7 Things You Should Do Once You’ve Hit Submit On Your MBA Applications

You’ve done it. After months of wrestling with essays, polishing your resume, chasing recommendations, and rethinking your story, you’ve finally clicked “submit.” Take a moment to appreciate just how big that is – completing your MBA applications really is an achievement in itself!

But while the hard grind of writing is behind you, the journey isn’t over. The period between submission and decisions can feel like an anxious waiting game, yet it’s also a chance to prepare strategically, stay engaged, and keep your momentum strong. Here are seven things every candidate should do once the deadlines have passed.

1. Celebrate Your Achievement

This may sound obvious, but too many candidates rush straight from “submit” into worry mode. Pause and recognize the sheer amount of effort you’ve invested. You’ve balanced a demanding application process with your professional and personal responsibilities, and you’ve articulated your goals and values with honesty and courage. That’s no small feat.

So give yourself permission to rest. Not only will it give you a sense of closure on one stage of the journey, but it also replenishes the energy you’ll need for what comes next.

2. Understand The Timeline – And Stay Calm

Once the deadline passes, the admissions process shifts gears behind the scenes. Each school has its own cadence. Many schools like Wharton release interview invitations around five weeks after the admissions deadline, although at some programs, you might hear back within two or three weeks. Some schools, like HBS and Wharton tend to release all interview decisions on the same day, while other schools, like Stanford GSB, release them in batches. Make sure you check each school’s policy.

Knowing this rhythm in advance can help you manage expectations. A later notification from a school that releases decisions in batches is not necessarily bad news. That doesn’t have any implications about your chances of receiving an invitation. Keep an eye on official communications – some schools publish invitation windows – and avoid falling into the trap of constant second-guessing. Your focus right now should be on readiness, not speculation.

3. Prepare for Interviews Before The Invitation Arrives

Once you’ve taken a couple of days to reflect and recharge, the single most important thing you can do in this window is to start interview prep. Too many candidates wait until the invitation lands, only to find themselves scrambling with just a few days to prepare. Sometimes schools provide very little notice between invite and scheduled interview.

Now is the time to:

Reread your application thoroughly. You should be able to discuss every line with ease.
Refresh your leadership and impact stories. Choose a handful of examples that you can draw on to showcase skills like teamwork, resilience, and initiative.
Review sample interview questions and practice articulating clear, concise responses.
Familiarize yourself with the format. HBS interviews are highly personalized and probing; Stanford GSB and INSEAD use alumni-led interviews. Each has its own flavor, and knowing it will help you prepare the right way.
Check if anything else is required at this time. Like many schools, LBS requires a Kira video interview, but only for those candidates invited to interview; MIT requires two additional short answer responses to be submitted pre-interview.

Consider doing a mock interview with an MBA admissions expert. The value isn’t just in feedback on your answers but in honing your confidence, pacing, and body language. By investing time now, you’ll step into the real thing feeling composed and credible.

4. Stay Engaged With Schools

Even though you’ve submitted your applications, your engagement with schools shouldn’t stop. Attend a virtual panel, information session, or networking event if one is offered. Reach out to a student or alum to ask about their experience in an area relevant to your goals. This continued engagement will give you rich material to draw on in your interviews.

5. Keep Building Your Profile

Submitting your application doesn’t mean your growth stops. While schools might not welcome unsolicited updates before the interview stage, the progress you make now can still strengthen your candidacy in important ways. If you’re promoted, take on a new project, or assume additional leadership responsibilities, these examples will give you powerful material to draw on in your interview.

And if you do end up on the waitlist, these kinds of updates can be invaluable. Admissions committees want to see continued momentum, and demonstrating how you’ve evolved since submission can tip the balance in your favor. Think of this period as a continuation of your story: seek opportunities to contribute at work, mentor others, or engage meaningfully in your community.

6. Plan Ahead For Different Scenarios

While you wait, it’s worth thinking ahead to the possible outcomes. If you’re invited to interview, you’ll need to ramp up your preparation quickly. If you’re waitlisted, you’ll want to understand how to strengthen your candidacy through thoughtful updates and a letter of continued interest. If you’re admitted, you’ll face important choices about comparing offers, scholarships, and fit. And if you’re not admitted this round, it will be time to reflect on where the gaps are and whether reapplying makes sense.

Thinking through these scenarios doesn’t mean dwelling on negative outcomes – it means equipping yourself to act with clarity, whatever comes your way.

7. Manage The Waiting Game

Finally, acknowledge that this stage is as much psychological as practical. After months of intense focus, suddenly you’re in limbo. The temptation is to spend your days analyzing forum chatter, but that only feeds anxiety (and there’s a lot of false information and speculation out there). Instead, channel your energy into something constructive.

Final Thoughts

Submitting your MBA applications is both a conclusion and a beginning. It’s the end of a demanding process of self-reflection and storytelling, but it’s also the start of a new phase – one that calls for patience, preparation, and perspective.

Take time to celebrate, stay proactive, and keep your momentum strong. Most importantly, remind yourself that you’ve already achieved something remarkable: you’ve put yourself in the running for one of the world’s most transformative opportunities.

Emma Bond is a Director at Fortuna Admissions, the dream team of former admissions directors from the world’s top business schools. A former senior member of the London Business School admissions committee, she has been named the #1 admissions coach by Poets&Quants, and has achieved a perfect 10.0 client satisfaction score in client reviews posted on Poets&Quants for five years running. For a candid assessment of your MBA profile and personalized feedback on your next steps, schedule a free consultation.

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