You’re about to make one of the biggest decisions of your life. It will determine your future in so many ways: where you might work, where you could live, and the people who will become a part of your life. Choosing a business school is serious business! But it’s also a huge opportunity to turn the future you envision into reality.
Here are ten tips on how to short-list your program choices through research and school visits to find a good match.
1. Map out your b-school plan.
Consider where you want your b-school journey to end. Perhaps you’d like to pivot into finance or consulting. Or maybe you want to jump right into entrepreneurship. Or you might want to become a product manager for a tech company. B-schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and nearly all others publish annual reports about their students’ recruitment and student-led start-ups.
Consult your network and start asking some key questions. What skills are these companies looking for when they hire? What skills do I lack that I need to scale up my business idea? Who would be the ideal kind of mentor to seek guidance from as I take over my family business?
Then, look through the various schools’ curricula to find matching academics, leadership development resources, career assistance, networking, and recruiting opportunities. You’ll likely be overwhelmed. At this point, that’s okay. You want to start by familiarizing yourself with what’s out there.
2. Be real about where you thrive.
Do you want to compete against the best of the best within a large, cosmopolitan mix of peers in – or near – a big city? If so, check out Harvard, Columbia, Wharton, Booth, , , LBS, , and IESE.
Do you want to be in the heart of the tech scene in Silicon Valley, where you can go deep and figure out how to change the world? If so, check out theStanford GSB and Berkeley Haas.
Do you perform best in a supportive, tight-knit campus environment? If so, check out Duke Fuqua, Tuck, Cornell Johnson, Darden, the Yale SOM, and HEC.
Think about where you already have friends or family. They can be a big help in getting settled and having a support system. If you’re international, consider a school that’s close to an airport hub with good connections to your home city, should you need to visit family.
Two years is a big investment of your time. Make sure you feel comfortable where you will be planted.
3. Compare your stats.
To be competitive, your test scores and GPA should be at or above the average for students enrolled at your target school. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply to your top choice if your GMAT, GRE, or EA score is below the average, however. Other aspects of your application could really stand out and make you an attractive applicant.
4. Ask yourself whether you need an internship.
A one-year or accelerated MBA might be the best option for you if you do not require a summer internship to pivot career paths. Often, that’s the case for applicants from family businesses, entrepreneurs, candidates with company sponsorship, or older individuals who are further along in their careers and can convincingly argue that they can network on their own.
Check out these top U.S. and international one-year programs or MBAs oriented toward older applicants (not EMBAs!): IBEAR, LBS, MIT Sloan Fellows, Stanford MSx.
5. Consider a STEM program if you’re international.
STEM MBAs give you the option to stay and work longer in the United States – up to three years after graduation.
6. Network with the community.
Once you’ve done your research and come up with a list of roughly eight to ten schools, it’s time to start networking. You will have a better chance of gaining admission if you can show the school that you know its community.
Ask people connected with the school whether you can meet them for coffee or have a virtual chat with them to get their thoughts about the school.
Sign up for and attend online events and webinars. Many schools track digital touch points, which indicates true interest.
Also, attend in-person events. Go to the MBA tour in your city so you can meet admissions officers. Making a campus visit, if possible, is another good way to show your interest. Do your research ahead of time so you can make the most of your visit. Sign up for a tour, schedule meetings with student ambassadors, and attend any events you can fit in.
You want to come away from this networking with names of contacts and their insights on how you can make the most of your time in the program.
7. Come prepared with questions for admissions officers. Expect to ask at least one.
Before you go on a campus tour or attend a virtual event, think of questions you can ask the person leading the tour or event. Remember, though (especially on a campus visit), that admissions officers are busy, likely fielding questions from more than 100 people who want to speak with them. Raise your hand early so you can get your question in. That said, don’t monopolize the Q&A time. That can be annoying! If the session leader offers, go up to them afterward to thank them for their time and take a business card.
8. Polish your image, and your elevator pitch.
This might sound obvious, but dress for success during your campus visit. Wear business casual. And practice your elevator pitch – that’s your one-minute self-introduction that covers where you’re from, what you do, and what you want to achieve career-wise by going to business school. Believe me, you need to practice this! You’ll impress people if you come off as concise and polished. No one you meet will be interested in a long, self-absorbed introduction. Get to the point, and ask questions – you’re on a research mission!
9. Don’t be annoying.
Again, admissions officers are busy people. As are students and alumni. Don’t drop by the admissions office unannounced and demand to speak to someone. Don’t offer to hang out and wait, either, even if it will take hours. Arrange your visit within the parameters already offered.
Don’t frequently message students or alumni, asking for advice on your application if they are a new acquaintance, rather than a long-term friend.
You want to leave the contacts you meet with a good impression, not a memory of irritation.
10. Follow up with a thank you.
Make sure to send a short thank-you email or handwritten note expressing your interest in the MBA program. This will go into your file and show the adcom again that your interest in the school is genuine.
Now it’s decision time!
Now. narrow your list down to four to six schools that offer you a range. Your test scores and GPA will help dictate this list:
- Reach – where your scores and grades are below average.
- On Par – where your scores and GPA meet the averages.
- Safety – where your scores and GPA are above average.
Now consider your recruitment research, event attendance, networking efforts, and campus visit. Really focus on where you were able to make positive contacts. Where did you feel a good vibe? These touch points, along with your stats, should determine where you have the best chance of acceptance and where you will thrive.
Michelle Stockman is a professional journalist, former Columbia Business School admissions insider, and experienced MBA admissions consultant. Want Michelle to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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