Tips for applying to business school deferred
By: Allison Holmes
Tags: Mba Admissions, Higher Education, Career Change, Students, Business School

Some of the nation’s top business schools allow undergraduate seniors and students in their final year of master’s degree programs to apply for deferred enrollment into MBA programs. The benefit of applying allows students the opportunity to secure their seat early before working in their respective industries for two to four years, have little to no application fees (reduced fee of $100 compared to $250), and gain access to development opportunities from the school.

My “road to business school” journey took around seven dedicated months of preparation. I had the opportunity to apply to six business schools, interview for four, and gain acceptance into three! The many long nights writing and revising essays, occasional cries wondering if I should even apply, and attempting to reteach myself math…. all paid off. I’m thankful for the rejections as well as the acceptances I was blessed to receive.

If you are interested in applying for deferred MBA programs, here are my tips!

Preparing for Business School Deferred Application Season

Application season for Deferred MBA programs usually begins in the late summer/early fall. Conduct research to see when your target school begins recruiting prospective students. Application season can be draining at times, so make sure you are taking care of your mental health. Also, be intentional about the schools you apply to to make sure that they will contribute to your success in the future.

Set aside time to prepare for business school application season.

Update your resume. Business schools want to see leadership. When did you lead a team? Where do you have an influence on campus or in the community? Add in leadership-oriented action words to your resume.

Carve out time to self reflect and understand your “why” for business school. All schools will want to know why you are pursuing your MBA and specifically at their school. Develop a 5-year plan and also stretch yourself to think beyond that to see where the MBA fits into your big picture.

Your essays are a crucial part of your application and can make you stand out. Essays aren’t one size fits all. Don’t use a generic template for each school you apply to. Look up the school’s mission statement and values, see what resources are available on campus that pique your interest that you would be interested in joining, and tell the story as to why you are the perfect fit for the school.

Apply EARLY and be organized! Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you are applying to multiple business schools, be prepared for long hours developing your story, getting feedback, and polishing your application. Be mindful of application deadlines. Create a calendar or word document that has all the deadline dates for the schools you want to apply for. Here is a link to a tracking system you can use.

Solidify letters of recommendation at the beginning. Writing letters of recommendation takes time. Make sure you give your recommenders enough time to complete your letter for you because just like the essays you will write, all recommendation letters are not one size fits all. Make your recommenders’ life easy by creating a word document with all deadlines, links, and information necessary for them to write a positive letter for you. Convey a compelling story for why you are wanting to pursue your MBA and attach your resume for their reference.

Attend prospective student visit days in-person (or virtual webinars) and follow up with admissions representatives and current students who shared their experiences. Connect with them on LinkedIn or follow-up via email to get more insight into the school from the student’s perspective as well as the admissions perspectives. Having contacts at the school is great so they can follow you along the journey from being a prospective student to hopefully, an admitted student! They are there to answer questions and ultimately will help guide you in making an important decision.

Take your standardized testing in the fall/early spring. While the GRE/GMAT are important parts of your application, it is not the only factor that will get you into business school. Create a study plan you can stick to and remain dedicated to refreshing your math skills, learning new vocabulary words, and simulating taking a 4-hour test through practice exams. I recommend purchasing the official book guides and taking practice tests online. Also, reach out to your business school on campus to see if they have any test fee waivers to reduce your test price.

CONGRATS! You got the interview invite! Now, it’s time to shine and have a personal connection with the interviewer!

Preparing for your interview + video responses

In order to alleviate some of your stress during interviews, planning is essential. Take a deep breath. You’ve made it this far, so be confident and show the school why you were the right fit for their program.

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

Refresh your memory on what the school has to offer

Read about the history of the school

Explore what makes the school unique (joint programs, global immersion opportunities, extracurricular activities)

Nail your “why do you want to go to XYZ school?”

Practice potential questions

Talk with previous admits, current students, and alumni for interview advice

Solidify your elevator pitch and know how to highlight your professional resume in 90 seconds

Assess why having an MBA fits into your career plans

Practice behavioral questions centered around leadership, challenges, teamwork, feedback, challenges, failures, and more

Articulate key strengths and weaknesses

ALWAYS have final questions. This is your chance to interview the school! If you have a student as your interviewer, ask questions that would allow you to get a closer look at what it is like to study at that school.

Managing the Waiting Period

Photo by Prateek Katyal from Pexels

Waiting to see if you’ve been accepted is nerve-wracking, but that just shows that you care about the opportunity! Even if things don’t work out in your favor, know that your hard work has still prepared you for a successful career start. Having your goals in place now will allow you to always have something to look towards and find opportunities that can get you to where you want to be. Your GRE and GMAT test scores are valid for 5 years, so you can use those scores again or retry for the next cycle you apply to if need be.

For those who are accepted into the program, congrats! If you are deciding between multiple offers, be intentional about the school you accept. Reflect on your interview experience, conversations with students, current professors and courses available, location, post-MBA job opportunities, opportunities available to you as a student, cost to attend, financial aid received (not many schools give aid for deferred programs), and anything else that will allow you to make a thoughtful decision.

Here is a list of current MBA deferral programs:

***Links updated on December 2020

Here is a list of free resources you can use while studying:

YouTube

Magoosh GRE/GMAT Vocabulary

GRE Practice Tests (Practice tests expire after 60 days, so keep that in mind when preparing)

GMAT Practice Tests

Here is a list of paid resources you can use to prepare for tests:

GRE Prep Book

GMAT Prep Book

Online Tutoring with Target Test Prep, Magoosh, Manhattan Prep, etc (I didn’t sign up for any of these services, but other admitted students I’ve spoken to spoke highly of these services.)

Application season can be discouraging at times, but always remember why you started! You may receive a few “no’s”, but the opportunities that are for you will never pass you!

I hope these tips were helpful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Congratulations in advance on a successful road to business school journey!