Private Reception Invitations?

Question

Has anybody ever been to a "private reception?" If so, how much influence do those have? (I am not referring to general MBA fairs but, I suppose such feedback couldn't hurt.)

ty

asimov · Answer

I think it's definitely a good thing. However, to take it with a grain of salt, as the school probably only have the information that you've provided to GMAC as a reference point. They are probably targeting above average "potentials" with higher likelihood to matriculate. Several people on GMATClub have reported receiving a large box of schwag from Univ of Wisconsin MBA out of the blue. None of them even sent GMAT scores to UW.

MBA4Jay · Answer

That's what I had been thinking, wouldn't it give the candidate a leg up? If I'm part of a group that the school is targeting and they like me, wouldn't it be an advantage to have met admissions reps or alumni? Guess I am interested to hear from people who were invited, were in attendance, were denied admission or accepted, and how much weight it carried.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

I believe that I was invited to a couple of these when I was applying. The Booth "reception" that I attended was really just a fancy info session in a hotel. The adcom didn't know my name from the next person's. I can't speak for every one of these events but the ones I attended weren't targeted at specific individuals. I am sure that there are quite a few people who went to the reception I attended who didn't get in. In fact, I know someone.

If you're interested in the school then go to the reception. Enjoy the free hors d'ouerves and learn more about the school. Be professional and courteous (i.e. don't hog all the adcoms time) and you'll have made a good to neutral impression (adcoms meet a lot of people so unless you flame out spectacularly they probably won't remember you by the time your application rolls in).

MBA4Jay · Answer

You were accepted. Weren't you? How much of an impact did it have on your application?

cheetarah1980 · Answer

Yes I was, and I would say that reception had no impact on my application at all. Didn't mention it in my essays and it didn't inform what I wrote. I did have other interactions with the school (campus visit, talks with alums, etc), but the reception in and of itself was a non factor. There was a school presentation, Q&A with alums, and some nice hors d'ouerves. I know someone who attended that exact same reception who did not get in. Don't read too much into being invited because it's not a difference maker.

highwyre237 · Answer

If this has to do with a certain school we both have in common and it is a "Summer Visit Day" I doubt it has much of a direct effect on your chances BUT, this school seems to strongly appreciate visits, and personal interaction with their community...

Although I feel having these experiences to reference in essays will be an advantage, I doubt attending an event like this alone will help you stand out.

I'm on the fence about attending the Summer Visit Day... Unfortunately, it'll be tough to get that time off.

MBA4Jay · Answer

My thoughts exactly. I don't think attendance could hurt, especially if you're someone they want. No, it's none of the schools listed. It's another Ivy.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

Attending events def never hurts (as long as you don't wind up being THAT person, which I'm sure you wouldn't). However, b-school isn't like how colleges recruit athletes (i.e. knowing who they want up front). Are schools fond of certain profiles? Sure! But schools aren't making preliminary picks based on info from GMAC. Are you someone they'd be interested in seeing an application from? Possibly. But you won't become someone they want until you officially apply and they actually see all of your application materials. It's very cool to be notified of these events, but I strongly encourage you not to read too much into it.

MBA4Jay · Answer

Yes I was, and I would say that reception had no impact on my application at all. Didn't mention it in my essays and it didn't inform what I wrote. I did have other interactions with the school (campus visit, talks with alums, etc), but the reception in and of itself was a non factor. There was a school presentation, Q&A with alums, and some nice hors d'ouerves. I know someone who attended that exact same reception who did not get in. Don't read too much into being invited because  it's not a difference maker .

I appreciate your feedback but, I'm still on the fence about your assertion that receptions make zero/no difference. I'm sure they take notes on applicants. Otherwise, why bother to hold the reception?

highwyre237 · Answer

It seems the majority of what colleges do during events and fairs is simply targeted marketing campaigns. Although I feel that any human interaction is always a chance to make an impression at these events (although that can work against you), the reason behind all of these events isn't to find the best candidates (that's what apps and interviews are for) its to convince their target market to apply/attend their program.

The main reason candidates should attend these events is to judge fit within a program, and to better convey their commitment to a certain program. That way, adcom will be more confident an applicant will matriculate, thus bettering their chances of admission.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

Oh please don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that adcoms don't observe applicants at any and all admissions events. What I am saying is that adcoms encounter thousands of potential applicants each year. There is no way they can keep track of everyone they meet. The invites to admissions events are automatically generated based on info from GMAC that goes into a database (i.e. flag GMAT takers with 680+ score, 3.0+ GPA, and 3+ years WE). It's not like the admissions officers are hand crafting invite lists and know who you are. Hell, I'm an admit and I still don't think my AO can keep track of all my details (i.e. what I wrote in my app, how much scholarship money I was offered, etc.), so I know they are not keeping close tabs on people who haven't even applied yet.

Now if you choose to attend this reception you are right. They'll definitely be aware of how you carry yourself. Are they taking notes? Probably not. But will they definitely remember either an extremely positive or extremely negative interaction? Yes. However, most people aren't wildly impressive nor are they spectacular douchebags/basket cases/idiots either. In these events most applicants make a perfectly pleasant impression which is forgotten when the adcom meets another batch of nice potential applicants at the next reception. My advice is to use the opportunity to learn as much about the school as you can, speak to the admissions officer and alums who are attending (but don't hog them), and eat some pretty decent appetizers. Don't feel as though you have to stand out right now because you don't. I didn't even speak to Kurt Ahlm (Booth Admissions Director) when he hosted the reception in my area.

MBA4Jay · Answer

I'm curious, since you believe that admissions reps don't remember anybody or take notes at meetings, then, why did you attend multiple events? I'm sure there is a rational explanation.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

I went to the events for myself. When I started this process I identified 9-11 schools that I was interested in. That's way too many applications. I went to these events to learn more (like I stated earlier) so I could whittle down the list. A lot of schools look perfect based on their website, but these events helped ME see where I might truly fit in. I wanted to know as much as possible so I went to as many events as I could. I stopped going when they started getting repetitive. Often the admissions rep who I met at the MBA fair wasn't the same admissions rep hosting the school's reception or info session. I didn't reach out to any adcom outside of these events either. I simply attended, got what I wanted out of them and tried my best not to do anything stupid.

Do I think these events helped me get admitted? Yes. However, it's not because the admissions officers had taken notes on me. It's because I learned a lot about the schools that helped me tailor my applications to each one. Visiting Booth helped me experience the student culture first hand so when I was writing why Booth was the right school for me I was able to convey a certain intellectual curiosity (one of Booth's mottos is "Question everything") that wasn't present in my Kellogg essays (in those I stressed collaboration).

Honestly, I kind of immersed myself in the application process. I just wanted to soak up as much information as possible. The events I attended were part of that. I think all of these touch points with the school are more for your benefit than the adcoms'. Does it help a bit to show that you're really interested? Of course, schools love being loved. Is it the factor that tips the scale in your favor? Nah. I went to two Stanford events that I was invited to and I didn't even get an interview there. Also when I visited Kellogg for admitted students weekend the admissions rep I'd met at a reception didn't remember me at all. Had to do the intro all over again and it's not like my name rang a bell with her. If you were traveling from New York to Chicago to LA to Houston to Philly to Dheli to Sao Paulo to London and beyond and meeting over a thousand people, would you remember them all individually? I doubt it. Plus admissions reps can't go too deep into evaluating every perspective candidate they meet because they don't even know if you're going to apply. I visited both Stern and Johnson for sponsored admissions weekends and didn't apply to either. This happens so much that it is not an efficient or practical use of an adcom's time to be taking notes on every single potential applicant that crosses their path. Now if you find that you're meeting the same person several times, that's when you might start to stand out and it could be an advantage. But one offs? Nah, not so much.

So please, do attend this event. I think they are of great benefit. I am just saying that they really do more for the applicant than they do for the adcom, given the sheer number of events they attend each application year.

snipes · Answer

this is strictly anecdotal but the only school i got into was the only one i didn't make a separate visit to see beforehand. i really think it doesn't matter a whole lot one way or the other and will be of the most value in terms of getting a feel for being able to write essays and so on.

HaasEWMBA2015 · Answer

To reiterate what the other posters are stating, the admissions events are for the candidate to learn about the school and for the school to market their program and get as many people to apply to the program as possible. If you only have time to attend either a reception event or to make a class a visit, definitely do the class visit. The reception event won't really do much to improve your odds other than help you speak more clearly as to why you want to attend the program.

I will however add, if you do attend a class visit and have a student ambassador that is providing insight into the school, they sometimes mention to the adcom the really good prospective candidates and they pretty much always mention to the adcom the candidates that would be a bad fit for the school (anecdotal info from a former admissions member).

MBA4Jay · Answer

Point taken. In all fairness, however, only admissions reps know the reasons they admitted you. It could be notes that they had written while you were at a reception or other event. It could also be, as you had written, that you tailored your essays. Again, only the admissions reps know the deciding factors. I still disagree that they remember nobody. It is their job to find suitable applicants. They take resumes. They take names and numbers. If they returned to their schools with nothing to show, I think they would be fired.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

Actually admissions officers do not take resumes at these receptions and they do not ask for business cards either. Your name and contact information is taken on an info card or sign up sheet. That information is used so they can send people more marketing materials. Because ultimately, that's what these receptions are about: marketing the school to potential applicants, not evaluating attendees (not that some evaluations and judgements do not happen based on interactions). Adcoms don't need to have "something to show" from these events.

I never said that admissions officers remember nobody. I said that they don't remember the majority of people. I said that it would be impossible given the sheer number of people they meet. I get the feeling that you just want someone to tell you that this invite to the private reception really means something in the application process. I totally understand the need to want some sign that if you take the time to apply (and spend the money) that you'll have a greater chance of being admitted. You're putting a lot on the line, so I get it. However, several people who have been through this process already are telling you that you can't read too much into the invite or attending (and backing up the assertion with detailed rationale). So many times people take any type of communication or invite from a school as an indicator that they'll get in only to be disappointed when they don't. I'd hate to see you wind up disappointed because you thought going to a "private reception" was going to give you an advantage that it does not. If what I am saying does not ring true to you ask an admissions consultant. Many of them have served on admissions committees. I am pretty sure that they will tell you the same thing.

MBA4Jay · Answer

I think you have misinterpreted my previous messages. I understand and agree with the things other people have stated. I disagree, however, that receptions mean nothing (to schools) or are merely a marketing ploy. As I have stated previously, everybody is entitled to his or her opinion, even if it is extreme. Your opinion is one of hundreds of thousands or former applicants (not admissions committee members), each telling a different story. You might want it to be the end all and be all of opinions but, really it's barely a blip on the radar. I don't think there is an committee member alive that would say receptions don't influence their decisions. If so, I'd like to hear.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

And I think you have misinterpreted my messages. I never said that admissions receptions mean NOTHING. I said that most of them do not mean a lot and I gave you logical reasons as to why they cannot (i.e. too many people to remember, they don't take resumes, and many people don't wind up applying). I also said that some people do make a lasting impression at these events, but most people do not. If you believe that you are a memorable person then I am sure an admissions officer will keep you top of mind.

I do not think that my opinion is the end all and be all, but I do understand the general way in which these events work so that is why I responded to your question. You don't agree with my perspective, then that's cool. We can agree to disagree on this one. Please feel free to ask an admission officer if you want a definitive answer from the horse's mouth. I was simply answering your question and your requests for a "rational explanation" for my statements. I wish you the best of luck with your applications.

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