Love at First Sight

Question

For how many people was their school choice sort of a love at first site thing and how many people really had to mull over their decision?

I'm not applying until next fall, so I'm trying to balance how many schools I visit with the cost, time off of work, etc.

I'm trying to figure out if it's more of a "I'll know it when I see it" kind of thing. If so, maybe it's better to visit as many places as possible before applying in order to really trim down the list and put together the best applications.

riverripper · Answer

I can tell you that I loved several schools to varying degrees and for various reasons. You also love some more than others. I can tell you that you also will probably visit some schools you will hate. However, you are going to enjoy most visits, definitely dig deeper than just a single visit. A lot of the stereotypical cultural descriptions are pretty accurate, find where you will be happiest fit and location wise.

Make sure you maximize your visits, ask tough questions. Ask how students interact, socialize, get along, compete/work together. What schedules are like, do they take classes 5 days a week or 4 and what day do they get off if its only 4. Where do students live, where do they meet up for fun and for group work, what are the interactions like with professors and school administration. How are the clubs and career service office with providing help during career hunts specific to your career choice...do companies you want even recruit there or do they have a lot of alums there to help with off campus recruiting.

dghazer · Answer

I seemed to get really excited about each school after I visited. Then after a month or so, my interests would sort of trail off or would be replaced by the next school I visited. It almost seemed liked dating in highschool. Cornell was great, but then after visiting Ross, my attention was there. Then Ross was somewhat forgotten when I met Chicago. All in all, I think there are so many good things to appreciate at any good school, but for me, Chicago is the prom queen that I probably don't have a chance with.

agold · Answer

My largest emotional attachment is to Chicago GSB.

highhopes · Answer

Thanks guys. There's so much talk lately about people coming back from schools and absolutely loving it, I was trying to confirm if you got that feeling with every visit.

Luckily while everyone else is preparing apps this fall, I've had lots of time to carve out exactly what I want.

It looks like I'll also get the opportunity to hit a lot of places during work trips, so I guess I'll continue with the strategy of visiting every school I can on a free trip and maybe not so many of the others. :-D

TL · Answer

It was definitely love at first sight when I visited Berkeley last summer!! I remember going to visit Stanford first and thinking "okay this is a nice campus" ... but I felt at home almost immediately upon arriving at Berkeley :-D

It's something I am having a hard time articulating as part of my "Why Berkeley?" essay, but nevertheless Berkeley is definitely more "me." I'm also very much looking forward to visiting Hanover next month for my Tuck interview. I attended undergrad at a smaller, rural school and really enjoyed the tight-knit community feel (I also grew up in a small town of ~5,000). It would be nice to spend a couple years on the east coast as well, close to some family in Boston. Let's hope I will have a difficult decision to make come spring time

unhedged · Answer

Terp, If I recall correctly, you were debating applying to CBS ED. Out of curiosity, did you still consider CBS ED while having the emotional attachment to Chicago? I'm just curious to know how people reconcile "playing the odds" vs. finding the perfect school.

agold · Answer

Hey,

You are right. I was only interested in applying to CBS ED to increase my chances of having a seat somewhere this year. I visited CBS about a month ago. I realized 2 things which backed me off ED: 1) I do not have to attend this year, and the economy will be almost certainly be better for 2012 graduates than 2011 ones. and 2) I really prefer Chicago GSB and I also did not get a good gut feeling about life in NYC as a student.

jb32 · Answer

I visited several schools early on in the process that I now really have no interest in at all, Duke and UNC. UNC, I didn't like at all from the beginning. It really wasn't for me, and Duke I liked better, but it wasn't really right either. UCLA on the other hand, I really liked from the start. For Chicago I had butterflies pulling up to the campus, I was nervous when we 'got together' for the first time. I'm not sure how reputation of the school coincides with 'love at first sight'. I certainly wouldn't fall in love with Harvard at first glance because I really do not believe I could get in. What would be the point of loving the school if you could never attend? However, I certainly do love the school with the best reputation and outside shot of being admitted, so who knows? Maybe I'll decide to love the best school to show me some love!

agold · Answer

Agreed. Harvard would have counted as love at first sight for me, but it's sort of like a supermodel. You may as well get really drunk and try for it, but chances are she's gonna laugh at you.

buffdaddy · Answer

^ LOL Terp.

thats funny. At least you are young and bold enough for the super model!

Miketx · Answer

You never know you may have a shot. After all she may be drunk herself and say yes. Worst case scenario she will reject you in front of a lot of other beautiful women. Who will later reject you also because she don't want to be the one to "accept" the one who got rejected. Then gossip magazines takes pictures of you for their new cover "Average person ask out supermodel." Worth a shot :wink:

89nk · Answer

Why do you think this is the case? Is it your career experience, extra-curricular activities, gpa, gmat...etc?

jb32 · Answer

I would say for me that it really speaks to maturity and when the lightbulb went off. That probably occured two years or so ago. In college I was pretty immature and it showed in my GPA and lack of extra-curriculars. I never really saw the bigger picture until more recently. If I had a similar mindset back then to what I have now, I would certainly be looking at H/S/W, but alas, my record is probably not strong enough to get me in. Maybe if I have to reapply next year, then my record will be strong enough for H/S/W, but then my age will be working against me at H. I just can't seem to win, huh? :wink:

89nk · Answer

I see your point. Thank you for replying. Age....people say it is just a number, but it is used as an excuse in so many ways.

Love at First Sight

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards