Roadmap for Admission into an MBA Program (1 of 6)
This post is part of a six-post series of posts which aims to explain the MBA application process from start until you get through to school.
This post will aim to give an overview of the typical roadmap one would follow in order to get admitted to an MBA program. The MBA application process can be divided into 8 broad categories and these are given below with some rough estimates on time each would take.
| Category | Expected Time Taken (in months) |
| GMAT | 2 |
| School Research, Recommendations | 3 |
| Resume | 1 |
| Storyline | 1 |
| Essays | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | 1 |
| Interview | 1 |
| Lag between admit and school start date | 3 |
| Total Time Taken | 14 |
Therefore, you are easily looking at a 14 month lifecycle to craft a winning application. Do note that this does not include any exonerating circumstances or lengthy travel plans which may require adjustments accordingly.
To give you an example, today is March 2, 2012. The Wharton MBA Program lists March 5, 2012 as the deadline for Round 3 which is also the final round for full-time MBA admission in the program starting in Fall of 2012. Looking at the 8 steps involved in the MBA application process and assuming you are just getting started, it would be a close to impossible feat for you to expect to apply by the deadline.
| Scenario Analysis | How many months prior to start of program is application started? |
| Ideal Case | 18-24 |
| Typical Case | 9-12 |
| Worst Case | 6 |
To add a caveat, some applicants may have compelling reasons for applying 6 months before the start of a program (likely in Round 3) which is okay as long as they can effectively communicate that to the MBA Admissions Committee.
In the next post, we will delve into two of the eight categories (GMAT, School Research, Resume, Storyline, Recommendations, Essays, Miscellaneous, Interview) namely, GMAT and School Research into greater detail. As you may have guessed, the MBA application process is a highly rigorous process which has the potential of taking over your life for the time when you are applying. It helps to be mentally prepared for the same, plan accordingly and have a support system of family and friends around who can cheer you on in this endeavor. Overwhelmed? Take a break, sit back and relax. In future posts, we will help you through each and every step taking baby steps along the way to prepare an awesome application which will help you Crack The MBA.
