4 Key Questions for 2010 MBA Applicants

And the envelope please Oh thats for the Academy Awards on Sunday. Im too early. :-/ But not too early to start helping you with next falls applications. In any case, the questions are : What are your post-MBA goals? It may seem a premature question at first glance, but think about it: Why are you going for an MBA? To earn a higher salary doesnt usually cut it. To ride out the recession wont work either. Solid candidates know in detail what their goals are for their career in the years immediately after the MBA. They understand the MBA is a specific tool to get them there, and that different programs have different strengths. What are your qualifications? Are your background and achievements, both professional and academic, similar to those of current students at your target programs? If not, what can you do to improve your profile and become similar to successful applicants? What kind of curriculum are you looking for and which schools have it?Do you want aflexible or structured curriculum? Depending on your previous experienceand post-MBA goalsthis is a critical question. What focus methodology do you prefer in your MBA program? What is the program style that will best suit your needs? Is it a case-method program like Harvards, or a project-oriented one like Michigans? Do you know the advantages and disadvantages of each type of program? Ideally you will know the answers to all these critical questions by the time the applications are published in the late spring and summer. However, I would like to focus on question #2 at this point for one simple reason: If you evaluate your qualifications now and find some are lacking, you can do something about it. If you evaluate them in six months, your options will have shrunk considerably. To help you in the evaluation process, Accepted is hosting an MBA Admissions Telethonon March 4. During the telethonyou can obtain a free, private, MBA admissions mini-consultation with a member of our stellar staff. See what it is like to ask your most important MBA admissions questions to someone knowledgeable, objective, and experienced. Free. Sign up for the MBA Admissions Telethon to have your consultation. Here are a few more resources we offer to applicants planning to apply next fall or winter: Start Smart MBA Admissions Consulting Best Practices for MBA Admissions, an ebook. Low Stats The GMAT in MBA Admissions Oh yes, and congratulations on starting early! You will be so glad you started in the wee hours of the 2010 application season.