to five years for MBA students at top-rated schools to enroll in the program. Some categories like military veterans consider earlier enrollment
Business schools aim to give students a room to enjoy all the moments during discussions and class sessions.
Post-MBA employers desire over five years of work experience before joining the program.
If the students have between 4 and 5 years of experience, they are likely to possess a little leadership experience, which prepares them for more leadership involvement.
Younger and older MBA applicants
You can get admitted at any given time. However, you will have a challenging experience in class if you only have 1 to 2 years of working experience. Again, if you are from an average sector like banking, be sure to face tough times.
Furthermore, if you enroll in the program with over eight years of experience, yet you don’t belong to the military category, you have undergone a slow career growth, which is a negative sign. Still, it can imply that you have experienced promotions past most post-MBA positions. In the end, the question is, if you have had all the promotions, how will you prove you require the MBA?
The MBA application you Should Consider
In most cases, the MBA programs are categorized into three sections of applications
The first round happens with the deadlines falling between September and October
The second phase has a deadline in January, while the third round has a deadline in April.
However, more so in Europe, other business schools have up to the fourth and fifth round of application.
When we compare the previous years, the deadlines are pretty regular every other year. This means that if there isn’t a release of the deadline this year, you can consider the previous one so that you plan your MBA enrollment time frame.
Advantages of Round one application
When you enroll in the program in round one, you have adequate time to get everything ready. Again, every chance in round one is open, meaning you are assured of a chance. But with rounds two and three, you might miss a chance because sometimes the program might be having a full capacity of the required students. Since business schools offer equal opportunities to each student, you can miss a chance if they have a similar student already in progress.
If you fall in a group where the candidates have saturated the program already, you need to consider applying in round one. For example, applicants from China and India are likely to saturate the class in round one.
Do not assume that business institutions hold up extra positions for more students because MBA programs have strict regulations.
Another option for round two application
Although we have mentioned the importance of applying in round one, it can be better to consider round two applications that have an appealing application than round one that was done hurriedly. Consider round two options if you require extra time to improve your scores for GMAT and prepare application materials and a well-written essay.
Requirements for MBA enrollment
You will require the following for MBA enrollment
- Written applications which include application forms, essays, and resumes.
- Recommendation letters.
- Interviews for MBA admissions.
- Attending campus visits and sessions to meet your target MBA program
- Undertaking GRE, GMAT, or Executive assessment.