5 Step Process to Handle Stress During MBA Admissions

MBA Admission is a year long process with Business School Research, GMAT Prep, Essay Writing, Recommendations, Interviews, and Funding. The number of hours and the tasks involved in each stage of the process can be overwhelming. Here is a simple 5-Step process to handle the stress.

1) Write it Down

Writing down what is bothering you can be a huge relief. It is like having your own therapist. No one knows your situation more intimately than you do. When you write down the issues, the problem becomes well defined, and instead of spending your energy on defining the problem, the focus shifts to finding the answers. Let us say that, after 2 weeks of practice, your score has improved by just 20 points, 50 points below the estimate. Once you write down your problem, the focus will now be on dividing the learning sections to various topics, and evaluating the performance in each section.

2) Positive Spin

The problem can be less intimidating when you change the perspective, and put a positive spin to the problem. Let us say that you are not strong in GMAT Sentence Correction, and preparation in that section is taking much longer than what you have anticipated. With a little bit of research, you will realize that what stands between a 700+ GMAT Score and a 650-700 one, is a strong verbal score. Therefore, it is worth spending time on GMAT SC, which is an important section in GMAT Verbal.

3) Prioritize

Not all the tasks in the MBA Admission process carry equal weightage. Planning for the Essays should not be a priority during April-May when you are preparing for the GMAT. After your GMAT, equal priority should be given to finding recommenders, and writing essays. The priority changes with the changing timeline of the admission process. Do realize that you will get enough time during each stage of the MBA Admission process.

4) Cut out Technology

This is quite a tough task, but if you can completely disconnect yourself from GMAT Prep, Social Media, and Internet for 6-8 hours at a stretch, every week, excluding your sleep time, then you are bound to face less pressure. It is good to know that your peers are preparing for the GMAT, but everybody needs downtime – not your usual partying break. Take a complete break and do something that you love. If you don’t have a hobby – develop one, and spend uninterrupted 6-8 hours on it. When you come back, you will have renewed focus and perspective on where you are heading. Don’t burn out during the Admission process.

5) Sleep

Often neglected aspect, especially during GMAT Prep, is Sleep. You need at least 6 hours of sleep so schedule your GMAT Prep to include that uninterrupted six hours of sleep. It is tough to allocate 6 hours if you are working full-time and preparing for the GMAT every day but you have to do some sacrifice on your favorite TV show or Sports team during GMAT Preparation. For motivation during GMAT prep, read How to Stay Motivated for GMAT Prep.