UPDATE: This article was originally posted on February 26, 2020. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
Applying for an MBA is no joke. Rather than just filling in some forms, this lengthy process involves testing, gathering input from others, lots of writing and rewriting, and more self-reflection than you might expect.
While it would be nice to give you a guaranteed timeline for applying that will definitely work for you, the truth is that there are too many variables to establish one guideline for everyone. It’s best for you to look for yourself at all the different aspects of an MBA application and calculate your own timeline.
When you should start preparing your MBA application will be affected by what you know about your writing speed, your available time to work on it, and the number of tasks you need to complete.
To help you calculate your own timeline, we’ve compiled a list of the different pieces of the application and an estimate of how long they should take depending on your circumstances. Once you’ve gone through this information, you can add everything up with your situation in mind, and you will have your personalized timeline for applying to business school.
Take the GMAT or GRE
Taking the GMAT, GRE, or the Executive Assessment is one of the most important factors in building your MBA prep timeline. It’s the first step listed here because you may need months to prepare and study, take the test, and then, potentially, retake the test.
You read that right. The GMAT and GRE are both long, difficult tests that often require time to achieve a score that will get your application seriously considered. We typically recommend that students spend close to 100 hours or more studying, spread out over a month minimum, but ideally more like 3 to 6 months.
Taking the test twice is often recommended (after additional studying, of course) as the average GMAT test taker is able to increase their score by 31 points on the second try. (Keep in mind that you will have to wait 16 days before retaking the GMAT.)
Not sure if you should take the GMAT or the GRE? Check out our post with tips to help you choose the best test for your profile.
TIME TO PREPARE FOR TESTS: 1 – 6 months
Complete a language test
Non-native English speakers need to take a language test – either TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, or Duolingo test – in order to be accepted into an MBA program. This ensures that students taking an MBA will get the most out of the program because they can fully participate in class discussions, do group presentations, etc.
Your English ability will make a big impact on your timeline. If you are fluent, you might only need a week to prepare for a language test, while some applicants will need months to improve their English. If you are not fluent, private English lessons may be a good idea.
Note that you won’t ever get your test results back right away. The PTE scores are released within five days, while the TOEFL internet-based test (which is the most common) will have your results back to you in 13 business days. To decide which test is right for you, check out our Ultimate Guide to MBA Language Tests.
TIME TO PREPARE FOR LANGUAGE TEST: 2 weeks – 3 months
Research and visit the schools
Thorough knowledge of the school you are applying to is necessary for a successful MBA application, as the adcoms will want to see that you are a good fit, so the first step of learning about the school(s) you’re applying to is by spending some time getting to know each one virtually.
Don’t stop at the school’s online FAQ page – connect with alumni in your area (you can use LinkedIn to find them), check out student blog pages, and research social media hashtags associated with the school to learn more about student life and culture, including clubs you may want to join. In addition, research the programs and courses you are interested in, the professors who teach them, and familiarize yourself with their work and ideas if it relates to you.
Visiting the school is recommended but not necessary. After all, especially when applying internationally, visiting schools may just be too difficult for you, especially given COVID-19 restrictions on campuses. (Note: universities with visitation restrictions are offering online opportunities such as webinars for prospective students.)
But an MBA is a big investment, so getting a real feel for the place where that will happen is a great idea. Of course, a physical visit where you get to talk to students, interact with professors, and attend some classes is also a valuable contribution to your application – describing what makes the school important to you will be enriched if you can absorb its opportunities and atmosphere.
If you choose to visit the schools, plan to go between January and April or September and November, when you can attend some classes. You will want to give yourself at least a full day on each campus and time in between for travel – usually about ten days total.
TIME TO RESEARCH/VISIT SCHOOLS: 10 days – 3 weeks
Choose your recommenders
Choosing your recommenders should be the easy part, right? Someone else is doing the writing for your letters of recommendation, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to allot time for this step.
For one, you need to choose your recommenders carefully. Rather than choosing a family member or friend who you think will speak well of you, it’s important that your letters come from people you have worked with and, preferably, are more senior in the organization than yourself.
They need to be able to go into detail about your strengths and weaknesses and have specific, story-form examples of your work. Think carefully about who is best suited to help you stand out from the crowd!
Secondly, recommenders are often busy people. Give them lots of time by requesting your letters early, and you won’t be stuck with a rushed letter of recommendation that could reflect badly on you.
For Round 1, we suggest asking at least one month in advance. For Round 2, which is close to the holidays, at least two months ahead of the deadline is a good idea. Help your recommenders further by providing them with guidelines on how to write a letter of recommendation.
TIME TO ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: 6 weeks (This can be done in parallel with other steps!)
Write your essays
You might be a fast writer, but the really crucial aspect of this step is the prep work beforehand, which includes brainstorming, drafting, and editing.
To start, get to know yourself and think about how you fit into the schools you’re applying to based on what you know from your visit and/or research. Defining your personal brand is also a must before you start writing.
It’s important to sit down and spend some time brainstorming in the essay writing stage of your MBA application, thinking about what you want to highlight about your career, goals, strengths, impact, and needed improvements.
A clear and purposeful admissions essay is one of the greatest differentials between you and other highly qualified candidates. It adds context to your CV and key achievements and gives the admissions committee a chance to really get to know you.
Your essay writing sessions should be structured based on how you prefer to write, whether that’s in short bursts or long sittings. However, you choose to write, make sure you leave lots of time for reflection, walking away, and coming back to your work. We suggest you seek out trusted advisors to read and comment on your work. A couple of weeks of this should be incorporated into your timeline even after the essays are “finished.” This practice gives you fresh eyes to see your own work and tweak them as necessary.
(For more help on this step, check out our Complete Guide to Writing Winning MBA Essays.)
Our team of MBA essay experts is skilled at helping you identify weak points in your essays, come up with ways to improve your content and demonstrate a better fit with your target schools and ensure you submit an error-free essay that sells your profile while retaining your voice. If you want to take your essays to the next level, get in touch with us!
TIME TO WRITE YOUR ESSAYS: 6 weeks – 2 months
Fill out the online application(s)
Don’t overlook this crucial final step! The online application is where you put together everything that you’ve collected, so it can take some time. Familiarize yourself with all aspects of the application platform in advance, so you know everything that you need to prepare and how it should be submitted.
Additionally, allowing enough time to fill out the application will allow you the time to carefully answer each additional question on the form in a manner that ensures your responses are aligned with your personal brand.
This is the final step of your application, so don’t rush because you’re at the end!
TIME TO FILL OUT YOUR APPLICATION: 1-2 weeks
Maximize your time with expert help
As you can see, the time needed for preparing your MBA application will vary greatly depending on your situation. Just over three months is the absolute shortest amount of time you might spend, but it could potentially take up to a year.
When you have determined your own MBA application timeline, take a look at the application rounds you can choose from (we usually recommend Round 1 and 2). This will give you a specific time of year you need to start preparing if you want to apply for an MBA.
Organizing your timeline and making sure you’re on track to succeed is a hard task to complete while you’re focusing on crafting an outstanding application.
Luckily, our expert team here at Ellin Lolis Consulting, with a 98.9% success rate, can guide you along every step of the process, from creating your to-do list to preparing for your interviews. Sign up to work with us today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
