So what exactly happens from the day you decide to pursue that MBA and that you are sick of your meaningless job and your mundane, boring routine of getting up at 6am, showering, brushing (hopefully), commuting, checking countless, never-ending emails, then returning home to those idiotic tivo’d shows that you think make you laugh, but not really, only to do it all over again in 8 hours? Well, that is a very good question my friends and I will attempt to answer just exactly how your life will change and what you can expect…(deep breaths).

So, the lifecycle begins like this, err, well it is different for everyone. We have processed and finalized all of our applications to the schools that we think we have a shot at (which by the way is so arbitrary because the admissions committees at all of the top schools are far too subjective for their own good; they can’t tell the difference between a grape and an elephant, or a turtle and a hare, some of them just don’t get it. What I am saying is don’t be disappointed if you don’t get into one of your target schools, despite of your “perfect” credentials, it is far more subjective than we will ever realize). Now, that we have applied, we wait! But while we wait, there are some things that we should keep in mind that are fairly standard, no matter what school we end up going to….”is it a boy?!?”

First, there comes a point that we must tell our bosses, supervisors and team that we are leaving the company. Tears, tears, yes, and more tears, but it is a reality. However you decide to cut the cord, it is respectful to give your company a decent heads up that you are leaving, a company that has paid that hard earned salary of yours. You owe it to your company, and your superiors, to give them ample amount of time to interview and hire someone else to replace you. Honestly, it is not as bad as it seems, and in fact, people are happy and glad for you that you are sane enough to realize and come to the decision that you don’t want to work with your company for the rest of your days. Sure, you might not get that $100 Olive Garden gift certificate that you’ll probably receive for your 25 hard years of hard work, but don’t worry about it, by the time you leave business school, you will be sick of free lunches (and if you don’t realize this yet, you don’t belong in business school, as there is no such thing as a free lunch!) You will be surprised how easy this day is and how relieved you will feel when you do tell everyone the news. Don’t fear the reaper, you are replaceable after all, let’s get over this thought that we are not! Bottom line, tell your boss and supervisor that you plan on going to business school. Don’t burn bridges and don’t bite the hand that feeds you, even if it is not for much longer.

Odds are, unless you are headed to the Medieval State University School of Business, you will need a laptop for your next two years of higher education. Trust me, you will need it for all of the pictures, downloaded music, and surfing the internet while sitting in a boring accounting class, if nothing else. Budget for a computer, and my advice is to network with your soon-to-be classmates (through class distribution lists, etc) to see if anyone has a discount at a regarded computer company (Dell or Lenovo are popular). Plan ahead, because you do not want to arrive on campus, only to hear that there was a problem with your order that you placed 11 weeks ago. You will fall behind immediately and will be known as “that person without a computer, what a jerk, who doesn’t have a computer!?!” Also, sorry Mac lovers, Macs are not used in the business world, I would advise against getting a Mac.

It is also a good time to start thinking who you will be living with in business school. If you have a significant other, then that is probably already decided for, unless you want to be sleeping on the couch the night you have that conversation…and for the foreseeable future. It might be good to try to meet people from your current city (if you live in a large city, like NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc) to see if you are compatible with anyone there that you will be going to school with. It is much easier to meet someone BEFORE you move in with them, the last thing you want is an incompatible roommate, one that will be throwing beer cans against the wall at 5 in the morning, 6 nights a week. Some people might think this is a good thing, but we are now getting a “professional” degree, let’s not forget.

This article is first in a series….please be on the lookout for the second piece. Next, we will discuss the adventures and awesomeness of orientation, first semester, and thinking about summer internships. It’ll be crazy fun!