Waiting Out the Waitlist

“Relax, regroup and refocus” is the mantra handed out earlier this week from Dia D., a blogger from admissions at the Tuck School of Business. “Whether you are on the waitlist or you’ve applied and you’re waiting for your admission decision,” she writes, “there are some things that you can do to prepare yourself for B school or for another year in the workforce.”

Step One: Enjoy the Accomplishment

Take a moment to savor the moments of peace you have once you’ve hit the submit button. Bask in the satisfaction of having managed all those deadlines, created insightful essays, and conquered the GMAT.

Yes, many MBA applicants are Type-A personalities more prone to focus on the goal rather than the process, but, as Dia explains, “The journey to B School is long, expensive and if you are doing it right, peppered with opportunities to get to know yourself a bit better.”

Step Two: Relax

Maintaining pre-application stress levels isn’t healthy, so cut loose and do whatever it is that you do to unwind and get back in touch with the world and yourself. It may sound New Agey, but Dia urges applicants to take a deep breath before pushing ahead, which allows you to reduce your stress and anxiety and deal with your B-school support network from a place of confidence.

“Putting your effort, application and future in perspective helps you formulate a strategy based on wisdom, not fear.”

The admissions committees at Tuck and elsewhere really do care deeply about the entire process and are sensitive to applicants’ jangling nerves; that’s why candidates are informed of their status as soon as possible, Dia explains, so that they can begin working on the multi-layered admissions process…or a Plan B.

“You’ve done the hard work, and now we get to do what we love. We hope that helps you to relax, even if only for a moment or two,” Dia urges.

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