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jz4analytics
11 May 2015, 13:08
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I am starting to narrow down my choices for where I'll apply. I think it makes the most sense for me to focus on top 15 schools in the Northeast (HBS, Wharton, CBS, Yale, Sloan, Tuck). I plan to take the GMAT in a couple of months and apply in R1 (if the GMAT score is where I need it).
I assume it's better to visit schools while classes are in session. However, I may be a little late for that this semester. Should I wait until classes start up again in the Fall? That would be shortly before R1 deadlines. Does visiting help admissions? And should one visit before applying?
I assume it's better to visit schools while classes are in session. However, I may be a little late for that this semester. Should I wait until classes start up again in the Fall? That would be shortly before R1 deadlines. Does visiting help admissions? And should one visit before applying?
11 May 2015, 13:24
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Hey there,
That's a great set of questions and I wish you the best of luck with that GMAT - I know you're going to rock it so the top 15 will totally be within reach! To your questions:
1) Should you wait? Well that depends on what you want out of your visit. If you want to get a better feel for the programs to figure out WHERE to apply, then no, you shouldn't wait. Because then you won't have enough time to put your apps together. But if you're going as just another data point and you're already pretty settled on your list, then you COULD wait. But what I would caution on is that a school visit is really just one way to research a school. You should be talking to students and alumni throughout the summer anyway. If you decide to go in the summer, no worries - every program holds info sessions and panels, etc. during these months so you'll still get a good idea. You'll just miss out on a) the class visit and b) the general vibe that you can observe.
2) Does visiting help? Of course it does. Some schools care more than others, but it shows interest. And in a world where schools worry about yield rates, they view you as a bit more serious. If someone else is reading this and you're international, that may or may not apply to you. But if you're in the US, then you should visit. A $500 trip when you're thinking about spending $135,000 isn't all that much. And you wouldn't buy a car without test driving it, would you? So does it help? Yes. Will it make or break your chances? Probably not. But it sure doesn't hurt!
3) Should you visit before applying? Yes, see #1 and #2 - visiting after you apply is a different ball game altogether. Not only do you not show your dedication in a timely manner, you also can't incorporate your learnings! So if you're going to visit, visit before you apply.
We've got a video on school visits - it's short (few minutes) - you can watch it here.
Don't forget to explore the city in addition to the school - you'll spend 2 years there so make sure you'll like it. Good luck and have fun!
Bhavik
That's a great set of questions and I wish you the best of luck with that GMAT - I know you're going to rock it so the top 15 will totally be within reach! To your questions:
1) Should you wait? Well that depends on what you want out of your visit. If you want to get a better feel for the programs to figure out WHERE to apply, then no, you shouldn't wait. Because then you won't have enough time to put your apps together. But if you're going as just another data point and you're already pretty settled on your list, then you COULD wait. But what I would caution on is that a school visit is really just one way to research a school. You should be talking to students and alumni throughout the summer anyway. If you decide to go in the summer, no worries - every program holds info sessions and panels, etc. during these months so you'll still get a good idea. You'll just miss out on a) the class visit and b) the general vibe that you can observe.
2) Does visiting help? Of course it does. Some schools care more than others, but it shows interest. And in a world where schools worry about yield rates, they view you as a bit more serious. If someone else is reading this and you're international, that may or may not apply to you. But if you're in the US, then you should visit. A $500 trip when you're thinking about spending $135,000 isn't all that much. And you wouldn't buy a car without test driving it, would you? So does it help? Yes. Will it make or break your chances? Probably not. But it sure doesn't hurt!
3) Should you visit before applying? Yes, see #1 and #2 - visiting after you apply is a different ball game altogether. Not only do you not show your dedication in a timely manner, you also can't incorporate your learnings! So if you're going to visit, visit before you apply.
We've got a video on school visits - it's short (few minutes) - you can watch it here.
Don't forget to explore the city in addition to the school - you'll spend 2 years there so make sure you'll like it. Good luck and have fun!
Bhavik
jz4analytics
11 May 2015, 13:47
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CriticalSquare
Thanks for the response!
I currently live in Maryland and I'm *pretty* sure I'd prefer to stay in the Northeast (family and so on). I could visit all of those schools, except Tuck and the Boston ones, fairly easily. Chicago Booth is one school I'd love to go to, and the location is the only aspect I don't like about it. I might still consider it.
Do you know when semesters typically end? I wonder if I still have time to visit in the spring. I would like to make an impact and show them I'm serious - especially for a program such as Yale SOM which makes a lot of sense for me personally. I may visit in the summer if I can't before classes end.
I've taken a few practice GMATs recently and earned scores of between 700-730. I plan to give myself about two more months of solid studying, and hope to push that up to about 750. If for some reason I don't do well, that would obviously make me re-think applying (I would have enough time to do one retake before R1 deadlines). I've decided that if my application isn't good enough for top 15 at this point, then the MBA isn't worth it for me.
