Get good grades in college. It is important to keep your grades as high as possible, especially if applying to really competitive MBA programs like the Harvard School of Business or the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Obtain a bachelor's degree at an accredited U.S. university or college. A bachelor's degree is required to gain entry into any MBA program. Most programs don't require that you get a degree in a specific subject (for example, business or economics), but it is recommended that you take classes that require analytical thinking and also show some business math skills.
Gain real-world experience. Many MBA programs want to see a history of leadership and work experience. UCLA's Anderson School of Management applicants typically have five years of work experience before applying, although this is not required. Leadership skills can be obtained on the job, by running your own business or by obtaining a position of leadership in a community organization. Many schools will also want to see that you are actively involved in the community; charities, religious organizations or participation in groups and organizations are examples of being involved.
Research MBA programs for suitability. Do some research and find a school that fits your interest, is located in a city where you want to live and possibly intern and is within your price range. Check out the annual business school rankings prepared by "U.S. News & World Report" and "Businessweek" (see Resources). Also find a school that it suited with your academic history. Many MBA program websites have a "class profile" section where they list the class size, average GPA and GMAT score. For example, UCLA's 2012 class had a mean GMAT of 711 and GPA of 3.53. If you earned a 2.5 GPA and GMAT score of 560, it may be difficult for you to gain entrance into this school. You may want to have backup schools with a class profile that is in line with your scores.
Complete a FAFSA online by the deadline for the semester that you plan to attend college. Request that FAFSA send your financial aid information to any school that you are interested in. If you decide to apply to additional schools, you can have your FAFSA information submitted to those schools later on. Apply for any private scholarships at the university of choice once you've decided to apply there.
Request three recommendations. Many MBA programs require you submit three recommendations. Ask a teacher, colleague, boss or friend to prepare a recommendation. Try to have at least two of your recommendations come from a professional colleague. Then ask these people to give you one copy of the recommendation and be prepared to send additional copies to your schools of choice. Some schools have recommendation forms that need to be filled out; others will accept a personal letter.
Prepare a resume. A resume should list all your previous work experience, education and other skills. Highlight work experience that displays leadership and focus your job summary experience, if possible, on skills that are aligned with your planned focus in MBA school. Also be sure to highlight leadership, contributions to your work environment and problem-solving skills. Some MBA programs grant interviews; if so, you will want to have your resume on hand. When applying, many MBA programs will want your work experience listed as part of the application. Having your work experience prepared will allow you to copy the information into the MBA application.
Take a standardized examination. The GRE and GMAT are standardized tests required by many MBA programs. Both Columbia University and Harvard University's MBA programs will accept scores from either exam. UCLA will only accept the GMAT exam score. Check with your school of interest for which test is accepted. Based on a combination of your test scores, college grades and professional and extracurricular experience, you may become eligible for more competitive MBA programs or the school of your choice.
Apply for a few MBA programs. Apply to your top MBA program, your number-one pick. Also submit applications to schools that you are interested in because of their program and class offerings, compatibility in terms of GPA and test scores, cost and convenience of location. Many applications are available online. You can also submit many MBA applications by mail.
Send your official transcripts and recommendations to the schools you've applied to. You must ask and pay for your school to send official transcripts to your selected MBA programs. Ask those who have prepared recommendations to send them to your schools of choice. You may want to give them a pre-stamped envelope to send your recommendations in.
Go to an interview. Most MBA programs don't require interviews. But some highly competitive programs may invite you to an interview. Dress professionally, as if you are going on a job interview, and bring your resume, transcripts and any other documents that show achievement and leadership.
Complete any pre-enrollment requirements. Many schools don't require candidates to complete any additional tasks before entering the MBA program. Columbia School of Business, on the other hand, does require that you complete a PreMBA online course.