Research class profile at target schools
Review the incoming class profile of some of the schools you’re interested in. Also check out the student profiles featured on that school’s website.
Improve your public speaking skills
Work on your public speaking skills with different audience formats: one-on-one, to a small group (2-10), and to a large group (10+). Master the art of speaking in public. Volunteer to speak in front of groups, whenever you can. Join the Toastmasters club, if you can.
Improve your command over the English language
Get a subscription to the newspaper, The New York Times, and read several articles every day without fail. The grammar and writing in the The New York Times articles are excellent, and over the next few years you will begin to absorb and use good English.
Connect with alumni
Start connecting with the alumni chapters of the universities that you want to apply to. Take the time to find out about whether or not your potential university has this kind of event.
Improve writing skills
Work on your writing skills. You’d be surprised how many of your peers have awesome ideas but cannot explain them in writing. Don’t be one of them.
Become the leader of a BIG project
It doesn’t matter where: volunteering, at work, the rotary club, etc. The idea is that you have some good project management experience (e.g. budgeting, scheduling, managing people, meeting goals, planning for a quarter/semester/year).
Pursue your favorite sports
If you’ve had to give up your favorite sport to crack some entrance test or focus on your career, well, it’s time to pick up where you left off. Join people in your neighborhood or workplace, or playing something you used to enjoy!
Learn a New Language
Learning a new language will help you stand out, as business schools are increasingly focusing on diversity in their classrooms. With an app like DuoLingo, you can acquire a working knowledge of a new language – Spanish, French or German – while you are traveling or waiting in a queue.
Launch a startup
Today, launching a new venture is really easy – you can start with a free WordPress blog. This will give you invaluable experience in marketing, sales, service delivery and customer support – basically most of the things that you are going to learn in your MBA.
Intern at Top Companies
An internship provides you with work experience that is valued by the admission committee. The more recognized the company is, the better it is for your profile. Of course, you can also intern at a smaller company that may offer you a more wholesome work experience that could boost your profile as well.