How to Avoid MBA Application Burnout

Round 1 just wrapped up. Applicants are frantically opening their email inboxes every few hours to see those interview invites pour in. But they’re tired. And we get it; applying to business school is one of the most exciting projects you can take on, but it’s also one of the most demanding. Between writing essays, preparing for exams, arranging campus visits, and keeping up with your job, you’re just about ready to pack your bags and go on vacation after hitting submit (here’s why you shouldn’t do that).

Burnout happens when you don’t manage your energy carefully. And in our experience, applicants who don’t manage their stress start second-guessing choices and essays - and end up with applications they’re unhappy with.

It’s crucial to protect your mental health while applying. So, we reached out to the SWC consultants Sam and Nanako and asked them what they did (or regretted not doing) while writing their own MBA applications, and what advice they give their clients now.

1. Start Early and Spread Out the Work

Sam: I can’t stress this enough! 

When I think back to my own MBA journey, the toughest part was juggling applications with school visits. I left the visits too late and ended up trying to do them at the exact same time as writing essays. That meant dealing with all the admin work of booking flights, cars, and scheduling campus tours in the middle of a freezing Chicago winter, all while polishing my drafts. It was exhausting; the hardest part of the process for me.

If I could go back, I would do those visits much earlier. Planning ahead, grouping schools by region, and staying in budget hostels or even taking buses between cities would have made things far more manageable.

Starting early is key for your application. Try to finish your standardized testing at least two or three months before your first deadline. That way, you aren’t studying while also brainstorming your narrative and writing essays. If you want to visit campuses, plan them months before essay season. Group schools by region to cut down on travel fatigue.

Remember to open application portals weeks in advance! Many are more detailed than you expect, and discovering extra requirements at the last minute will be stressful. 

2. Apply to a broad range of schools (reasonably)

Include a mix of stretch, target, and safety schools. This way, you can increase your chances of admission (which relieves some of that “will I/won’t I” anxiety!)

If you finish your main set of applications with some time to spare, it can be worth adding a few more schools to the mix. Programs like MIT Sloan, UCLA Anderson, and Texas McCombs, for instance, often have deadlines that extend beyond the typical Round 1 timeline.

While the turnaround will be quick, you can usually adapt much of what you have already written, especially your career goals essays, since the narrative framework is in place. Broadening your list gives you additional chances at admission, and in a process with so much uncertainty, increasing your odds is always a smart move. 

Sam: Another big challenge was the uncertainty. I kept asking myself, what if I put in all this effort and end up with no admit? The way I dealt with that was by applying to enough schools to give myself options. That mindset reduced the pressure on each individual application.

Nanako: I think I was living under a rock and didn't realize how competitive the two schools I applied to were (HBS and GSB) when I first applied in R2, so I had zero stress during the application process. I actually found it to be enjoyable because it really forced me to think about my goals and why I wanted to get an MBA.

When I interviewed with both schools and didn't get an admit, I was bizarrely still not stressed since I actually wanted to stay in my role for another year and I knew I wouldn't have been able to defer if I had been accepted. I did get into HKS that year and was able to defer. I decided to give the MBA another try in R1 the following year, and applied to HBS and GSB again. My mentality at the time was - if I get into either school, great, if not, I was happy to just do HKS. Luckily, I got into HBS. So all in all, I had a really pleasant application experience.

3. Build a Realistic Timeline

Instead of leaving everything for the final weeks, map out deadlines on a calendar and work backward. Break each task into smaller steps, such as brainstorming essays, polishing your resume, or checking in with recommenders.

Aim to finish each application at least a week before the deadline. That buffer gives you space for unexpected problems, such as technical issues or last-minute feedback.

4. Hire an Admissions Consultant

A consultant can save time and reduce stress. Think of it as shifting some of the weight off your shoulders so you can focus on the big picture. They can help you repurpose essays across schools instead of reinventing the wheel each time. And having someone in your corner reduces the intensity of the process and allows you to focus on the bigger picture.

Starting something new is always challenging, especially when it is as significant as your MBA application. Working with a consultant can make the process feel far less overwhelming. A good consultant helps you navigate the unknowns, build a tailored plan for each school on your list, save valuable time, and stay motivated when the workload feels heavy. Just as importantly, having an experienced partner to bounce ideas off can sharpen your story. Together, you will brainstorm experiences, work through areas of weakness, refine your essays, and practice for interviews until you are confident.

Nanako: If I had known how hard these schools were, I think I would have been very stressed! Being naive somehow de-stressed this whole process. In terms of what I'd do differently, I would have used an MBA consultant for sure (although I definitely would not have been able to afford one at the time, since I was working at a non-profit in Africa). Now that I see the value of what we do at SWC, I could have benefited from the career coaching/narrative creation aspect!

Given the potential value of scholarships at top MBA programs, hiring a consultant can also be seen as an investment. Sejal signed up for our three-school package, which cost about $8,000 at the time. She was admitted to NYU Stern with a full scholarship worth $170,000. That is a return on investment of more than twenty times the initial spend.

5. Take Care of Your Body

Your brain works best when your body is looked after. Sleep, exercise, and balanced meals are essentials during application season. Even a short walk or stretch can clear your head.

Protect your downtime too. Set boundaries by turning off application-related notifications in the evenings and giving yourself at least one “no-MBA” night each week.

Remember to watch for early signs of burnout. You’re probably staring at the same essay draft for hours without progress. Short GMAT study sessions are leaving you mentally drained. Physical symptoms like headaches, poor sleep, or frequent colds can also be warning signs.

If you notice these, take a break, switch tasks, or reach out for help before things spiral further.

6. After You Hit Submit

Once applications are sent, resist the temptation to agonize over them. Do not reread your essays for typos or replay every interview answer in your head. Send a polite thank-you note after interviews, then move forward.

Whether you are admitted, waitlisted, or rejected, try to keep perspective. Sometimes a “no” just means “not now.” And once you begin your MBA, you will quickly realize that your network and performance matter more than the exact name on your diploma.

Nanako: To applicants: use the MBA application as a way to really dig deep and think big about your goals and ambitions. It's hard to set aside time to reflect on what you've done to date without this forcing mechanism, so start this reflection process early and work with an MBA consultant / career coach to guide you through that process.

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