Before Starting Business School, Try Completing These 8 Things

By Victoria Robertson on June 26, 2017

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Entering business school is a large commitment and one that can be very stressful, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the territory. Just because you’re passionate about business doesn’t necessarily mean you know what it takes to be successful in a business program, and it’s perfectly fine to ask for help. In fact, it’s encouraged.

This is your education, and you will want to make the most of it. With that in mind, business school doesn’t start at the beginning of the year, but rather the second you begin looking into the program. Once you’ve accepted a program, you have very limited time to prepare.

So, for those of you that fear falling behind, here are eight things that you should be doing before attending business school.

1. Stay up to date on the industry

This can be as simple as reading recent headlines in the industry, subscribing to industry news outlets, following business moguls on LinkedIn, etc. If you can really involve your personal life in the business realm, do it. As a bonus tip, be sure that you follow all business related pages on LinkedIn to demonstrate your interest for the industry on your profile. It’s small things such as this that will set you apart.

2. Take career assessment tests

Of course, these tests aren’t necessarily the world’s most accurate assessments, but at the very least, they’re going to give you a starting point, especially if you aren’t sure which direction you’re interested in taking once attending business school. An assessment test shouldn’t be used as a determining factor, but you should certainly take one and consider the choices.

3. Start building your resume

It’s never too early, and though you should probably already have a resume created, it doesn’t hurt to go back and look at it with fresh eyes. Your resume is the only thing standing between you and an interview once you graduate, so saying it’s an important document is an understatement. Definitely take any time you can to work on it, and utilize any advice you’re given as well.

4. Volunteer

This is probably an odd suggestion, but volunteering prior to attending business school is never a bad idea. You can run some projects in the volunteer program to gain some form of management experience, plus, you can add the experience to your resume showing your dedication to the community/environment, etc. Really, this is a win-win.

5. Network

Easily the most important one on this list, you should always be networking. Literally, always. If you don’t have one, create a LinkedIn profile. Once you have that, network. Add any friends from school, business professors, small business owners, literally whoever you can think of.

You’ll also want to do some research regarding the school you’ll be attending and add some other students. The more you’re able to network, the more likely you will have job opportunities open up for you upon graduation. Relationships are key in business, and it’s never too early to start building them.

6. Travel

Financially, this may not be feasible. However, for those that have a little bit of spare change to spend on a couple short trips, definitely do it. You can volunteer abroad or just visit other countries to sightsee. No matter how you choose to do it, the travel bug is a great asset in business, and it’ll make you more marketable when it comes time to find a job. The more travel you’ve done, the more worldly you are, and that’s going to make a big difference for you.

7. Research your program

Don’t make the mistake of walking in day one with no idea what to expect. Do your research. Look up your professors, look up the curriculum, look up reviews of the school. You can probably even find information from other students on tips and tricks for surviving the program.

The research you can do beforehand is going to be a huge asset to you in the long run, so take advantage of all your resources! (This is also an area in which networking with alumni may be beneficial, as you can ask them questions about the program and pick their brains on the ins and outs of the program).

8. Rest up

Don’t forget to take a little time to yourself as well. Business school can take a lot out of you, so you’ll want to be happy, healthy, and fully prepared for the upcoming school year. Don’t hesitate to get the extra sleep where you can and relax a little bit before your program; you’ll be thanking yourself later on. Trust me.

Again, the more you’re able to complete on this list, the better. Your education should be your number one priority, and you should start preparing before you’re even in attendance. So create a checklist and get to work — you have a long road ahead of you, so you might as well get a jump start!

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Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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