Don't forget the "click" factor: Listen to your heart. As you do your research, you may find that something just "clicks" with one of the schools. Culture and chemistry are key to an exciting and fulfilling B-school experience. As you create your list of criteria for your top-choice school, don't forget to be sure to include the "click." I'll never forget researching top business schools and reading through the materials from MIT's Sloan School. Something just "clicked." I knew that it was the place I had to go. Although I applied to my three top-choice schools and strongly considered a competing school after my acceptances arrived, in the end it was the chemistry of MIT and its focus that pulled me in. And I never regretted my decision. It was the best professional experience of my life and I am still reaping the benefits and feeling that "click" 15 years after graduating!

What next? There's still a lot left to the process. But once you have narrowed down your goals and school selections, this helps streamline the rest of the process. Having a feel for your goals will help you on many levels. For example, it helps you identify and choose appropriate recommenders as well as helps you pick essay topics that you can be passionate about.

All I have to do is ask my boss to write the recommendation, right? Well, maybe not. Choosing who is going to write your recommendation is another step worth investing your time in. It may seem a bit awkward approaching a busy project manager, client manager, or director, but this is the time to pull any strings you have. It is important to pick someone who understands the importance of your process and is willing to invest considerable time and energy in writing an upbeat and example-filled recommendation. A poorly written recommendation can have a tremendously detrimental effect on the results of your application. Considering that this is the one aspect of the process you do not have total control over, you want to be sure that you pick the best person to tell the most exciting, truthful, and realistic story about you.

Prepping for Business School: How to Get Started on the Application Process

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