Round 1 MBA Application Checklist – Do These Things Before You Submit

This article was originally published on August 31, 2023. It was last updated on August 27, 2025.

The last few weeks before the MBA application deadlines can be a whirlwind! To make sure nothing falls through the cracks, here is our 7-step MBA application checklist to help you get across the finish line with confidence:

Round 1 MBA Application Checklist 

1. Set calendar reminders for each of your target schools. We get it. This sounds dumb. Please do it anyway. Every year, applicants still miss deadlines despite months of preparation. Applicants often miss deadlines due to time zone differences or workplace stress. You’ve worked hard to get to this point, don’t miss the Round 1 MBA application deadlines and have to wait until Round 2 (not that Round 2 is bad, but we’re sure you’re ready to be done!).
2. Check in with your recommenders. While some schools will be lenient around recommenders missing their delivery dates, it’s best not to tempt fate.  Reach out to your recommenders as early as possible to ensure that they are on track (if you haven’t already, make sure to give them talking points and/or explain your story to them) and ask them to give you a heads up when the recs are submitted. Finally, thank your recommenders once they submit their letters. Send them a DoorDash gift card, flowers, or a bottle of wine…whatever is appropriate but remember that recommenders have put in a lot of work on your behalf.
3. Take a couple of days off. Seriously, just do it.  You have been synthesizing your life’s goals and accomplishments for weeks now, if not longer.  Not only do you deserve a break but taking some time off from your apps will allow you to come back with a clear head and a fresh perspective. 
   

   Finalizing Your Narrative and Materials

4. Get a second set of eyes. If your essays are “pretty close to done,” then it’s time to get some feedback from a friend or colleague that you trust.  After they read your essays, ask for their primary takeaways. If their takeaways don’t line up with what you think is in the essays, it’s time to tweak and edit.
5. Read your essays out loud. You’ll probably want to clear out your apartment for this but take a few minutes and read your essays out loud to yourself.  After looking at a screen for hours on end, this is a great exercise to catch any typos and make sure that the essays flow and are readable.
6. Double check a few crucial things. Make sure that your transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores, and ensure you have prepared or submitted all other required materials.
7. Take a bow. You’re about to hit “submit” and start your MBA journey. You have achieved a major milestone and made a vital investment in your future.  Business school is an awesome experience and you’re going to learn a ton. Come what may on decision day, you’ve given it your all, and you deserve to be proud of that.

Round 1 MBA Application Deadlines (2025-2026) 

• Tuck: 9/25 (or 9/2 for a guaranteed interview)
• Harvard: 9/3
• Wharton: 9/3
• Columbia: 9/3
• Darden: 9/4 for Early Action (either binding or non-binding)
• Ross: 9/8
• Stanford: 9/9
• Yale: 9/10
• Kellogg: 9/10
• Chicago Booth: 9/16
• INSEAD: 9/16
• Sloan: 9/29

Good luck!

After you’ve worked through our Round 1 MBA application checklist, you may also be interested to read:

Inside the Black Box: What Happens After You Hit “Submit” | Vantage Point MBA

MBA Interview Prep 101 | Vantage Point MBA

Deciding Round 1 isn’t the right timing doesn’t mean your shot is gone.

Round 2 can be the perfect time to apply, especially with the right strategy. Our team of experts are here to help you refine your story and create an application that truly stands out.