An MBA degree will certainly elevate your professional journey immensely. However, to pursue an MBA degree, you will first need to attempt the GMAT exam, which is your gateway to studying at the world’s top universities. However, before you proceed to attempt the GMAT exam you must first ensure that you are well informed about the admissions process and admission cycle at the universities you are applying to. The most popular choice among candidates is the fall admission cycle. However, if you have missed applying during fall, you still have one more opportunity to apply for admissions and that is during spring. So, let’s take a look at what you need to keep in mind while applying for the Spring cycle admission. 

Things to Consider While Planning Your Admissions

Preparing for the GMAT exam is no easy task and it needs to be done in a diligent and dedicated manner. You will need to have a foolproof study plan to help you with your preparation and to aid you in reaching your targeted GMAT score. So let us take a look at some important points to keep in mind while forming your study plan.

• Remember your strengths and weaknesses so that you can spend more time studying topics which you are unfamiliar with.
• Take into account the syllabus and topics of all four sections – Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning.
• Set your target GMAT scores so that you can work towards achieving them.
• Include attempting mock tests on a periodic basis so that you can familiarize yourself with the adaptive testing exam pattern of GMAT (the difficulty level of the next question will depend on your performance in the previous) and also learn how to manage your time efficiently.
• Study plans also help you track your progress with preparation of the exam and it is crucial that you follow the study plan in a diligent manner.

Now that you are familiar with how to organize your study plan for preparing for the GMAT, let us now learn more about the “Spring Admission Cycle”.

Target Round 2 Admission Cycle

The Round 2 admissions cycle — or more popularly known as Spring admissions — begins from the month of December and lasts till the end of January. You must take into consideration these months and begin preparing for the GMAT 6 months in advance.

Step 1: June-July-August – Study Diligently 

The GMAT exam comprises 4 main sections —  Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Writing and Integrated Reasoning. Some of the Quantitative topics tested on includes Probability, Profit and Loss, Averages, Fractions and Decimals and some of the Verbal topics tested on includes Phrases and Clauses, Modifiers, Parallelism, Articles, Verb Tense, to name a few. The questions asked in all the three sections test your critical thinking, logical reasoning, analytical writing and problem solving skills. Besides, even though the syllabus of the GMAT may appear simple, it still requires diligent preparation. You will need to practice all the question types and learn shortcut methods to solve them faster. This is because you will have limited time to attempt all the questions in the GMAT exam.

From June till August devote your time completely towards preparing all sections of the GMAT. For the AWA section, read solved questions and learn how sample essays are graded. For the Verbal and Quant sections, you can practice solving sample questions and learn shortcuts to solve questions faster. You must also take mock tests on a regular basis so that you are familiar with the adaptive testing pattern of the GMAT and get an estimate of the score range you might reach with your current level of preparation. Also, taking mock tests regularly will improve your time management skills.

Step 2: August – Take the GMAT 

Once you are confident about your preparation, you can go ahead and take the GMAT exam in the month of August. When you complete the exam you will be able to see your raw scores or unofficial scores on the computer screen. You will have the opportunity to either accept these scores or cancel them. If you choose to cancel them in case you are unhappy with your performance, then you can register for a retake 16 days after your previous exam date.

Step 3: September-October-November – Retake the GMAT if Needed and Prepare All Other Application Requirements

If you have decided to reattempt the GMAT exam, then you must ensure to reach your desired score in this attempt. Also, your next focus in these months should be on profile building. The application process requires you to submit several other components such as your SOP (Statement of Purpose), LOR (Letters of Recommendation), CV, essays, any certifications completed, etc. Make sure you have all of these ready in these months. 

Step 4: December – Month of Your Admission

This is the month that is important for all GMAT applicants. You must be prepared with all the required documents for the admission process at your university and for your travel (visa, passport etc).

We hope this article has given you an insight of the ideal preparation time for securing admissions in the Spring admissions cycle.

Good Luck!