Yale SOM First-Year Orientation in August

Want To Enroll In Business School In 2025? Here’s What You Need to Do Now

The journey to an MBA doesn’t happen overnight. From academics and standardized tests to professional experience and impact, there are numerous factors prospective applicants need to go through before even applying.

Susan Cera, MBA Director at Stratus Admissions Counseling, recently offered a few new year tips for prospective applicants considering applying to MBA programs to matriculate in 2025.

GEAR UP ON QUANT SKILLS

No matter what your career ambitions are, quantitative skills are a necessity for B-school.

“For candidates whose post-MBA career goals involve working in a field such as management consulting, finance, or private equity, quantitative skills are particularly a must, but fields such as marketing, product management, and business development are increasingly data driven as well,” Kate Richardson, an admissions consultant at mbaMission, says. “You would be hard-pressed to find a post-MBA profession that does not require the use of quantitative tools to evaluate problems or forecast behavior.”

Cera says brushing up on quant skills is especially important for prospective MBAs with humanities backgrounds.

“If you haven’t taken a math class since high school, consider enrolling in a pre-MBA math course so you can dust off your quant skills and be ready to hit the ground running,” Cera says.

STAY ON TOP OF TESTING

Prepping for the GMAT or GRE takes time. And while some B-schools are now waiving standardized testing in admissions, many experts advise applicants to take the test anyways.

“Broadly speaking, we advise against seeking a test waiver if you can credibly take the exam,” Caroline Diarte Edwards, Director at Fortuna Admissions, says. “Unless you’re a truly exceptional candidate with an amazing personal story – and have a really good reason for not taking the test – you should plan on submitting with your scores even for MBA programs waiving the GMAT or GRE.”

START ASKING QUESTIONS

Knowing what you want to accomplish out of an MBA will help you guide your entire MBA application. Start thinking about what areas of work that you’re passionate about and which areas you’re not. Connect with professionals who are in your dream job. Ask current and former MBA students to offer their perspective on their MBA journey.

“Set up informational interviews to better understand what those in more senior roles in your organization do, or look beyond your current company and investigate an industry that intrigues you,” Cera says. “Find out how your current skills and knowledge might add value in alternative roles.”

And most importantly, start asking yourself some tough questions.

“What motivates you? What impact do you hope to have in the world? These are big questions that you can’t answer in a single sitting,” Cera says.

Sources: Stratus Admissions Counseling, mbaMission, P&Q, Fortuna Admissions

Next Page: 3 Ways To Give Thanks To MBA Recommenders

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.