Which schools like it when you visit them?

I've seen Darden listed too.

I think if they ask in the application, then they care. I've only seen this with MIT, but I'm applying to 2 schools.

Virtually every school with a yield below 55-60% is going to look at you in better light if you make the effort to visit the school before you submit the application.

I was at an MBA Presentation the other night and the MIT rep said emphatically that they place ZERO emphasis on visiting the school, but said they have heard other schools (didn't mention any names) place a bit of stock in it.

The schools at the Presentation that said they absolutely do not care were -

- Harvard
- Wharton
- Stanford
- Kellogg
- MIT

Hope this helps!

~Sam

All of them. Absolutely all of them - it helps you form a good basis for the essay targeting, and is an early way to start showing the love.

I have visited a few schools but I don't have anything about it in my essays. Do you guys really squeeze that info in your career essays? With 500-750 words I've been focused on what I've done, what I want to do (short and long) why I need an MBA and what specific programs, classes, clubs, etc will help me reach those goals. I just don't have the words to waste time on my impressions from my visit. Stuff like "the class I sat in on was very engaged" is nowhere in my essays. PLUS, at least for the 3 schools I visited, I had to either register online or fill out some kind of attendance card/sheet. So, if the school cares whether or not you visited, it will already be in the file.

Now, when I'm interviewing and I can get more in depth I definitely plan to talk about my visits. But, from what I see on this board it looks to me like everyone is trying to squeeze campus visit anecdotes into their essays. Am I right about that?

Yup I'm squeezing in my visits/students I've spoken with in my essays in conveying my fit with the school. I'm only using a line or two though

The feedback I've received on my goals essays is that I need to do more of what ac8706 is doing to set myself apart from every other applicant. So I'm in a bit of a quandary now about what "intangibles" to emphasize and how. But apparently it is something that needs to touched upon a little bit. Of course, you can't just say "the class was engaging" - it has to be spun a little better than that.

remote location and/or inferiority complex

I know Berkeley and UCLA both look highly upon visiting. Berkeley hosts Super Saturday type interview events to make sure students (domestic US students) visit the school. UCLA is very yield conscious and have rejected people in the past for not visiting... (anecdotal evidence...)

Are the responses in this thread referring to pre-interview?

Honestly, there's no way I'm flying to visit Darden, just to have to go back there again for an interview (required on-campus interviews, I believe).

If you don't visit before your interview it's an automatic ding

Huh? Not sure how serious you were being there IHateTheGMAT but I believe Darden eliminated its applicant-initiated interview process last year.

I was clearly joking...

Darden does not have self-initiated interviews this year.

I met IHTG earlier this month, so I knew he was joking around.

I know Duke gives brownie points for visiting/interviewing. A visit beforehand can't hurt either.

Any idea if Ross expects applicants to visit?
I'm shooting for R1 and it is my top choice.

I live in Indiana, about 4 hours from Ann Arbor but considering the fact that R1 is less than 3 weeks away and work is hectic, I might not be able to visit. Would it be a disadvantage? Would it be fine if I visit Ross after submitting R1?