Planning to go to B-School?

1. Start early
   I can not stress the importance of starting year and a half before you plan to enroll. As you'll realize along the way, there are a lot of things you'll have to accomplish. The sooner you start, the better job you'll do of convincing those AdCom members to admit you.
   
   
2. Timeline
   April - Take the GMAT.
   May/June - Visit schools. Figure out your recommenders and start treating them nicely.
   July - Start working on those essays. Prep your recommenders.
   August - Continue working on those essays. You will need all the time you can spare.
   September - Visit events held by a school in your city. Get your essays proofread
   October - Make final edits and submit your applications.
   
   
3. Prepare your recommenders
   This is going to be one of the most important activities as this is the only thing in your application that you have no control over. If not done the right way, it could result in a lack luster recommendation, which might do you more harm than good. In this regard, I highly recommend Paul Bodine's "Great Application Essays for Business School". It has a chapter on recommendations which has really good tips. Moreover, I suggest photocopying the sample recommendation in that book and giving it to your recommender to give them an idea of how some people have written recommendations. The biggest key is going to be - examples, examples, and examples. For every claim that they make about your abilities, they should substantiate it with examples. It gives the recommendation more credibility and it'll humanize your application.
   
   Another thing to remember is that the recommenders are doing you a favor. You'll have to give them enough time to do justice to your candidacy. Give them 3-4 months heads up. Take them out to coffee/lunch and explain the entire process. Give them all your details (school deadlines, resume, notes, your goals, sample recommendation, stories you want them to highlight)
   
   
4. Essays
   Based on my own experience, this is the single most important component in your application. I think that this may hold as much as 50% weight. Sure, the other things are important components too. But those will keep you out. They are just numbers. This is the component that has the power of getting you in. Give them the time they deserve and you'll surely be able to get into the school that you deserve to go to. Getting your essays proofread from a person who does not know you would be a good idea. The reason I say this is 'coz family and friends would be able to fill in the gaps in those essays. However, a stranger would not be able to do so and would be helpful in picking those gaps up. Often on forums, people are more than willing to proofread your essays. Moreover, there are admission consultants who can proofread your essays. Also, there are independent websites such as www.editavenue.com who check your work on an individual basis and not as part of your application to a school. Another important thing would be to review all your essays for a school together. This will give you the complete picture that you are portraying to an admissions officer. Make sure you do not have inconsistencies, redundancies, and are able to highlight different aspects of you through different essays.

All the best in your B-School aspirations!