The online college fair trend has taken off in the last few years, with hundreds of schools sending their admissions officers to virtual career fairs. Now, business schools are joining in.
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) announced last week that they will be holding an online MBA Fair, the Global GMATCH Virtual MBA Fair, on Nov. 22nd and 23rd. It’s the first time GMAC has organized such an event, which they’ve dubbed “the first truly global virtual fair bringing together business schools and potential students,” according to a press release. More than forty schools have signed up to participate, including INSEAD, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. For the full list of participating schools, click
here.
The fair will have virtual booths manned by admissions officer, who will use webcams to talk with prospective applicants. There also will be a “multimedia auditorium” where students can get brochures and information on the different schools, take part in interactive presentations, and meet other attendees, GMAC said in a release.
The event appears to have been organized so schools can gain access to students from more far-flung regions who otherwise might not be able to attend the more conventional on-the-ground MBA fairs, like the ones hosted each year by QS World MBA Tour and The MBA Tour. According to GMAC, their virtual fair will be open for four hours on the two days and is organized so people from different time zones can participate. For example, potential applicants in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa will want to stop by the virtual fair on Nov. 22, while those in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands should visit on Nov. 23.
The event is free for students and those interested in registering can sign up
here.
Prospective B-school students, what do you think of the concept of an entirely online MBA fair? Is this an attractive alternative to the typical fairs where you meet face-to-face with admissions officers?
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
ArticleMore info from GMAC's website:Meet more candidates from around the world at the GMATCH MBA Virtual Fair on 22-23 November 2010.
Targeted at candidates seeking full-time MBA programs, this new addition to the fall recruiting calendar gives your school a way to:
- Meet more candidates: meet an international, qualified, population wherever they are and at a time that works for them
- More efficiently: interact with candidates from the convenience of your desk, without the cost of travel
- With more information: access candidate profiles in real-time and get the contact details of all candidates. interested in your program
Note: Exhibiting programs must be full time, on-campus, MBA programs that use the GMAT exam. Exhibitor registration closes on 15 October 2010.
The event will be promoted to candidates via social media and advertising. We will also be tapping into the rich vein of business school applicants we interact with every day on mba.com.
Read more on the GMAC's website:
Article