Tactics to Help Avoid MBA Application Burnout
Applying to business school is often stressful, exhausting, and arduous, no matter how brilliant or organized you are. A great way to reduce the risk of MBA application burnout is to allow ample time for the entire process. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always follow a tidy pattern. So, when fatigue looms, dodge the fear of failure with these tactics to get your MBA mojo back.
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Team Up with a Buddy
It is challenging to stay motivated when faced with many competing responsibilities, both as an applicant and in the real world. Schools often connect incoming students with second-year buddies. Why not take a page from their book and pair up with a fellow MBA applicant targeting different schools? Sharing the journey can bolster your enthusiasm and provide a sense of relief, knowing that you’re not alone in this.
Swap Essays for Fresh Feedback: Swapping essays can provide fresh eyes to catch any possible grammar or punctuation mistakes. You can also gauge how well you’ve conveyed your goals, experiences, and strengths to an audience outside your industry.
Conduct Mock Interviews: When—fingers crossed—interview invitations start coming in, conduct mock interviews with your buddy in person or via Zoom. Then, give each other feedback on the exchange. These practice interviews will help crystallize your thoughts, allowing you to determine the appropriate level of detail and length of response to each question. Record these sessions, if possible, to review your body language and verbal cues.
Accountability and Emotional Support: Never underestimate the importance of having someone to vent to who knows what it feels like in your shoes. That support and accountability to another person in the MBA trenches will help keep your motivation running high. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss your progress, exchange tips, and share updates on your journey. Having a buddy can transform a daunting solo mission into a more manageable shared experience.
Choose Your Resources Wisely
The Internet is a treasure trove of free information about applying to business school. Major news outlets cover the subject, we share the latest MBA news and tips, and test prep forums like Beat the GMAT provide another source for information and camaraderie. School-hosted and independent student blogs provide a valuable, up-close look at the programs, which is useful when making your final selections (but can also be biased.)
Curate Your Information Intake: While nervous applicants often jump at the chance to read any information about the process and their dream schools, the better move is to pick a handful of trusted resources and filter out the rest. That way, you sidestep a lot of external anxiety and the inevitable rumors circulating online and stay in control of your application journey.
Verify Advice Before Acting: Take any advice offered through test-prep or MBA forums or posts on student or applicant blogs with a grain of salt. What worked for one applicant may backfire for another, so make sure you substantiate those tips through other credible sources. When in doubt, ask your admissions consultant or, if appropriate, contact the admissions committee at the schools where you’re applying.
Redirect Focus When You Feel Overwhelmed: The MBA application has several components, so when one area starts making your head spin—we’re looking at you, essays—it’s time to redirect your attention elsewhere temporarily. Be sure to take breaks when the demands on your time have exceeded your energy reserves. For example, switch to preparing your MBA resume —or focusing on your GMAT or GRE study plan— if writing fatigue strikes.
Set a Realistic Schedule and Prioritize Self-Care
Creating a timeline that breaks down each component of the application process is essential to avoid last-minute scrambles that contribute to MBA application burnout.
Create a Manageable Timeline: Break down the application process into smaller, more manageable tasks with clear deadlines. Set realistic daily or weekly goals and avoid cramming activities into a tight schedule. Consistency over intensity will prevent burnout.
Incorporate Breaks and Rest Days: Ensure that you schedule intentional breaks to recharge. The grind of applications can quickly lead to mental exhaustion, making it crucial to incorporate moments of rest.
B-Schooled Podcast # 187: Dealing with MBA Application Stress and Anxiety
Regular exercise, healthy meals, and adequate sleep are not just good for your overall health—they are critical tools to keep your mind sharp during the MBA application process. Even short walks, meditation, or quick stretching routines can drastically improve your focus and mood.
Professional Help to Beat MBA Application Burnout
MBA applications are a marathon, not a sprint. Investing in professional support can make a big difference when your tactics aren’t cutting it.
SBC’s expert consultants can offer tailored advice, help you craft a compelling narrative, and provide expert feedback on your application components. Their experience with past applicants offers invaluable insights that can boost your confidence and application quality.
MBA application burnout is real. But with these strategies, you can regain control, keep stress at bay, and put your best foot forward. Remember, you’re pursuing an MBA to transform your career, so do whatever it takes to revitalize your excitement and keep moving forward with confidence.
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Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership to hourly help reviewing your MBA essays, resume, and more. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.
Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team.
Ashley
Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...
×Kerry
Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and ...
×Pauline
A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...
×Geri
Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds. Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students. In additio ...
×Laura
Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...
×Andrea
Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...
×Jennifer
Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...
×Erin K.
Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...
×Susie
Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...
×Dione
Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...
×Anthony
Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...
×Meghan
Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...
×Amy
Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...
×Ally
Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...
×Erin B.
Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...
×Emma
Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants. ×
