{"id":54484,"date":"2022-03-28T12:00:16","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T19:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=54484"},"modified":"2022-03-28T12:00:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T19:00:17","slug":"shortlisting-and-visiting-business-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/shortlisting-and-visiting-business-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Shortlisting and Visiting Business Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/guide\/mba-admissions-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/navigating_shortlisting.jpg\" alt=\"Shortlisting and Visiting Business Schools\" class=\"wp-image-73639\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In deciding&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/guide\/best-mba-programs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whether to apply to specific MBA programs<\/a>, you need to understand how the schools differ. What are their relative strengths and weaknesses? It isn\u2019t easy to get a real sense of what makes a school unique: they all claim top faculties, great student bodies, and professional networks that will sizzle when you graduate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How can you tell the differences among these programs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-follow-these-steps-to-do-your-research\">Follow these steps to do your research:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Study their employment profile<em>.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0See where graduates find jobs. Which schools send the most grads to the companies, industries, and locations you are most interested in?<br><br><\/li><li><strong>Class profile.\u00a0<\/strong>Do you want a large class or a small, close-knit class? Do you want an urban or rural setting? Do you really want to be in a class that draws over 70% of its students from engineering, business, and technical fields? Or would you prefer to be in a class where 46% came from the social sciences and humanities? Both\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/whats-new-at-mit-sloans-competitive-full-time-mba-episode-409\/\">MIT<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/stanford-gsb-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Stanford<\/a>\u00a0provide outstanding MBA educations, but their class make-up is very different. Consider the elements and features of a given class and decide which environment will appeal to you most.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>Curriculum<\/strong>. Would Harvard\u2019s rigid first year curriculum, where everyone takes the same classes, chafe? \u00a0Or would you be lost with all the options at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/chicago-booth-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Chicago<\/a>, which prides itself on its flexibility? Do you value the option of skipping prerequisites? Do you want a lot of teacher cooperation and integration of business functions, as is provided by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/dartmouth-tuck-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Tuck<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/what-makes-yale-som-unique-episode-442\/\">Yale<\/a>?<br><br><\/li><li><strong>Methodology<\/strong>. If you prefer a mix of methodologies, check out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/webinar\/get-accepted-to-wharton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wharton<\/a>. If you like an emphasis on projects and hands-on learning, check out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/what-prospective-mbas-should-know-about-applying-to-michigan-ross-episode-365\/\">Ross<\/a>. Do you want a strict case method? Take a closer look at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/webinar\/harvard-business-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HBS<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/uva-darden-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Darden<\/a>.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>Clubs and extra-curriculars.\u00a0<\/strong>Many schools have imitated MIT Sloan\u2019s business plan competition. But not everyone has a social enterprise competition (HBS does). If you are interested in social enterprise, that competition may be particularly appealing.<br><br>What are some of the unusual clubs at the different schools that would appeal to you? For example, almost every school will have a Marketing Club, but only some, like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/columbia-business-school-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Columbia<\/a>, will have a Luxury Goods Marketing Club. Take some time to notice the variety of active clubs at the programs you are considering.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>Professor research.\u00a0<\/strong>A school may have a professor or two who are magnets pulling you to that program, perhaps for their well respected research in a niche that appeals to you. Are there independent study opportunities (with these professors)? Do these profs teach MBA students? If so, what classes?<br><br><\/li><li><strong>\u201cFit.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>Then there is that almost\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/focus-fit-episode-162\/\">indefinable quality called \u201cfit.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0This consists of several factors, including understanding your target school\u2019s mission, values, and criteria; proving you can perform to their standards; sharing the school\u2019s values and its mission; and showing that the program can help you achieve your career goals.<br><br>To determine fit, visit the schools you are considering if at all possible. If a visit isn\u2019t feasible, talk to current students, read MBA student blogs, and follow the student newspapers. Grasping points of difference will enable you to make more intelligent application and acceptance decisions.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can get to campus, here are some&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/top-6-tips-for-visiting-business-schools\/\">visiting-day tips<\/a>&nbsp;to maximize your experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u00a0<strong>If possible, visit when class is in session.<\/strong>\u00a0Then take a tour, chat with students, and attend the info sessions. Take advantage of whatever is offered on campus to help you get a realistic feel for the environment.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>Prepare for your visit by going through the school\u2019s website thoroughly.<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s not a good look when you ask a question that is answered three times on the school\u2019s site.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>As you review the school website, write down any questions that you may have<\/strong>\u00a0and take them with you.<br><br><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/cant-visit-b-schools-person\/\">If you can\u2019t visit the school<\/a>, attend receptions or info sessions<\/strong>\u00a0that will be held in your city. Bring your written questions so you don\u2019t forget any of them.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Visiting schools is only part of the planning and strategizing that you\u2019ll need to do when applying to business school. Check out Accepted\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\/consulting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MBA Admissions Consulting Services<\/a>\u00a0for individual guidance through the entire application process. Visit schools. Create a winning application. Get ACCEPTED!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/guide\/mba-admissions-report\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/hubfs\/hub_generated\/resized\/21c108e0-33d5-4658-994e-7467b7835f97.jpeg\" alt=\"Navigating the MBA Maze - Download your free guide today!\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg\" alt=\"Accepted\" class=\"wp-image-64552\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\"><strong>Want an MBA admissions expert\u00a0to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/webinar\/7-steps-to-mba-acceptance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7 Steps to MBA Acceptance<\/a>, watch the webinar<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/selectivity-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Business School Selectivity Index<\/a>,<em>\u00a0find out where you are a competitive applicant<\/em><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/cant-visit-b-schools-person\/\">What Should You Do If You Can\u2019t Visit B-Schools in Person?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/choosing-and-visiting-business-schools\/\" title=\"This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com\">This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In deciding&nbsp;whether to apply to specific MBA programs, you need to understand how the schools differ. What are their relative strengths and weaknesses? It isn\u2019t easy to get a real&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,113,243],"tags":[967,782,1114,1729,39,998,554],"class_list":["post-54484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-applying-to-business-school","tag-choosing-a-business-school","tag-choosing-an-mba-program","tag-choosing-business-school","tag-mba-admissions","tag-mba-application-advice","tag-school-visits","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54484"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54488,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54484\/revisions\/54488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}