MBA Application Process Tips

A well-managed MBA application process can save you time, reduce unnecessary costs, and make the work much less stressful. A few simple habits can also make your meetings with your ARINGO consultant more productive.

The tips below cover practical parts of the process, from preparing for meetings and managing drafts to starting early and communicating clearly.

Sign Up For a Free Consultation

How to Make the MBA Application Process More Efficient

Cost Saving Tips

At the end of each meeting, ask your application consultant: “What should I prepare for the next meeting?” The more prepared you are for your meetings, the shorter and more efficient they are.
The full ARINGO process is a thorough one; however it does not suit everyone in terms of cost. If your budget is limited, consider working with ARINGO thoroughly on one university application, and on the others, consider working independently. After all, the work done on the first application usually builds the foundation for the subsequent university applications.
Following the Essay Outline Stage (see: The Essay Preparation Process), your task is to write the first essay draft and send it to your consultant for comments and editing. Usually, the schools set a word limit (for example, 500 words) for each essay. The closer the first draft is to the word limit, the less time your consultant will have to spend on it.
Usually, when a client sends a document to the consultant for editing/commenting, the consultant edits the document independently and then sends it back to the client. However, occasionally, clients prefer to actually be present (either in person or over the phone) when the consultant edits the document. We recommend you consider this option. Some of our clients find it more efficient as it allows them better control over the cost.
It is recommended to perfectly complete one recommendation-example for one school before starting to work on the next recommendation (by the same recommender) for another school. This normally assures that the recommendation versions are managed more efficiently.

Making the Most of ARINGO

At ARINGO, being shy does not lead to results! If you wish for things to be done differently, make sure you communicate this to your consultant. If you have any concerns or if you are unhappy with the process, please communicate your concerns to your consultant clearly, directly and immediately.
Please note: If our consultants come across false information in any of your documents, they are required to report it to their ARINGO manager. If your consultant finds that you saw the actual recommendation that your recommender sent, the consultant is required to report it to his or her ARINGO manager (if your recommender is working with your ARINGO consultant on your recommendations, then your recommender should send the recommendation directly to your consultant without you seeing it).
While working on the essays and recommendations, some ARINGO clients prefer working in “marathon-mode” (half a day straight) with their consultant. Some clients report that they find this helpful in focusing on the tasks at hand. Consider taking a day off work to work in “marathon-mode” with your consultant.
Some of our clients find that conducting the work with the application consultant in-person or over the phone/Skype is more efficient than via email.

Process Efficiency

Most application consultants (also the ones at ARINGO) prefer to conduct the work the furthest away from the deadline (the earlier the better). This allows the consultant to fully focus his/her attention on you and your application. It also ensures maximum availability of our different application experts. The consultant’s workload normally increases during the 2 weeks before the deadline. As a result, response speed may decrease. It is recommended that you plan your work schedule accordingly.
Once you start working on your second university application, you will find that there were things you could have done better in the first application. This is natural. Therefore, we usually advise our clients to complete the work on the first application about 2 months prior to the official deadline. This way, you will have additional time to work on improving your first application, and will be able to submit it 1 week ahead of the deadline.
Some MBA programs ask their applicants to interview before submitting their application. Please check this policy on the admissions’ page on the school website (or discuss this with your ARINGO consultant), to make sure you perform the interview on time.
Create your username and password in the Online Application System of the schools you are applying to (if you haven’t yet done so). An early acquaintance with the school’s system can help you submit a strong, complete application on time.
In order to optimize your work with ARINGO, we recommend that you disable the balloon option in your Track Changes settings on Microsoft Word.
Please also read about our ARINGO Liability and Monetary Compensation Policy so that you are able to use if needed (though we hope that will not be the case).

A few things worth remembering:

The MBA application process is easier to manage when you treat it as a series of smaller tasks rather than one huge deadline. Prepare before meetings, send usable drafts, ask questions early, and leave enough time for review.

There is no prize for waiting until the last week. Starting earlier gives you more time to think, revise, and deal with anything unexpected.

Frequently Asked Questions: MBA Application Process Tips

How can I reduce the cost of MBA application consulting?

The simplest way is to use consulting where it adds the most value. Some applicants work with ARINGO thoroughly on their first university application and then use the framework independently for the remaining schools.

You can also reduce unnecessary time by preparing carefully for every meeting, asking what to work on next, and sending drafts that are close to the school’s word limit. If you are working on several recommendations or applications, completing one strong version first can make it easier to adapt the work for the others.

What should I prepare before meeting my ARINGO consultant?

Ask at the end of each meeting what you should prepare for the next one. Then do that work before the meeting.

Depending on where you are in the process, this might mean bringing:

An updated resume.
A first version of your career plan.
Examples for an essay question.
Notes for a recommendation.
Questions about a target school.

A little preparation can make a meeting shorter, clearer, and more useful.

Is it better to start the application early?

Yes. Starting early gives you room to think and revise instead of making decisions under pressure.

ARINGO recommends completing the first application well before the official deadline where possible. That leaves time to review it again after you have worked on another application and noticed ways the first one could be improved.

Should my first essay draft be the exact word count?

It does not need to be perfect, but it should be reasonably close to the school’s limit. A draft that is much too long can take extra time to cut down, while a draft that is too short may not contain enough detail.

A useful first draft gives your consultant something concrete to work with.

What if I am unhappy with the way the process is going?

Say so early and directly. Your consultant cannot fix a concern they do not know about.

If you want a different working style, more explanation, a faster pace, or a change in direction, communicate that clearly. Honest feedback usually makes the process more effective for everyone.

What happens if I wait until close to the deadline?

You may have less flexibility. Consultants and admissions teams are generally busier in the weeks before deadlines, so response times and availability can become tighter.

Late work also leaves less room for:

Rewriting essays.
Fixing inconsistent information.
Arranging recommendations.
Preparing for interviews.
Checking the online application carefully.

How should I manage applications to several schools?

Build the first application carefully, because it usually creates a useful framework for the next ones. After that, adapt the strategy to each school instead of copying the same application from one program to another.

Also check whether a school requires an interview before the application is submitted, and create your online application account early so you are familiar with the system.

The MBA application process becomes much easier to manage when you prepare properly, communicate openly, and give yourself enough time. Use the support you need, keep track of each deadline, and avoid leaving important decisions until the last minute. Contact ARINGO today for free advising session.