Race against time

I'm trying to figureout how the forthcoming months will be for me with gmat, essays, recos and finally office work and travel over my head. It seems a little daunting and feel the situation is something like 'Too many things to do and too little time'. Apparently, the mantra is to prioritize and just move on.

Few of the bschools have posted their deadlines and the few have their essay questions out. Some of the fellow bloggers have started identifing recommenders and few started to work on their essays and the rest are busy researching schools. But my path is not a bed of roses. Unlike others who first get rid of gmat from their way and start focusing on other aspects of application, i on the othehand have to do gmat prep, school research, recommendations and essays simultaneously. A real test to my multi-tasking skills.

Here is the plan of action for the next few months.

June - Quite eventful month, i must say. Intensified my prep in the last days and gave gmat, though i didnt get the desired score. May be i underestimated gmat or..ok whatever.

July - Enjoyed vacation. Now i'm back to den, but yet to start gmat prep for retake.

To do: Schools research and my inevitable office work.

August - To do: Retake gmat and finish it forever. Finalize the list of schools for R1. Inform recommenders about my plans and ask for recos.

September - Its essasy's time. Writing rough drafts and revamping them till we get a master piece. To do: Make sure that recommenders are doing their job.

October - Some schools have their deadlines in the second week of oct itself and few have deadlines in the first week. Its time to submit my first application.

To do: Redraft essays and make a final version of them. Send them to few close friends for reviewing. Ensure that recommenders are submitting the reco's in time. I don't want to face the tense moments in the elventh hour.

November - Few schools have deadlines in Nov.

To do: Finish with all most all the R1 applications.Start researching schools for R2. Pray to god and wait for some interview calls. If we get one, start preparing for interviews. Thank recommenders for their time and invaluable support.

December: Wait for interview calls, research R2 schools. Identify mistakes we made in R1. Reform your essays. Still no interview calls. Dont panic. Try putting one or two safe schools.

January- Submit all your R2 applications. Thank recommenders again for their support. Wait for interview calls. If you get one then all your time will be sucked for interview preparation which is worth spending.

February- Its waiting time. May be we will get results for all R1 schools and interview calls (if any) for R2 schools also. Prepare for inteviews.

March - Still no admits after interviews (yeah, sometimes i can be a real pessimist). Again don't worry. Depending on the time frame (I,being an international applicant) apply for one or two schools as a last resort in R3. Yes, one of my friend applied in R3 and got into two schools. One of them is in Top 15. This news is a real confidence booster for me.

Remember: No matter what the result is, its really important to enjoy the process. I know, its easier said than done.

So atleast till march, we have to face all this drama. If at all i got an admit by dec/jan, i will pack my bags and go to world tour. (just kidding).

Oops, i forgot about the toefl. In the middle of all this commotion, i have to find time to give my toefl because i dont want any last minute hiccups like schools aksing me for a toefl score. I will take toefl in august or september.

All along we have to manage our day jobs and any travels if req. How about friends, parties and movies during this time?