Success Story Part 8: "The Final Days and The Takeaways"

(This is the last in an eight-part series of blog posts in which Julie DeLoyd, a Veritas Prep GMAT alumna-turned-instructor, will tell the story of her experience through the MBA admissions process. Julie will begin her MBA program at Chicago Booth this fall. You can also read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7 to learn Julie's whole story.)

So here we are. The end of the story. [Close in on me with my cute new haircut and a (less-musiciany) wardrobe for my new life as a b-school student.]

(The music swells.)

This is what I've been working and waiting for all these months. I'm three weeks away from b-school orientation and already working on my assignments for the first month of my fellowship (reading 2 books about capitalism and watching 2 movies--auf Deutsch!). I already feel behind and ahead all at the same time, trying to think about job searches and class selection, networking and dog-care. It's done me some good to have spent this summer reflecting on my journey with you all.

For what it's worth, I'd like to leave you b-school applicants with what little wisdom I've gained from my experience. As I don't spend all day, every day, studying b-school admissions (like some of my dedicated Veritas Prep colleagues) my advice will be purely anecdotal and based on the experiences I've laid out over the last 3 months in this blog series.

1. The "Magical" Test Prep Course
If you're taking a test prep course, don't think that the teacher will grant you some fairy power* that will make you invincible. This is YOUR game to win. Get fanatic. Make the test your girlfriend. Spend long evenings getting to know each other. Relish every moment you get to spend together. Find the joy, and put in the time (that you probably should be spending with your real girlfriend…)

If your friends or partner can't respect your b-school dreams enough to understand the time commitment of studying for the GMAT, they won't be understanding during school. Get used to drawing the line now.

(*Your best shot at achieving fairy power? I'd say Veritas Prep is a pretty awesome place to start. Worked for me!)

2. Visit the schools.
I didn't have much money while I was a musician. Still, I wish I'd put the few hundred bucks on the credit card to check out the schools before I applied. I performed best for the interviews for schools I had visited, because I was the most versed in that school's culture. The online forums and word-of-mouth reputations won't figure that out for you. In my own experience with Chicago Booth, I discovered the reputation was lagging behind by about 3 years—don't trust what people say if they don't currently attend. The only way to know if you really like a school is to visit and hear the pitch in person. Don't wait until after you get an interview; they'll be able to tell by your essays if you've visited. If you have, and you show your understating of the culture? They'll love you for it.

3. Read, and Re-read. And make friends, so they can read too.
Don't be the doofus who writes "Stanford" on your Northwestern application. Finish your essays and forms the week before they're due and get some fresh eyes to look for your mistakes. There will probably still be something you miss, but watch out for the deal-breakers.

4. Figure out what you love about yourself.
When you're thinking about interviews and essays, try to figure out what you LOVE about yourself. Even if it's something non-businessy, like your compassion for instance, find a way to bring that out in your essays. Don't focus your essays so much on what you THINK they want to hear. They're reading a bunch of essays about mergers and consulting jobs. Talk about your personal experience. Let them get to know the real* you (and throw in some facts and figures for good measure)—that's how you'll stand out. This will also be helpful during your self-doubt days. Take the time to appreciate yourself whenever you get the chance.
*This includes being authentic about your identity in applications, particularly for gay and lesbian candidates, it can only work in your favor (as I've mentioned in a previous blog).

5. Give back
This experience of applying to business school is what we make of it. It's hard to go through it alone. After you've made it out the other side alive, reflect. Share your experience with a friend. Volunteer to help with the admissions committee at your school.

Write a blog.

-Julie DeLoyd