Summer Goals to Have If You're Considering Applying to Business School

By Elana Goodwin on June 5, 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.

If you’re considering applying to business school, summer is the time to make yourself a better candidate. Here are some goals you should have for summer if you’re going to apply to business school in the future.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

1. Figure out where you want to go

Summer is the perfect time to do some research on different business schools and programs. Since you’re on vacation, you have ample time to thoroughly look into schools using their websites and other resources, plus actually visit ones you are seriously considering.

Start fulfilling this goal by making a list of particular programs, professors, and other factors that are negatives or positives for each school and then try to narrow down which business schools will be good matches for you. Take into consideration location, the culture, community, faculty, research abilities, resources, and typical financial aid and funding packages in your decision-making.

Once you’ve whittled down your business school list a bit, visit the schools you’re most interested in based on your list and try to meet with current students or alum there to make connections and get the inside scoop on the school. Being able to speak knowledgeably about the schools will show you did your research and are truly interested in that specific business school when it comes to writing your personal statement or being interviewed.

2. Get experience

Students at the best business schools typically start out with a few years of professional experience — and that is something business schools are impressed by and value. Summer is a great time to have a job — even if it is just an internship — to start gaining experience. While internships may not be as impressive as a full-time, paid job, they are definitely an asset to have on your application, especially if you are going to be applying to business school as you finish up undergrad.

A great goal for summer is to start getting work experience; start working at a company in the summer with the goal being to continue working there throughout the year once school is back in session. You may work more hours or on a full-time basis during the summer and then decrease or juggle your hours during the semester to fit your class schedule.

All work experience can be valuable if you can show you accomplished much in the position, gained some sort of leadership skills, learned to be a team player, and emerged with more knowledge than you had before the role. Leadership and teamwork are major factors that business school admissions counselors look at, so try to find ways to gain these sorts of experience or have the opportunities to demonstrate those abilities.

3. Get involved

Volunteering and getting involved in your community is a great summer goal that will help you when you apply to business school. B-schools like to see their applicants working to help improve their community or giving their time to a cause they are passionate about. You can find volunteer opportunities in your area online and start dedicating at least a few hours a week to the cause of your choosing.

Aim to start early though so you can get as much volunteer experience as possible — and consider continuing to volunteer throughout the year at school. You’ll be able to gain leadership and teamwork skills from getting involved in your community as well, so it’s a double win for your business school applications!

4. Work on your curriculum vitae (CV)

Rather than a normal resume, a CV is what’s usually expected when outlining your experiences on your grad school applications — and summer is a great time to start working on it and getting it in order. A CV is a lot like a resume but much more academically oriented.

A CV, like a resume, will include your contact info, your education, awards and honors, and applicable work experience; however, a CV will also list any publications you have been published in, presentations you have done, teaching experience, research experience and skills, and references, in detail.

Because your CV is longer than a resume usually is, having it be a summer goal to start working on it and getting it together is smart. In your CV, you will more specifically list and explain your responsibilities and other information for pretty much each item you include. Additionally, it is advisable that you edit out work experience and other activities that are not pertinent to your academic future.

Applying to business schools is a process — which is why if you start planning for your business school applications this summer and doing everything you can to become a better candidate, you’ll be much less stressed and more prepared when it comes time to actually start submitting your applications. Create some beneficial summer goals for yourself that will make you that much more attractive to business schools in the future.

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

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