You have your shortlist of schools and you know your career goals, but how long will it take you to get there by building up your application? The real answer is that it depends on the individual student’s schedule, essay writing skills, and level of focus and motivation. However, there are still basic guidelines that can help an MBA applicant budget their MBA application and calculate exactly how long the process will take.

The CV

Most MBA programs will require a résumé or CV. This will often take up to 12 hours to complete, as it may be difficult to craft your résumé.

MBA Admissions Tests

There are many different exams utilized by MBA programs, and many MBA students take more than one of them. In the U.S., the most common of these are the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), whereas the most commonly accepted MBA tests in India are the Common Admission Test (CAT) and the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). If you have not yet taken your admissions test, you need to allot enough time to study.

MBA applicants spend an average of 100 hours studying before their admissions tests. That is only an average, meaning half of all students take less than 100 hours to study and half take more than 100 hours to study. There is no real time limit on this, as the perfect amount of study time is the amount that makes you feel confident in your ability to pass the test with flying colors. Allot at least 100 hours for yourself to go over the material and take practice tests.

Application Essays

Essays take an exorbitant amount of time to write. If you are not confident in your essay writing skills, allot extra time for yourself to work on it. Work on your essay in increments rather than tackling it all at once. Rushing it will not give you the results you want.

Additionally, an MBA essay should go through three to five drafts before it is complete. This is about 60 hours’ worth of writing. Divide this time out over several days in order to not overwork yourself. It is important to have the sharpest mind possible when crafting your essay, as it should be thoughtful, well-worded, and exactly what the admissions office is looking for.

Working with Your References

It is important to work with your references so that they can write the most persuasive letters of recommendation (LORs) possible. Collaborate with them either face-to-face or over the phone or email and ensure that the LORs they write for you reflect the qualities that you have highlighted in your résumé/CV and other pieces of your application.

Application Completion

Once your résumé/CV, your test scores, your essay, and your LORs are ready, you are ready to fill out the rest of your forms. You should take your time with this to ensure the accuracy of all the information on the forms. Also take this time to go over your CV, your essay, and your LORs to ensure that they paint a clear portrait of you as a candidate.

Conclusion

Applying for your MBA is no easy endeavor. It requires time, patience, and a strong social network in order to yield the best possible results and get you into the MBA program of your dreams. The entire process may take about 200 hours per application to each MBA program, but the outcome is well worth the time spent pouring over the materials that you have on hand.