Pre-MBA Checklist: How to Make the Most of Your Summer

Congratulations! You got into an MBA program, and you’re gearing up for what many consider to be the most transformative two years of their lives. While it’s important to celebrate and recharge, the months between now and your program’s start are also a valuable runway to set yourself up for success—if you use them wisely. Our Pre-MBA Career Accelerator is designed specifically to help you take advantage of this window, and this pre-MBA checklist outlines six high-impact areas to focus on this summer so you can start your program confident, prepared, and ahead of the curve.

Why should you start now? The job market for MBAs is more competitive than ever. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), only 36% of MBA employers planned to increase hiring in 2024, down from 92% in 2021. (And while the 2025 report has not yet been published at the time this article was written, we don’t expect meaningful improvement in the near-term.) In high-demand fields like consulting and private equity, internship offers often go to candidates who have spent months preparing. Starting now gives you the clarity, confidence, and competitive edge needed to land your top-choice internship and full-time role.

Whether you’re pivoting careers, looking to sharpen your edge, or just eager to hit the ground running, use this pre-MBA checklist to make the most of your summer.

But First: Intentionally Transition from Your Job

Before you leave your current role, take some time to reflect on what will be most helpful to bring with you into the MBA and beyond. Start by identifying the top projects, initiatives, or accomplishments you’d like to remember and discuss in future interviews. Collect data, artifacts, and documentation that will help you tell your story and demonstrate your impact.

Think strategically about relationships. Who do you want to keep close in your network? What new relationships can you build before you go? Identify decision-makers in your organization—those who manage external consultants, approve partnerships, or influence hiring. Meet them, share your MBA plans, and find a way to stay connected. These relationships may become invaluable during recruiting, especially for project-based or off-cycle roles.

Making a thoughtful exit ensures you carry forward both the tangible and intangible value of your current experience. With that foundation in place, you’ll be free to start your MBA with a clear head and a clean break.

1. Clarify Your Goals: A Key Step in Your Pre-MBA Checklist

One of the most important components of this pre-MBA checklist is taking time to reflect on your goals before diving into coursework, coffee chats, and club fairs. The better you understand your interests and motivations, the more targeted and efficient your MBA journey will be. Consider:

Industries and functions: What industries and job functions excite you? Do you prefer people leadership, data analysis, strategy development, hands-on execution? Also, what is a realistic pivot for you? Generally, it is easier to pivot either industry or function rather than both during your MBA.
Career drivers and values: What are the most important things to do you in your career right now? Think through the following universal drivers and rank them in order of importance: Compensation, day-to-day functions, learning and development, brand name, impact, work-life balance, people and culture.
Geography and lifestyle: What type of post-MBA life do you envision—fast-paced consulting, mission-driven nonprofit work, entrepreneurial hustle? If you’re still figuring out what path feels right for you, this guide to non-soul-crushing careers for MBA graduates might offer some helpful inspiration.
Strengths and gaps: What are your natural strengths? What do you want to develop during your MBA?

Tools like career assessments (e.g., CliftonStrengths, CareerLeader), books (e.g, Designing Your Life, Working Identity, What Color is Your Parachute?), informational interviews with alumni working in industries/functions you’re interested in, and journaling can help you clarify your “why.”

2. Upskill with Intention

While you are likely getting an MBA to upskill in specific areas of business, starting over the summer will not only make your transition smoother but allow you to stand out for early recruiting opportunities. Focus on areas where you anticipate a steeper learning curve. Popular summer upskilling choices on any pre-MBA checklist include:

Excel and PowerPoint: These will be your bread and butter for most classes and internships.
Finance, accounting, and statistics fundamentals: Many schools offer pre-MBA coursework—take advantage of them.
Technical tools: Learn basic SQL, Tableau, or Python if you’re interested in tech, operations, or analytics.
Communication: Public speaking (Toastmasters), business writing, or storytelling courses can sharpen your presence.

Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer affordable and flexible options.

3. Start Networking Early

Networking isn’t just about job hunting—it’s about building genuine relationships and learning from others’ paths and experiences. The summer is a great time to:

Connect with classmates: Join your program’s Slack or WhatsApp group. Attend admit weekends or virtual meetups.
Reach out to alumni: Ask about their MBA experience, career decisions, and advice.
Initiate coffee chats: Especially if you’re exploring a new industry, talking to people already in the field can provide invaluable insights.
Engage with professional communities: Join LinkedIn groups or attend local industry meetups.

Networking is especially important if you’re a career switcher. Breaking into a new industry or function often hinges on who you know and how well you understand the landscape and can speak the same language. As a result, building relationships early should be a key part of any pre-MBA checklist. Conversations with professionals can help demystify roles, reveal hidden opportunities, and build advocates who may refer you for roles down the line. Your early connections often become mentors, collaborators, or even lifelong friends.

If you’re not sure how to approach networking this summer, book a quick call with us. We’ll help you get clear on where to start and how to make the most of your time.

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4. Take Advantage of Pre-MBA Opportunities

Many top employers offer pre-MBA programs that introduce incoming students to their firm’s culture, people, and opportunities. These can give you a head start in recruiting, signal strong interest, secure you an early interview, and even an early job offer!

Programs to consider:

Consulting: McKinsey Early Access / Inspire, BCG Unlock / Empower, Bain BASE
Finance: JP Morgan Early Advantage, Evercore Elevate, Goldman Sachs MBA Exploratory Program
Tech & General Management: Google MBA Internship Prep, Amazon Pathways info sessions
Affinity groups: Companies and organizations often run pre-MBA events for women, underrepresented minorities, LGBTQ+ students, and veterans

In addition to firm-led events, summer conferences can be incredibly valuable. Events such as the Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference, The Consortium Orientation Program (OP), ROMBA (Reaching Out MBA), and MLT MBA Professional Development events offer exceptional opportunities to learn, network, and gain early visibility with employers. These conferences often include professional development workshops, company presentations, and even on-site interviews with recruiters.

Deadlines can be as early as April or May, so keep an eye out and apply early.

5. Understand Your MBA Program’s Resources

Every MBA program offers a wealth of resources—career centers, student clubs, academic support, global programs, and more. Familiarizing yourself with what’s available can help you step on campus with confidence and make strategic choices.

Explore your school’s career development site: What workshops, career coaches, and recruiting timelines are available?
Look into clubs: Identify ones aligned with your goals—consulting, private equity, entrepreneurship, impact, and beyond.
Connect with second-years: Many are happy to share insights on classes, professors, and the internship search. Many (i.e. peer coaches) are actually paid to help you so don’t be shy to reach out to them. MBA student ambassadors are another great resource for incoming students and can often provide helpful perspective before school even starts.
Note important timelines: Some industries recruit very early (consulting, banking), so knowing important timelines for networking and dropping applications helps you prioritize.

6. Get a Head Start on Recruiting: Final Pre-MBA Checklist Step

Even if you’re not 100% sure about your post-MBA path, beginning to prepare for recruiting now will make things much less stressful later. Key actions include:

Refining your pitch: Practice introducing yourself and explaining your career goals succinctly and confidently.
Updating your resume: Tailor it to MBA-style formatting and language.
Drafting a general cover letter: You’ll customize it later, but starting with a base will save time.
Practicing interviews: Review common behavioral questions and, if applicable, start working through case interview frameworks.
Staying organized: Build a system now for tracking your progress. Spreadsheets can help you manage networking conversations, log feedback from case interviews, and collect STAR stories for behavioral questions. Developing good habits early will make the fall recruiting season far less overwhelming.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to overhaul your summer plans or cram every minute with prep work. But taking small, intentional steps now can set you up for a more confident, less chaotic start to your MBA. Use this pre-MBA checklist to explore, prepare, and build the foundation for the next big chapter of your life.

And don’t forget to have some fun—because once the MBA whirlwind begins, you’ll be glad you did.

Not sure where to start? That’s where we come in. The Pre-MBA Career Accelerator was built to help incoming MBA students get recruiting-ready—without the guesswork. From building a strong resume to clarifying your story and networking strategically, we’ll help you show up confident and prepared.

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