Guide to Getting the Most from Your MBA Campus Visit
So you’ve decided that you want to go to graduate school to pursue your MBA — congratulations, that’s great news! But how will you know which MBA program is right for you? Sure, you can read all the rankings, reviews, and recommendations to get a good idea of what a particular school, campus or program can offer you, but the most tried and true way to know for certain is to plan an on-campus visit.
I thought that was more of an undergrad thing? Should MBA applicants make campus visits too?
Darn right you should — this is a huge investment you’re making in your education, career and future. As we’ve reported in the past, scheduling a campus visit to your target business school lets you kill two birds with one stone: It grants you some very important face-time with the school’s Admissions Department (winning you some potential brownie points in the process) and gives you chance to see if the institution and its campus are a good fit for you and your lifestyle. This is especially true if attending a school requires that you must uproot your life and move to a new Metro.
Mango, a former blogger and student at Kellogg School of Management, says it best in a webpost:
“School visits are a lot like online dating — you may have built up in your mind this amazing idea of what a school is like, but you can’t really make a decision of whether it is right for you until you go and visit and have that interaction.”
When’s the best time to schedule a visit? Most folks plan to visit a school before applying to a program because your experience during that visit could dramatically inform your application choices. With that said, you can schedule a visit within weeks of the application deadline if needed.
According to US News & World Report, spring is the best time to schedule school visits. There’s tons of activity on campus during the spring sessions, giving you an inside look on campus life and allowing students the opportunity to interact with faculty members.
While on campus, make sure you check out the whole university so you know exactly what’s available to you.
How do I schedule an MBA campus visit?
You can schedule a visit through the MBA admissions office of school. Visits typically include an information session, the option of attending a class, and a chance to sit down and talk with current students. Many schools offer online sign-ups for campus visits, which can often be found on the Events page of business school websites. After registering online, it’s advised that you drop the admissions office an email and ask for any additional resources they can provide to you prior to your visit.
Okay, so I’m on campus and about to sit with someone from the Admissions department — what questions should I ask?
Okay, so I’m on campus and about to sit with someone from the Admissions department — what questions should I ask?When visiting with an admissions officer, there are so many questions you can ask. But let’s start with what you shouldn’t ask.
Ashley Wells breaks down these no-no’s pretty well in a blog post she wrote for the Forte Foundation, a non-profit consortium of leading companies and top business schools working together to launch women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, opportunities, and a community of successful women.
According to Wells, avoid asking questions that:
- Can be easily found by searching on the Internet
- Are extremely specific to your situation when you are in a group setting
- Are “low hanging fruit” questions that could be applied to any MBA program when you only have the opportunity to ask one-two questions
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
