How to Prepare for an MBA After College (Without Selling Your Soul)

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If you’re a recent grad and already thinking about business school a few years down the line, you’re ahead of the curve.

But don’t fall into the trap.

One of the most common questions I get is:

“How should I position myself now to get into a top MBA later?”

Translation: What checklist should I follow so the adcoms like me?

Here’s the better question:

How do I build a meaningful life that actually leads somewhere — whether or not an MBA ends up being part of it?

Let’s talk about what really matters.

Build a Life, Not a Résumé

If you’ve spent most of your life optimizing for school — grades, awards, internships — it’s time to start optimizing for you.

That means:

  • Pursuing something other than academics
  • Getting involved in communities that feed you (not just impress others)
  • Taking risks in work, side projects, or creative pursuits

Join a startup. Start a nonprofit. Dive into the arts. Volunteer somewhere that matters to you. Run for something. Build something.

It doesn’t have to be tidy. It just has to be real.

The real world values street smarts as much (if not more) than book smarts. That’s what MBA programs — and your future employers — are looking for: people who have done something.

Don’t Window Dress

You know the type — the “pre-MBA” checklist junkie. Everything they do is meant to signal something to someone else.

Adcoms can smell that from a mile away.

If your side hustle, travel, or leadership role is just a ploy to look impressive, it probably won’t work. The best applicants are interesting because they’re interested. They’ve pursued something with sincerity, not just strategy.

Make Decisions for You — Not for Gatekeepers

In your 20s, it’s easy to fall into planning your life around approval:

  • What will the adcoms think?
  • Will this job look good?
  • What would my parents say?

Here’s a better approach:

Make decisions based on what feels worth pursuing — even if it’s not popular, linear, or guaranteed to “work out.”

You’ll gain more from trying and failing at something real than following a clean, safe path that was never truly yours.

There’s No Template (That’s the Point)

There’s no formula for getting into a top MBA program — and anyone who says otherwise is selling something.

You can’t fake your way into being a high achiever. You just have to do the work.

  • Find your talent (or talents)
  • Bet on it
  • Build resilience when things go sideways
  • Keep going

Real accomplishments — the kind that lead to real admissions outcomes — usually come after a few years of hauling ass. They don’t show up on command. They compound.

TL;DR

  • Stop thinking like a student. Start thinking like a builder.
  • Don’t game the adcoms — grow as a person.
  • Forget the checklist. Do something real.
  • Be interesting by being genuinely interested in something.
  • Make the life choices that would still be worth it even if no one was watching.

Want Guidance That Doesn’t Come from a Brochure?

Inside the MBA App Assistant, I break down how to think about MBA positioning over the long run — without the jargon or the games. Whether you’re 23 or 33, you’ll find insight on how to craft a career path that actually means something.

You also get Ask Alex @ MBA Apply — a GPT-based assistant trained on 15+ years of real-world admissions strategy.

👉 Check it out here