Keep Calm And Carry On: How To Manage Stress During MBA Application Season

Applying to business school can feel like a full-time job layered on top of your real one. From sitting for the GMAT or GRE, to chasing recommendations and preparing for intensive interviews, every stage of the process can bring a fresh wave of anxiety. And just when you think you’ve crossed the finish line, the waiting begins – for interview invites, final decisions, or, in some cases, the limbo of the waitlist.

The good news? You can’t eliminate stress entirely, but you can manage it. Over the years, my Fortuna colleagues and I have coached thousands of applicants through this rollercoaster, and we’ve seen what helps candidates stay balanced, focused, and confident.

Here’s your MBA application survival guide – practical strategies to help you keep perspective and perform at your best.

1. Remember: It’s A Process, Not Your Identity

Fortuna coach Lucas Jacob puts it well:

“The application is something important you are doing – it is not who you are. Processes can be revised or set aside temporarily without affecting your worth as a person. Keeping this in mind can help you detach from the intensity and give yourself space to breathe!”

It’s easy to let the process take over your sense of self. But remembering that your essays, scores, and interview performance don’t define you can create valuable distance from the intensity of it all. This perspective shift can help you stay resilient and grounded. 

2. Acknowledge What’s Stressful

Different stages of the MBA journey bring different stress triggers:

• Testing pressure. Standardized tests are often the first big hurdle – and one of the most anxiety-inducing. An intense test-prep schedule, fatigue, and perfectionism can all take a toll. Preparation is key, but so is knowing when to rest and reset. If you need to take a day without any prep (or a full weekend) you may find that you come back with a renewed sense of focus.
• Application overload. Between essays, data forms, and recommendation management, the process can feel endless. Breaking the work into manageable weekly goals helps you make steady progress, and resist the temptation to apply to too many schools in one round. We generally recommend breaking your applications into groups so that you have time for each round.
• Interviews and video questions. Whether it’s HBS’s intense 30 minute interview, MIT’s one minute video introduction, or INSEAD’s randomized video questions giving you 60 seconds only to respond, being put on the spot can rattle even the most confident young professionals. The best antidote to nerves? Thorough preparation. Practice with friends, practice in the mirror – and use sample question lists to help you understand what may be asked of you.
• The waiting game. After you hit submit – or even after an interview – the weeks of waiting for that critical email notification can be excruciating. This is when self-care and perspective matter most. Take time to reconnect with friends, read a book, engage in activities that you enjoy; this can help to bring you a sense of calm.
• The waitlist. For some, it’s the hardest part: you’re neither rejected nor accepted, and the uncertainty drags on. Focusing on what’s in your control – from sending thoughtful updates to exploring your plan B – helps you stay proactive.

3. Build Routines That Support You

Sleep, exercise, and downtime aren’t luxuries; they’re what allow you to think clearly and perform at your best. Protect these habits, especially during crunch periods. If you’re pulling late nights writing essays, balance them with mornings that start calm – not chaotic. Taking even just a 20 minute break to go for a walk or meditate can give you more energy and even insight. 

4. Work Steadily – Not All At Once

Fortuna’s Rachel Erickson Hee reminds candidates that: 

“Strong applications rarely come together in one brilliant sitting. They improve over time. If you feel stuck, shift gears – edit your resume,  work on an online application question, draft ideas for another school, or revisit a different essay. Working consistently and rotating tasks keeps momentum going and prevents burnout.”

Applications require thoughtful reflection and most candidates will go through several iterations of key elements such as their essays or resume. You’ll likely have lightbulb insights at the most unexpected moments. By pacing yourself and alternating deep work with time to recharge, you create the mental space for your best ideas to surface.

5. Prepare Well To Reduce Anxiety

Preparation is one of the most effective ways to calm nerves. For example, the more familiar you are with the interview format and likely questions, the more confident you’ll feel – and the less likely you are to be thrown off course by something you could have anticipated.

Start by reviewing the most common MBA interview questions and practicing how you’d respond. You don’t want to get tripped up by one of the classics, like “Why this school?” or “Tell me about a time you failed.” Our article 6 Tips for Acing the MBA Interview offers detailed advice on how to prepare effectively.

Whether it’s a mock Wharton Team-Based Discussion, an alumni-style interview simulation, or a Kira video practice round, rehearsing under real conditions helps you get comfortable with the format and find your rhythm. Working with an experienced coach like the team at Fortuna can provide expert feedback and sharpen your delivery.

6. Be Careful Where You Get Advice

As Heidi Hillis cautions, “Online forums can be a rabbit hole of misinformation and panic. Fellow applicants are not experts and often contradict one another.”

Use forums sparingly – or not at all. Instead, seek guidance from official school sources, credible admissions content, and trusted coaches who understand what admissions committees actually value. You’ll conserve mental energy, save time and avoid unnecessary stress.

7. Lean On A Trusted Sounding Board

Working on applications can feel isolating. Talking through your progress with a coach, friend, or mentor can help you manage self-doubt and stay accountable.

If you’re second-guessing whether your essay truly reflects your voice or whether your recommenders are on track, a check-in with someone experienced can bring clarity – and lower your anxiety level dramatically.

8. Cope With The Wait

“The hardest stress often comes when the work is done and you have to wait,” says Sharon Joyce. “Focus on what you can control: interview prep, self-care, or small gestures of gratitude, like thanking the people who wrote your recommendations.”

Once your application is out of your hands, redirect your energy into something restorative – a new project at work, a trip, or reconnecting with friends. The goal is to move from rumination to renewal.

9. Step Away When Needed

Sometimes your best insights come after a walk, a workout, or a good night’s sleep. Stepping away doesn’t mean slacking off – it means resetting your creativity. In fact, I often tell clients that an “aha” moment about an essay’s theme or structure will likely come after they stop forcing it. Give yourself permission to pause!

10. Keep The Bigger Picture In Mind

This is one chapter of a much longer journey. Whatever happens, the self-reflection you’re doing – clarifying your goals, identifying your key strengths, shaping your personal narrative – will serve you well through business school and beyond.

Admissions outcomes don’t define your trajectory or your worth as a human being. There are likely many possible routes to the place where you ultimately hope to be in your life and your career. Your future success does not hinge on a single decision email in your inbox. 

Final Thoughts

Managing stress isn’t just about surviving the admissions season – it’s about strengthening the mindset you’ll need to succeed. The skills that the admissions process demands – resilience, focus, and adaptability – are the same ones that will help you thrive in business school and beyond.

If you need an expert sounding board to help you stay grounded and on track, my colleagues and I at Fortuna – a dream team of former admissions directors from the world’s top schools – are here to support you every step of the way.

 

---

Judith Silverman Hodara is a Co-Founder and Director at Fortuna Admissions and former Head of MBA Admissions at The Wharton School. For more free advice from Fortuna Admissions in partnership with Poets&Quants, check out these videos and articles. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up now for a free consultation.

© Copyright 2025 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.