Visiting Chicago GSB

Question

Hi folks,
Just realized that Chicago classes are still in session and they are allowing prospectives to sit in until June 6th. I'm hoping to go next week (Friday) and spend a day on campus.

Few questions:
1) Did you go to both a morning and afternoon class? (I have all day to spend there so time is not an issue)
2) Suggestions on other things to see/do while on campus? 
3) Hotel suggestions? What's close by? It seems from the website there are some chains (e.g. Marriott) that have a special GSB rate. Does that apply to prospective students as well?
3) How's parking near campus? Should I instead plan to take the el?
4) Any special dress code? from other threads, nice casual seems to work...

thank you!
ac.

rhyme · Answer

1) Did you go to both a morning and afternoon class? (I have all day to spend there so time is not an issue)

Thats up to you. Might as well, but be warned, 6 hours of lecture is LONG. Certainly stay for LPF at 4.30 in the atrium. There might be a GSB Live event one of these Fridays. Those are usually fun. If you want to come to investments, I can take you in the afternoon. Just PM me if you want to hang out.

Otherwise, here are some morning courses...

30117-01 Spring 2008 Accounting and Financial Analysis II Sapra, H F 08:30-11:30 
30130-03 Spring 2008 Financial Statement Analysis Easton, P F 08:30-11:30 
34102-01 Spring 2008 New Venture Strategy Schrager, J F 08:30-11:30 
37101-01 Spring 2008 Consumer Behavior Ramanathan, S F 08:30-11:30 
42001-01 Spring 2008 Competitive Strategy Knez, M F 08:30-11:30

I recommend New Venture Strategy with Schrager. Otherwise - FSA is good if you dig that kind of thing. Comp Strat is a good intro course.

And afternoon -

30117-02 Spring 2008 Accounting and Financial Analysis II Sapra, H F 13:30-16:30 
33502-01 Spring 2008 International Financial Policy Broda, C F 13:30-16:30 
34101-01 Spring 2008 Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity Morse, A 
35000-02 Spring 2008 Investments Sadka, R F 13:30-16:30 
35120-01 Spring 2008 Portfolio Management Pastor, L F 13:30-16:30 
35121-01 Spring 2008 Behavioral Finance Frazzini, A F 13:30-16:30 
39001-02 Spring 2008 Strategy and Structure: Markets and Organizations Bothner, M F 13:30-16:30 
41912-01 Spring 2008 Applied Multivariate Analysis Tsay, R F

I'd recommend, Strategy and Structure: Markets and Organizations from what I hear (Bothner), but your welcome to come to investments with me if you prefer. Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity is supposed to be hardcore, so if thats your kind of thing, that might be a good choice too.

2) Suggestions on other things to see/do while on campus? 
Talk to as many students as possible. Have fun.

3) Hotel suggestions? What's close by? It seems from the website there are some chains (e.g. Marriott) that have a special GSB rate. Does that apply to prospective students as well?
If you want to be nearby, people stay at ihouse. I personally would recommend staying downtown though, its a LOT more fun than Hyde Park, especially if you are staying in Chicago for multiple days (or if you plan on going to KGSM as well)

4) How's parking near campus? Should I instead plan to take the el?
If you get there before 8am, its easy. Otherwise you drive around a bit, but its not that bad. Otherwise, you can park at 55th and Ellis for the day and walk over the five or six blocks.

5) Any special dress code? from other threads, nice casual seems to work...
Dont wear a suit. I'd personally suggest jeans and a decent shirt -- nice enough to look OK, but not so nice that you stick out like a sore thumb. Otherwise business casual is fine (most prospectives go b casual, but you really dont have to)

agold · Answer

I'm going tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

isa · Answer

Thank you very much Rhyme! I actually live in Madison, WI so coming in to see 1 school at a time works out just fine for me - it's just a short drive over! The class suggestions are great - as interesting as the finance/investment courses sound, I think at this point they'd be waaay over my head. My understanding of those topics can easily be described as "rudimentary" (yes I plan to brush up before I start school)...I think the Schragner and Bothner courses may be more up my alley though. Once I confirm that I'll indeed be there next Friday (most likely in the next day or so), I'll send you a PM - would love to grab some coffee even if I can't make a class with you!

Terp - I'd be interested to hear your trip goes - hope the weather holds up!

Thanks all,
ac.

Terp - I'd be interested to hear your trip goes - hope the weather holds up!

Thanks all,
ac.

sonibubu · Answer

I'll be at the GSB same day as you. I'll be going to Knez's morning class, having lunch with a member of the consulting club, meeting my friend from HS who's a 1st yr at GSB, and heading to Kellogg for the afternoon. I was hoping to meet Rhyme, but schedule's too tight. I'm trying to fly over and fit both schools in one day.

I went to GSB Live but I thought it was more of a marketing event rather than a real school visit. Even the class is fake full of prospective applicants only, I'd rather sit in a real class to get a real feel for the school.

I'm sure I'll be impressed w/ GSB, it's my top choice. Kellogg was unimpressive last time so I'm giving it another chance after reading some rave reviews here on GMATclub.

rhyme · Answer

sonibubu's missing out on what could be the most boring time of his life by not having coffee with me in the morning. Don't make the same mistake.

sonibubu · Answer

Hmm...let me see what my morning schedule looks like both before and after the class visit.

rhyme · Answer

I'm just teasing you man.. dont worry bout it if we cant meet up. Its ok.

sonibubu · Answer

I'll still try to see what I can do. Not sure you want to meet before an 8:30 class unless you have an 8:30 class :lol:

I'll get there just as those classes start more than likely. Anyways, we always have XBOX Live and GTA 4 online

agold · Answer

Pasted from my other thread:

Chicago GSB had a full day of organized events for me and I barely got a minute to breathe until the late afternoon. All I can say is: WOW. It's the first thing that you are going to think as soon as you walk into the Harper Center - WOW.

Not only was the facility amazing, but the quality of faculty at Chicago GSB is top notch. I sat in on New Venture Strategy this morning with Professor Schrager. It was a very interactive class, and Professor Schrager was an ideal professor in my opinion. He always asked the students insightful questions and made them justify their views. The slogan "Question Everything" finally came to life for me today. Also, the job placements that a lot of the students at GSB were talking about just blew me away - especially in Finance. Yes - there are a lot of students at the GSB that want to go into Finance, but the banks also allot a ton of spaces for them and I think they're able to accomodate just about anyone who has a genuine interest in investment banking or sales & trading. The GSB certainly had some younger students and they seemed to be holding up just fine through the recruiting process (I met a couple that only had 2 years of experience post-UG).

The admissions office, student tour guides, the facility, and everything else reaked of one word: professionalism. The students at GSB take a lot of pride in their school and it certainly shows through. I really can't think of a school that would provide me with a better education and a better skillset to enter private equity or investment banking with.

Now come the downsides. The school definitely has a commuter feel to it. Students at Kellogg told me that they spend the whole day on campus, every day, from 8AM-10PM or so and do a lot of group projects and what not. Most students at GSB seemed to only come to campus 3-4 days out of the week and they may get out of there by 5 or 6 PM if they have no extracurricular activities going on. I saw this as a result of the environments. Evanston is a lilywhite, safe, North Shore neighborhood and Hyde Park is quite the opposite of that. I don't think I would personally want to stick around in HP late at night.

Overall, the Pros definitely outweigh the Cons here. Although it may have a "commuter school" feeling, the city of Chicago is fantastic and GSBers seem to organize lots of social events (informally and formally) on the North Side and throughout the city pretty frequently. The school has a very independent feeling to it. If you are a person that expects everything to be handed to you - it doesn't seem like you'd get that here. You have to work at it and get involved. The flexible curriculum also accentuates this point - you have to decide what you want to do independently and take the courses you need to take - no one is going to hold your hand. The academic courseload seems rigorous and this was the first school where I got a good feeling that this education would provide me a genuine developmental experience and allow me to grow as a person and leader.

Count me in for R1 at Chicago GSB

fooFighter · Answer

nice post terp. i was quite insightful. Kudos!

isa · Answer

Thanks for the post terp! Unfortunately, I was set to go visit today but yesterday got called to visit a prospective customer in Minneapolis. Alas, no classroom visits, etc for me until the fall.

Thanks everyone for insights on what to see/do! I'll keep all in mind for the next time around! ac.

Visiting Chicago GSB

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