Are you preparing to start your MBA this fall, or considering the idea? Getting all of the necessary prep work done can seem a bit overwhelming—especially with a job and personal life to balance. But, if you can spread out the workload and get a few things done in advance, the pressure you feel will decrease substantially.
We’ve compiled a list of things you should do now, to make sure you’re prepared later. Whether you’ve already completed the GMAT exam and been accepted to a graduate school, or are just curious about some of the prep work involved, here’s everything you should do in the Spring to make sure you’re ready for school in the Fall.
Spring Preparation
Apply for health insurance.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that students have appropriate health insurance coverage. Since most U.S. medical institutions won’t accept non-U.S. insurance for payment, international students attending Bentley are required to purchase Bentley Student Health Insurance to comply with state law.
Make sure you meet vaccination requirements.
Massachusetts also requires all students to be fully immunized against various diseases. To verify compliance with state law, you must provide the Center for Health and Wellness with a completed medical history form and immunization certificate signed by a medical doctor before the start of classes.
Arrange for housing.
Some places we recommend looking for housing options are FullDorm (once you have a college email address), Craigslist, Trulia, and Zillow. You can also look at the the Campus Life section of the college website or contact an admissions officer for help.
If you’re an international student:
Obtain a passport from your country of citizenship. You will not be permitted to enter the United States without a valid passport and an F-1 or J-1 visa stamp.
If you’ve been admitted to Bentley (and submitted your deposit), the Graduate Admissions office will forward your financial documents to the Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) to issue you a Form I-20. We will forward the I-20 to you as soon as possible to allow you time to obtain an F-1 student visa. You should allow three weeks to process and complete the I-20.
Obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa from the U.S. consulate in your home country. At your appointment, you will present to the consular officer the SEVIS fee receipt (see below), all pages of your Form I-20 or DS-2019, and the original financial documents you submitted to the school with your application.
Prior to your appointment, you should pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Print and retain the paid receipt.
Once you have received the F-1 or J-1 visa stamp on your passport, pick up your passport at the U.S. consulate in your home country.
Plan to arrive in the United States no more than 30 days prior to the start of your academic program. Before arriving at a U.S. airport or border facility, be sure to have your passport/F-1 or J-1 visa and your original Form I-20 or DS-2019. An immigration officer will review these documents and return them to you.
Summer Preparation
As the fall semester gets closer, you’ll want to finalize all student loans and aid information so you know how much you will owe by the payment deadline. You’ll also want to plan on arriving to campus or to the new city one month before classes begin. This will give you time to secure housing and become familiar with the area. Then all that’s left to do is register for courses, buy textbooks and supplies, and attend new student orientation before classes begin.
Be Prepared!
If you’re getting ready to start your MBA this fall, or think you might be ready to start the application process for next year, make sure you know what needs to be done so you can start the semester stress-free. For a full timeline of the application process, download this free MBA application toolkit. You’ll get a year-long, step-by-step guide that tells you exactly what you need to do to become an MBA student.