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themoreyoudro
Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Last visit: 24 Apr 2015
Posts: 8
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Schools: Duke '17 (A) McCombs '17 (A) Kellogg '17 (I)
GPA: 3.77
14 Jan 2015, 13:18
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ksc104046
I'd be interested to know everyone's thoughts on the different options as well. Received my interview invite yesterday and am trying to decide whether it's worth a trip to Austin to interview given that I have never been to campus before or whether I should just interview with an alum/admissions officer in my city (one of the interview hubs).
Anyone know if not visiting campus prior to interviewing will be looked down upon by the adcom?
14 Jan 2015, 13:51
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themoreyoudro
I don't know better than anyone else, but here is my two cents.
McCombs is a small program that really wants to find people who are a good "fit". If you are located within reasonable driving / bus or train distance I would think they may wonder why you didn't bother to visit. I've read an interview with their admissions director where he says if you are a domestic candidate they really expect you to visit.
That said, I doubt it would be a deciding factor at the end of the day because they want the best candidates.
Personally I really want to see campus and have a fun weekend in Austin, so I'm visiting for mine (I'm on the east coast so I would have to fly).
As far as the admissions officer vs. alumni vs. MBA2, I doubt that makes a huge difference either, and there may be pros and cons for both. Maybe with MBA2s/alumni you 'connect' better being in more similar positions. Maybe with an admissions officer they are more impressed meeting you face to face than they would be from a glowing report... I would just choose whichever option you feel most comfortable and confident with.
Admissions Director Interview Excerpt:
mbaMission: You mentioned before that showing the love is important. So, is visiting campus part of that? Are you skeptical of applicants who don’t visit campus, assuming that they don’t live too far abroad?
RM: With technology nowadays, there are a lot of options to interact with us that don’t entail a campus visit. With that being said, I think from an applicant’s perspective, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if somewhere in the admissions process you didn’t come to the campus if you’re able to do so. We don’t ding individuals who apply without visiting campus, but we do see a strong correlation to that McCombs Love on the essays and in the interviews when folks have visited campus and were able to see our culture firsthand. I do highly advise all candidates to visit campus, be it before you apply or maybe when you interview, or even for an admitted student event. Just make sure that before you make that final decision, you come and visit campus, if at all possible.
This is more difficult for our international candidates, but if you’re a domestic candidate, there is no reason, if you’re going to be investing all this money in a MBA program, to not come visit campus at some point during the admissions process.
rbsx
Joined: 05 Nov 2013
Last visit: 25 Jan 2016
Posts: 198
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
Schools: Anderson '17 (D) Marshall '17 (D) McCombs '17 (WL) W.P. Carey '17 (A) Babson '17 (A) Rotman '17 (M)
GRE 1: Q162 V164
Schools: Anderson '17 (D) Marshall '17 (D) McCombs '17 (WL) W.P. Carey '17 (A) Babson '17 (A) Rotman '17 (M)
GRE 1: Q162 V164
Posts: 198
Kudos:
19
14 Jan 2015, 14:51
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themoreyoudro
I flew internationally to take my interview at McCombs last year (granted, Canada isn't super international). If at all feasible, I would suggest going.
It was great checking out Austin, and getting a gander at the school, and being able to shake my interviewer's hand and give the interview that personal touch that I just don't feel comes across over Skype. That's just my 2c though.
. Don't know what to make of it. 
