The Beginning of The End | Deferred MBA Weekly Check-In: April 29, 2024
Applications are in. Interviews are beginning. What's next?
The dust has settled. Application deadlines are in the past. Now’s a natural time to let loose.
But before you get too comfortable, remember: we’ve still got interviews coming!
I already spoke to you about some interview advice in the past few weeks, but today I want to zoom out a bit.
As today marks the final (weekly) installment of MBAxcel for this application cycle, I’d like to give you some guidance about the next several weeks. Then, in about a month, I’ll be back to talk through the decision-making process.
So let’s get to it!
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MBAxcel Tip of the Week: Keep your eye on the ball.
While the hell of writing your application might be in the past, it’s not just time yet to relax.
Well, first of all, CONGRATULATIONS! You did it! You submitted an MBA application! Take a beat to be proud of yourself for this huge accomplishment.
Let’s put this in perspective. Most college seniors have no intention at all of submitting an MBA application — you’ve done it three or four years earlier than most people even start considering business school.
But the job is not quite finished. Not only do you have interviews coming up — which we’ve already covered (here and here) — the next couple of months are going to be chaos. Good chaos, but chaos nonetheless.
I’m going to take a trip down memory lane and tell you what my experience was like after pressing the submit button.
Interviews + final exams + senior festivities = chaos.
Deferred MBA applicants have the unique challenge of completing MBA interviews while juggling final exams and enjoying the final fleeting moments of college.
I know because I’ve been there. My Columbia interview was the same week as my final exam for my Data Mechanics class. Juggling my interview and exam prep tested my priorities.
On top of that, I knew that time was ticking on my senior year. Especially with the stresses of completing my application over the past several months, I felt like I needed to make memories with all of my friends, especially those who were moving away after college (which was most of them).
My advice: make some memories over the next few weeks.
You deserve to enjoy every last second of your senior year. Don’t let exams or MBA admissions take that away from you. You’ve done the hard part already, after all.
Say yes to getting drinks with your friends. Say yes to senior week events. You have earned your spot here.
Have fun in the interviews!
You’ve earned your spot in the interviews, so let it be an opportunity to express yourself and show your passions. Interviews are stressful, yes, but they’re also a great opportunity to tell your story and share your experience with the admissions team. Stay focused, but cherish the moment and have fun.
Sometimes, life hits you at the most peculiar moments.
As I sat in Agganis Arena waiting for my name to be called up to receive my diploma, I took a quick glance at my phone and saw a voicemail from a New York number.
I knew exactly what it was.
It felt like all the stars aligned at the perfect moment: as one phase of my life was about to ceremonially end, another era was set to begin: my early career, knowing I had a spot at Columbia Business School.
I looked up in the stands to see my family and friends. It felt like I was sharing a special moment with them, despite them being 100 meters away and having no idea about my MBA admission.
Next up: probably one of the most challenging decisions of your career.
I was lucky enough to receive admission from two other schools, but not all at once.
My Columbia admission decision came before I even received interview invites from some of the other schools (although, eventually, I came to know that I would not receive invites from some schools at all before being rejected).
I got my acceptance call from Berkeley Haas on June 22, over a month after my Columbia decision on May 19. My Kellogg admission didn’t come for another two weeks — and by that point, I had already honestly moved on from Kellogg, thinking there was no way I would have been accepted.
We’ll talk about this in a month, but your own MBA decision making process will be a nuanced and challenging endeavor. When I was admitted to Columbia, I was ready to sign on. Then, my Berkeley decision came, and I told myself I needed to slow down and make some thoughtful considerations. One week later, when my Kellogg decision was released, I was thrown for a loop. I had no idea I’d be getting into Kellogg — in fact, I was kind of banking on not getting in to make my decision a lot easier.
The next several weeks, I had a lot of thinking to do. Every day, I leaned toward a different decision. It tested my values: Was being on the east coast a requirement or a preference? Was it more likely that I’d pursue consulting or technology?
I spent those weeks speaking with every alum that I could, as well as friends and family working in the industries I wanted to work for. Slowly, but surely, one clear choice came to fruition.
Take your time.
Your deferred MBA interview and decision process is one where slow and steady will always win the race. Think rationally. Act rationally. Take your time preparing for your interviews and crafting your story. Choose the program that matches your gut feeling.
Rejection is probable.
You very well may not be admitted to your dream programs. I faced my fair share of rejection, too. That is one of the inevitabilities of any admissions cycle. Just remember: you did not waste your time.
All the effort and energy you have channeled into your applications has been time for deep reflection on your personal and professional goals. Regardless of the admissions decisions made, I hope you leave this experience feeling energized and motivated to pursue your next career chapter. I certainly did — applying for business school helped me manifest and motivate my goal to enter the startup world and explore entrepreneurship, something I never would have considered if not for spending hours asking myself why I wanted to pursue an MBA.
You earned this life experience. You did something. And you should be proud of yourself.
Postscript.
This is it! The final installment of weekly check-ins for the 2024 deferred MBA cycle. Time flies, doesn’t it?
Thank you for reading!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for opening these emails and giving them a shot. I hope you’ve found my writing helpful and motivational.
I’ve got a lot planned for next year’s application cycle, but I’d love to hear your advice! In a bit, I’ll be sending you a survey. I’d really appreciate it if you could give me some feedback so that I can keep growing MBAxcel and continue to help deferred MBA applicants.
Our time together isn’t over yet!
If you’re looking for some interview prep, check out my coaching options! I’ve still got some slots available for the next few weeks.
Feeling lost? Let’s chat.
If you’re looking for general career or MBA decision advice, or just want to chat and meet up, let’s connect — for free, of course! I’d love to get to know you. Shoot me a message here or on LinkedIn and we’ll chat!