In every MBA application pursuit, there comes a time when MBA candidates have to move from thinking to action. With MBA application deadlines approaching, candidates are trying to figure out what is the first step to take. And the mistake many of them make is to start with the wrong part.

What do I mean by this? I have seen the following questions being asked many, many times:

What GMAT score should I aim for?

Is it worth applying to a non-M7 school?

My GPA is low, what do I do?

I can’t get a letter of recommendation from my manager, what do I do?

I am not good at math, should I take the GMAT or GRE?

There is nothing wrong with all these questions, of course. But focusing on them first is not the best way to start your MBA path. Because at the heart of an MBA pursuit is a professional and personal goal. It all starts with your “why”.

Defining your “why” means taking stock of where you are now in your career, where you want to be, and what is the gap between the two. The MBA – the right type of MBA program - should be what bridges the gap. But until you analyze and define that gap, you don’t know what MBA program will best serve as your springboard. And if you don’t know that, obsessing over GMAT score ranges, GPAs, and recommenders is a bit pointless. Why would you worry about whether you should take the Eurostar or a plane to get from London to Paris if at the end of the day it turns out you should actually be heading to Rome?

So if you are one of the candidates who is starting their MBA journey and you are getting lost in the details and worried about the parts of the MBA application process that you perceive as most challenging, take a step back.

Focus on your “why” until you have a high degree of clarity.

Everything else will follow from it – your school selection, your goal for your GMAT test score, your choice of recommenders, your plan for mitigating any weak parts of your candidacy.

If you need some extra guidance you can read How to know if it’s your turn or It’s rarely a sprint to learn about the first mile of an MBA exploration.

And of course, you can always join MBA Application Boost Camp when where you can work with me at a fraction of the price it costs to be guided by a true MBA admissions expert. Getting MBA students unstuck is what I live for.

Onwards and upwards,

Petia

You have to start with the why

There is nothing wrong with all these questions, of course. But focusing on them first is not the best way to start your MBA path. Because at the heart of an MBA pursuit is a professional and personal goal. It all starts with your “why”.

Focus on your “why” until you have a high degree of clarity.

Don’t let a blind spot jeopardize your MBA application.