Calling All 2010 Applicants / Bschool visits (Merged)

One reason I heard schools are starting to accept the GRE is cost and availability. The GMAT is incredibly expensive and in some areas there are few testing areas. The GRE costs like half as much and there are more testing centers overseas. So this especially benefits internationals where $250 is a big cost and they need to take a few days to go to a testing center.
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I just had a wild idea RR. Why dont I change my avatar to the Cornelia Marie! hahahahaha


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Can I be TimeBandit?

If you want to visit schools before you apply and if you plan to apply in R1, I think spring is the best time to visit. Most applications are due in the first week of Oct and fall quarter starts in the last week of Sep. I felt that there might not be enough time to visit and submit my application if I visit in Oct.

My take on visiting schools...

If you are based in the US = visit is highly recommended.

If you're outside the US, then it depends on what you want to achieve. If:
a) get the feeling of the school = visit,
b) increase your admit chances (i.e. show your love for a school and make AdCom remember you) = no visit necessary.

It's still good to show love and make AdCom "like" you. But you can easily achieve this by attending MBA Fair and/or school's event in your country/city. AdComs understand that traveling to the US means time & money so no need to fly.

2010 applicant here too. I visited a couple of schools last year...even if they don't stress it, you should visit for yourself.

You can read about facilities and campus atmosphere but it's only real after you visit and it should play a role in your essays.

Stanford released essay questions for 2010 application

I am planning to apply for Fall 2010.
Ross,Kellog's are my interests.
Add me in.

im in for 2010 as well..can you add me to the list?

30 of you guys so far. I know there's more. Don't be shy!

UPDATED

Fall 2010 Applicants: (30)
Billyjeans
Ancientmtk
unhedged
pleonasm
xlick
89nk
ElleBee
Triple5Soul
Franklin
snipertrader
RonMexico
bandit
cul3s
KGY
pmenon
sleepy
ri0tp00f
pm4553
sm332
goose
icarus
cozmo8
steppenwolf
latammc
teabiscuit
snowhappy
bluepic
gravity1914
vannu
aditi123

Count me in, too Nink.

Booth, Darden and Ross are my targets

Thanks

Add me to the 2010 applicants list! I'm really looking forward to applying. I may look back on that last comment at the end of the year and laugh.

Just to reiterate what others have said... visiting was very important for me. I visited UCLA, USC, Haas, and Kellogg this spring. The end result was that going into the visits I wasn't sure about Haas but now its at the top of my list. It was my first visit and I loved it but tried to temper my enthusiasm thinking that it was just first visit euphoria. However, as I took the other visits Haas continued to stand out to me. I felt I really fit in and the students I talked to were so dynamic, interesting, and truly passionate about the school. It also helped narrow my focus on what I wanted to do post MBA. The visits also went a long way in preparing me to write my essays. You'll get plenty of essay fodder from your visits.

Quick summary of myself... Took the GMAT in December and got a 740 although I would have preferred a higher quant score than my 47. I was pleased that my overall got me in range of the schools I'm focused on though. Undergrad at a large state school with a well regarded electrical engineering program. I do pretty hardcore engineering work now but would like to move out of that. I'm worried about my undergrad GPA of 3.1 although I did have a better last 2 years. My gpa included D's in two classes as well so I may have to write an alternate essay to explain that.

Also planning on applying for the 2010 school year and am planning on doing some school visits. I am in Boston and am researching K-F,Goizueta, Mccombs, Mcdonough, Fuqua, Yale, Kelly. Maybe a few others as well. Probably planning on visiting most of the schools I apply to.

UPDATED

Fall 2010 Applicants: (33)
Billyjeans
Ancientmtk
unhedged
pleonasm
xlick
89nk
ElleBee
Triple5Soul
Franklin
snipertrader
RonMexico
bandit
cul3s
KGY
pmenon
sleepy
ri0tp00f
pm4553
sm332
goose
icarus
cozmo8
steppenwolf
latammc
teabiscuit
snowhappy
bluepic
gravity1914
vannu
aditi123
sondenso
albyman32
jber04

If it helps my application, you can put me down twice

I've decided I will be applying for Fall 2010... add me in!

I'm applying Fall 2010 as well. I am planning a trip to the eastern seaboard to visit Columbia GSB, NYU, and possibly Sloan and Wharton. I am also planning a trip to Chicago to visit Booth and Kellogg.

I figured the best time to visit was in the fall or spring, when students were actually in classes.

Count me in as well.

HBS, Kellogg, Chicago, Fuqua, Ross, Darden...let's do this!

UPDATED

Fall 2010 Applicants: (36)
Billyjeans
Ancientmtk
unhedged
pleonasm
xlick
89nk
ElleBee
Triple5Soul
Franklin
snipertrader
RonMexico
bandit
cul3s
KGY
pmenon
sleepy
ri0tp00f
pm4553
sm332
goose
icarus
cozmo8
steppenwolf
latammc
teabiscuit
snowhappy
bluepic
gravity1914
vannu
aditi123
sondenso
albyman32
jber04
swank6
Moss
ACNGuy