Each school is different, so you should carefully read the application instructions. In general, you should consider a year to have time to do everything you need, especially if you work and have little time available. The first thing you should do is prepare for the GMAT, the entrance exam required by all recognized MBA programs. If you have long since been in school, you must take a preparation course, but you can also take online practice exams.
Then start researching about the programs. Determine if you have a geographical preference, whether you want to be in a large city or a small town, whether you want to be in an immense program with thousands of students, or in a smaller, community-focused program. Then reduce your search to 10 programs. Do not choose based solely on the school classification, as this will not tell you much about the type of community in which you will live or about the specialization of schools. By having a few schools on your favorite list, check out the websites, write to them for more information, and to see if you can get in touch with current students or with school or industry members in your country or industry. They are the best sources of information.
Other areas of preparation are a good level of English language and quantitative skills. You need to be confident of your ability to speak, listen and write the language, as you deal with people from all over the world and who will have different accents, speak quickly and use idioms. You should also familiarize yourself with the business terms in English. The first month can be overwhelming, but then you will feel more comfortable. However, the MBA program is not the place to learn English if you have never taken a calculus, accounting or economics class, you must enroll in one or all of these classes at a local university or take online classes. This will make your life much easier when you enter a management school.
What you must do next is to decide who will give you the letters of recommendation. Most schools will want a letter from their current job supervisor. If that is not possible, talk to a former supervisor, customer, or salesperson. Some schools want a letter from a university professor who has known him well. The most important thing to remember, is that the person who recommends it, must be specific in two things: (1) The school that is requesting and that is what they ask for; And (2) the specific ways in which you have had an impact on the company and how you work with others. Schools are not strictly interested in technical skills (in addition to their analytical skills), but if they are looking for people who are proactive, demonstrate initiative, have problem solving skills, and have good interpersonal relationships. Also do not forget to inform the deadline to send the letter to the person who is going to give the letter of recommendation.
Some schools also require one interview, while others do not. If you have the opportunity to meet with the school, this is your opportunity to shine and show them who you are in person. It may be a good idea to visit the schools to which you sent your application, if possible, before the application date. Why? Because each school has a very different personality and, if you are going to be there for two years, you'd better be sure that you will feel comfortable and that there are enough support services available to you. Also investigate how much access you have with teachers, what opportunities there are to get involved, and of course, the effectiveness of the career office and which companies recruit at that school.
Think about the quality of life when making the decision of your MBA. It is important because an MBA education is not just for two years and it is not just on campus. The relationships you develop in an MBA program last because they were formed with quality of life experiences. Throughout your career, you will continue to benefit from the personal relationships your school encourages.
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