MBA ZoNe - B-School Blogger

Admit Weekend Crashers

Okay these are just plain fun...Stanford GSB's spoof on the move Wedding Crashers...enjoy Admit Weekend Crashers Part I & II.

Admissions Tip - Visiting the Campus

"As many applicants are finding out at this time of year, conducting some thorough research on various MBA programs is an essential step in formulating a list of target schools and crafting convincing essays. Surfing the web and speaking with friends and mentors are great starting points in identifying programs of interest, but in order to really get a feel for a school and determine whether it's a good fit for one's goals and personality, it's necessary to dig deeper and gain some firsthand experience with the program and the people. Visiting the campus is a great avenue for gathering information - and also a step that can work to one's advantage in the application process..."
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Source: Clear Admit

Attending Info Sessions

by Stacy Blackman
Stacy Blackman Consulting

A number of information sessions have been taking place throughout the month, and my clients want to know whether it is worth attending. I believe it is.

1) The first rule of successful marketing is to know your target market. This means that up front you want to do a lot of research. Reading books, scouring the web, reviewing brochures - all of this is great. But nothing can replace actually meeting representatives from the schools and hearing frst hand what makes their school special. Vatsa makes this point in a recent blog entry regarding a trip to an MBA fair in Los Angeles.

2) Building off of the point above, in addition to educating yourself, you may actually gather some great content for your essays and interview. You will inevitably be asked why you want to attend a certain school, and it is so much more powerful to speak from first hand experience rather than quoting the website.

3) The information you gather at these sessions may shatter stereotypes, helping you to refine your school list or consider a school you had not taken seriously in the past.

4) You may actually make a valuable contact. You could very well meet someone from the admissions committee, a current student or alum, and stay in touch. This could prove to be a valuable or enjoyable relaionship down the road.

5) It will help to immerse you in the process. Few things will motivate you to focus on your essays more than attending a session with 100 qualified competitors.

So, dress up in business attire, bring a list of questions and a stack of business cards, and head over to those information sessions.

Please note that these are general recommendations and do not apply to every case. You can discuss your personal situation in more depth with your individual consultant.


© 2001-2006 Stacy Blackman Consulting. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with Permission by MBA ZoNe