5 things you should do before starting your MBA

Okay. So you’ve

Submitted your applications
Conducted your interviews
Gotten accepted
Sent in your deposit

Now what? One of the most common questions I get from future MBA students is “what can I do to prepare for my MBA program?” So, I’d like to offer up list of things that I think can help you prepare for your MBA program. Know the pillars The best way to prepare yourself for business classes is by having a strong understanding of the tools you’ll use most – namely Microsoft Excel, said one recent MBA grad who asked for anonymity as his employer doesn’t allow media interviews. “Without being an Excel pro, you’ll be playing catch-up,” he said. Many schools offer one- or two-week “camps” during August – instructional classes on math, statistics and finance that can freshen you up on some of the basics that you may not have been using at your job. “Do them and pay attention,” he said. They’ll also give you a head start on networking with people in your program. Take public speaking classes during the final weeks before starting school as you didn’t do too much presenting as a professional. Finance Matters

Start saving as much money as you can
Start thinking about trips and travel experiences you are interested in versus what you might pass up on
Take out the necessary loan options. Look for alternative loan options
Read up on MBA and tax exemptions

Pre-Career Preparation Since people go to business school to change or accelerate their career, most MBA students will spend a significant amount of time on career related activities during their business school experience. Once you start business school, you’ll be inundated with career-related activities such as resume reviews, cover letter writings, networking e-mails, mock interviews and many more fun activities. Since everyone has different cover levels with these activities, it may make sense to do a little bit of prep work. Furthermore, while there are differences in the ways that MBA programs teach certain aspects, there are many more commonalities. With that, here are some things you can do to get started: Read Employer Reports – Hopefully, you’ll have done this already but familiarize yourself with the Employment statistics from your school. Get a sense of where students are getting placed from a function, industry, and geographic perspective Create a target company list – After reading the report, start brainstorming (maybe you already know) some companies that you think you might be interested in getting to know better or applying to in the future. (Note: Entrepreneurs – I still think this is valuable for you even if you want to start your own business) Create a “Full-Resume Bank” – Odds are, you’ll have to change your resume when you get to business school. As such, it may help you to create a “full-resume bank,” complete of everything that you’d ever think you’d want to put on your resume. While your resume will need to be 1-page at school, it’s more than OK for this one to go past a page. The goal here is to collect as many data points from your experience as possible so when you do get to school you can figure out what to include. Study the school’s offerings “Know everything there is to know about what the school offers and what you want to so when the madness ensues you’re ready and not overwhelmed”. This goes for core classes – which experts recommend you knock out during the first semester – as well as clubs and networking groups. They can be incredibly important. Everything fills up fast, and you’ll have other things to worry about when classes begin. Sleep, exercise, and then sleep some more Once the bell rings at business school, your days and nights will be consumed by classes, presentations, receptions, and socializing with classmates. Arriving there fit and rested will make the first few weeks less exhausting and more enjoyable until you can gain some degree of control over your calendar. So I recommend spending your final few weeks with family and friends. With nighttime commitments as well as day, along with studying on the weekends, you’re likely to see them less than you do now – even if you’re currently working long hours. Many MBAs underestimate the manic schedule, particularly during the first semester.

5 things you should do before starting your MBA

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