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Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits?

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dghazer
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Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   14 Apr 2008, 23:32
Granted I have just started visiting schools, but I was blown away at how fake other applicants were during the tours, etc. I guess you have to put your best foot forward at all times, but I really felt that these people kept regurgitating the same intrdoction, life story, etc. Even when we were away from the adminissions office and tour guides, they did not let their guard down. I was looking forward to meeting some of the people applying, but an open conversation was not to be had at all. I felt almost as if they saw me as some sort of spy for the admin office or something.

Maybe they were a little nervous because they were interviewing and I had the benefit of no real pressure on these visits since I am applying next year. Anyone else notice this? Was I wrong to expect some sort of camraderie with fellow applicant during these visits? Also, I am talking about Cornell and Michigan.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 18 Apr 2008, 00:45
dude tell me about it. Most applicants I've met are cool, or at least just ok people. Most will kiss ass a bit or act a bit fake, but that's expected.

However, I've met some people who are seriously overly obsessed with the MBA process, paranoid, and even backstabbing.

When I meet other applicants, generally I just treat them as friends, and try to share useful info with them as much as possible or help with with the process. But i've met people who are super neurotic, creepy, and even annoying. Definitely fake/shady, like always kissing every student/alum/adcoms ass like no other, but when interacting with fellow applicants would provide fake info or not help at all.

These people spend thousands of dollars to visit schools not really to understand the school but to kiss the ass of everyone they meet, trying every backdoor way or shorcut to get into a school no matter what the cost or ethics.

Basically, just really desperate people with bad dose of inferiority complex, horrible interpersonal skills, trying way too hard to prove that they belong.

There are tons of nutcases out there applying to top bschools, unfortunatately.

Originally posted by aceman626 on 14 Apr 2008, 23:57.
Last edited by aceman626 on 18 Apr 2008, 00:45, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 01:10
dghazer wrote:
Also, I am talking about Cornell and Michigan.


eh? Donno what you mean. If people who visited these schools behaved in a certain manner, it is no reason to associate those un-friendly characteristics with the school. Michigan has probably the most friendliest student body around and I am not saying that just because I might be going there this fall.

In my experience, applicants are very paranoid about saying anything about themselves. I guess it is the fear of jeopardizing one's chances, no matter how irrational it seems.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 06:05
I could see some of what you're saying in some applicants, but I would say most are pretty friendly. I have had some "rude" ones trying to "get ahead" by interrupting people and asking stupid questions, but most of the time people are nice. There's definitely something to be said about not revealing too much and keeping your guard up though, but not enough for me to consider it "fake". :)
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 06:13
Someone said this to me before, and I would assume most are just nervous.

I would not let it get to you, unless it was like on admit day or something.

When did you go?
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 07:09
I mentioned Cornell and Michigan because I was expecting a more friendly atmosphere. I would expect something different at HBS or Wharton. The students I interacted with were great.

I visited both last week.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 07:12
Yea, When I visited a school, and the prospective students were waxing poetic about their jobs, I thought to myself, "Ummm, why do you need an MBA then?"

I hope adcoms can weed out most of those dbags.

prasad, it's not a reflection of the school. However, I guess it's a reflection of the type of people it draws? I think its bschool in general.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 07:17
It may be particular days as well. When I visited Cornell, the current students were the friendliest I had met. I also visited on one of their heaviest prospective student days, so everyone was probably a little more nervous and trying to stand out a little bit extra.

I'd chalk it up to nerves as well. When you hear about applications being up 500% (exaggerating) and whatnot, I know I get a little more nervous.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 20:39
what i find is that most of the real qualified people are actually pretty cool, they know they will get into at least one top school and they don't need to step over anyone else or try to brown-nose their way in.

It is usually the insecure mediocre applicants, who have a huge chip on their shoulders, that are the fake douchbags.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 21:49
aceman626 wrote:
what i find is that most of the real qualified people are actually pretty cool, they know they will get into at least one top school and they don't need to step over anyone else or try to brown-nose their way in.

It is usually the insecure mediocre applicants, who have a huge chip on their shoulders, that are the fake douchbags.


I second that. I think it's insecurity which translates into all those kinds of "strange" behavior. I once overheard a guy addressing a Wharton rep at an MBA fair:
- Hello, how are you? I see that you are quite busy answering generic questions from other applicants. Can I bother you with a very specific question? [I mean, "Huh?" What was he expecting to gain with such an introduction line, downgrading fellow applicants? So, I was very curious to hear that "very specific question".]
And he goes:
- I haven't passed the GMAT yet, will it be OK if I submit my GMAT results after the application deadline?
...
LOL
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   15 Apr 2008, 21:53
What most visitors (whether fake or not) don't appreciate is that what they do during their visit (other than interview) will have virtually no impact on their admission decision. There's no "networking your way into B-school" unless it's a small program and you have committed deeply to it (as in the sniper approach).

L.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 03:45
lepium wrote:
What most visitors (whether fake or not) don't appreciate is that what they do during their visit (other than interview) will have virtually no impact on their admission decision. There's no "networking your way into B-school" unless it's a small program and you have committed deeply to it (as in the sniper approach).

L.


There was a girl I toured with who asked every single student who said hello to her for a card or email address. I think collecting bschool student cards must be a hobby of hers.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 04:55
I am sorry to learn that you have had such a disappointing experience during your visits. I have also visited a few schools and have come across regular co-visitors in every campus. Granted, there were some over eager fellows, but one will encounter them everywhere ( including one's UG classes or in office)!

I may be wrong, but I fiind your text a bit judgemental. But I am sure, that is not a reflection of any baggage, but you really had to withstand some egregious group of people.



dghazer wrote:
Granted I have just started visiting schools, but I was blown away at how fake other applicants were during the tours, etc. I guess you have to put your best foot forward at all times, but I really felt that these people kept regurgitating the same intrdoction, life story, etc. Even when we were away from the adminissions office and tour guides, they did not let their guard down. I was looking forward to meeting some of the people applying, but an open conversation was not to be had at all. I felt almost as if they saw me as some sort of spy for the admin office or something.

Maybe they were a little nervous because they were interviewing and I had the benefit of no real pressure on these visits since I am applying next year. Anyone else notice this? Was I wrong to expect some sort of camraderie with fellow applicant during these visits? Also, I am talking about Cornell and Michigan.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 07:15
It's normal that people are on good behavior - which might be fake at worst, or simply a bit stilted. We all put a lot of time into the application process, and we worry about screwing up. Yes, being fake is bad, being a jerk is awful, but being a little tight is normal.

And I have to tell you - it doesn't magically end the second you get in. You're going to spend 2 years with these people. You might want a job where they used to work, you might be on a team with them, whatever. You DON'T want them thinking you're a douchebag from the day they meet you at orientation. People stay on good behavior for a little while, and then chill out a bit.

That's not to say that they're fake or even being jerks. They're just being careful.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 07:47
ncprasad wrote:

Michigan has probably the most friendliest student body around...


Growing up in the area, I'd have to kindly and STRONGLY disagree...

kidderek wrote:
I think its bschool in general.


Unfortunatley, I think you are correct... Let's change that.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 10:20
I hate to be the one to point the finger at you, but people usually reflect the same manner/politeness/comfort as you show them.

At all my visits as I'm walking out the door or talking with them at B school recruiting events, I always talked about the application process and how the goals we write in the essays are not always true (and the countless other idiosyncracies about applying that we talk about here)

I've had some good comradarie because we each know about the application process.

But talking about one's accomplishments to other candidates is different if they are not admitted. You have to understand these people. They spent months on the gmat, months on the essays, and days/hours thinking about their job and preparing for the interview. You come on interview day with a certain mentality and gameface that stays on throughout the interview season. It may sound canned because it is. They practiced/rehearsed it and memorized their marketing spiel.

Talking to you is just more practice
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 11:15
I am probably one of the most "real" people you're gonna meet, but I'll tell ya what...I probably came off weird on more than one occassion during those tours/diversity wknds etc. For me personally I think it came out of insecurity. When I was at Yale for a tour, I sat in the reception area of the admissions office waiting for the tour to begin. There with me were several bankers/consultants...perfect hair, suits, leather bound portfolios...even came with their attractive girlfriends. Then there was me...the 25 yr old with the baby face from LA who probably didn't dress nearly warm enough and worked in land development. I admit it...I felt outclassed at that partciular moment. In those instances, you can't shrink into a ball, you have to puff your chest...I had to be extra friendly and outgoing, be extra energetic about what I did for a living because I felt like I had to prove to them that I actually belonged. That sounds absolutely asinine and silly...but hey, I'm just being real haha :o
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 12:20
I also want to add that it's not being fake, but just knowing how to act in certain situations.

Switching certain parts of your personality on and off.

The schools do the same thing with all that marketing crap they spew.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 17:52
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During visits you are going to meet "That Guy" everywhere. Most likely there will be students at every school who were that guy and still are that guy. You will work with that guy in the future, you may even work FOR that guy in the future or may have him working for you.

My advice, DON'T be "that guy"

Pretty simple and in my humble opinion very good advice. You never want to stand out for the wrong reason.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink] New post   16 Apr 2008, 17:55
gmatclb wrote:
I also want to add that it's not being fake, but just knowing how to act in certain situations.

Switching certain parts of your personality on and off.

The schools do the same thing with all that marketing crap they spew.


Agreed. There's a big gap between treating everyone around you like they're your fraternity brothers and treating everyone around you like they're a competitor. It's advisable to fall somewhere in between.
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Re: Is everyone applying to bschool this fake during visits? [#permalink]
16 Apr 2008, 17:55
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