Preparation Before Joining MBA Program
We often get questions from applicants who have already got admission into an MBA program about what preparation they can do before joining an MBA program. Therefore, today’s post is dedicated to better understanding some opportunities to use your time after gaining an admit as well as how this preparation before joining MBA program can help you during school.
The MBA application process can be overwhelming, but the research and the introspection will give you a good sense for the different opportunities you will be provided at school. In case you haven’t already, now is a good time to think about things you can do after accepting the offer of admission from an MBA program and before you go off to school.
Your time at B-School will present you with a multitude of opportunities, and a variety of career options, that may well leave you confused, overwhelmed or plain simple out of breath. As you struggle to take it all in, it is very easy to be distracted with the variety, and with the desire to try everything possible. While trying new things is an indispensable part of the MBA degree, a certain amount of clarity about your post-MBA goals, and about the activities you’re most passionate about, will help you explore a few meaningful opportunities deeply, as against skimming through a never-ending supply of opportunities.
Most MBA programs are structured such that you are expected to hit the ground running from the word go with academics, networking, social engagements, recruiting, clubs and other engagements requiring your time. Therefore, should you have the time to do some of the things mentioned below before you start school, it could enhance your experience significantly. Furthermore, if you are extremely focused on your goals, some pre-school homework will help you to position yourself better to maximize your time while at school.
The list mentioned below is structured along certain themes and is by no means exhaustive. These are just ideas based on what we have seen people do in the past:
1. Career
- Intern at a company which is in alignment with your Post MBA goals
- Speak to career services to figure out how you can network better with companies you hope to work/intern with at school
- Look at the school’s resume books, and cover letter samples and start working on that
2. Academic
- Brush up on quantitative skills by taking statistics, accounting and finance courses
3. Program
- Reach out to clubs you might be interested in joining
- Research the different resources offered by the school in your areas of interest in greater depth. While it is true you’ve done a lot of research already, you might have missed some things with all the application madness
4. Relationships/Networks
- Attend networking event to meet your classmates to be, and the alums
- Talk to as many current students as you can- about their experiences, their tribulations, and well, everything in between
- Try to get a rapport with one or two second year students, so they may be your mentors when you run into obstacles in your first year
5. Personal
- Travel
- Accumulate sleep
- Spend time with family and friends
- Learn a language
We’ve seen a lot of people taking the time to organize their thoughts about their life-goals, and engaging in activities such as those listed above. While we can not stress the importance of going to school with an open mind, it’s a great idea to start school with at least some level of focus, or armed with some process of elimination, as you wade through the numerous opportunities that B-school will present. Business school is nothing, if not an incubator for your dreams, aspirations and desires.
Good luck on the new and exciting turn that your life is about to take and remember to keep us posted about your plans for school!
