UPDATE: This article was originally posted on June 1, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

Considering that when all is said and done, an elite MBA can cost as much as a house, gathering as much information as possible about potential programs is a smart move.

Though not a mandatory part of the business school application process, visiting the schools you are interested in applying to can be an important step in determining where you fit best – there is something about physically being at the school that can help you better understand its culture and opportunities. For example, if you’re interested in learning about Thailand, you can look at countless Instagram photos, ask friends who have visited what their experience was like, and read blog posts by other travelers. However, it’s hard to say you actually understand what Thailand is really like unless you’ve been there yourself. 

Business schools are no different. You can talk to friends who went to the school, attend local info sessions, and stalk the school on social media, but you still won’t really know what life is like on campus. Short of enrolling, visiting campus is the best way to ensure you invest your time and energy applying to a school that fits your needs and interests for a lifetime. It will also strengthen your ability to demonstrate your unique fit to schools in your essays.

 

How should you prepare for your visit?

After deciding which schools to apply to, you may have to further narrow down the list of schools you can visit, depending on your time and budget. Unless you live close to your dream school(s), you will likely not visit the campus multiple times before applying, meaning you need to make every moment count. 

Though you will likely not have enough individual attention with an admissions officer for your visit to significantly impact their impression of you, it is an opportunity for you to learn as much as you can about each school to determine where you ultimately fit in best. 

As a rule of thumb, you should research the school in advance. Though you don’t need to comb through archives from 2010, it’s a good idea to understand how the program works, what majors or concentrations the school offers, what clubs and initiatives are available to students, and what the school is “famous” for. Once you have this, you can start to think about how your goals and personal brand fit with each school. 

During your visit, you can then use this information as a springboard to deep dive into the details of how you would potentially spend your two years on campus. 

In addition, schedule meetups with any current students you’re able to connect with. While it will be easier for you to do this on campus, we suggest looking up clubs you are interested in and emailing their leaders to schedule a coffee chat or lunch with them. This can be a great, informal way to learn about what attending this school is really like. 

We suggest preparing a few questions in advance to ensure you learn as much as possible from the program. Questions like “How did you decide XYZ B-School was the best choice for you?” or “What has surprised you the most about XYZ B-School?” are excellent starting points. 

On the other hand, personal or “tricky” questions like “What was your GMAT score?” or “What do you dislike about the program?” should be reserved for students you would consider friends or close acquaintances. In case you end up meeting new students during your visit, it’s also a good idea to make sure you have a few business cards on hand. 

Finally, if you will have the opportunity to interact individually with admissions officers, you should come prepared with a printed copy of your updated CV and an idea of your general career plan. This will not be a formal interview but can serve as a good “first impression” of how you can contribute to the community. 

If you’re not sure about your goals or haven’t defined your personal brand, you may want to meet with an MBA consultant to construct the building blocks of your application strategy and ensure you can make the most of your MBA visit.  

 

When should you visit?

In general, you should aim to visit the schools you are interested in between January and April or between September and November. If you choose to visit over the summer, you will miss out on your chance to speak with students, attend a class, and get a feel for the school’s on-campus culture.

If you are planning to apply for Round 1 but can only visit after the deadline has passed, you should still try to visit. Some clients try to time their visits to coincide with interview invites, allowing them the chance to visit and interview on campus. Though this can be a great way to kill two birds with one stone, interviews take place on different dates for different schools, so don’t count on the fact that you’ll be able to do all your interviews on one 10-day trip. 

You should plan to spend at least one full day on campus for each university you visit to ensure you get the most out of your experience. If you will travel internationally to visit multiple schools, make sure to plan travel days so you have plenty of time to get from one campus to another. Keep in mind that a flight from New York City to San Francisco is generally 6+ hours long. 

Bonus Tip: Most of our clients spend an average of 10 days on a school visit trip.

 

What should you include in your visit?

Each school has many different types of programs available for prospective students visiting campus, however, the most common offerings include a campus tour, an information session with admissions, and a class visit. Be sure to use insights you gain from the school in your admissions essays, so take diligent notes about what students say and programs/classes/initiatives you find unique or personally interesting. This is your chance to access the business school experience beyond the school’s website, so don’t waste it! 

(Photo courtesy of @BerkeleyHaas on Instagram)

CAMPUS TOURS

The campus tour is a great way for you to learn about the school’s facilities and to get a sneak peek of what your life at that university would be like. 

These tours are often led by current students, who can often answer many of your questions about all aspects of the MBA experience at that school (see some of our Q&As with current students at schools like Ross, CEIBS, Tuck, and CBS, among others!). 

In general, do not ask your guide where they applied or for their GMAT score, as this is personal information they likely do not wish to disclose. 

 

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Information sessions are presentations offered by members of the school’s admissions staff. 

In general, they will outline key information about the program (such as average GMAT score, number of countries represented, number of students in the class) as well as information about new initiatives on campus. 

Most info sessions will end with a short question and answer session with admissions officers. You should not use this time to promote your profile, nor to ask for personal advice (such as “I have a ## GMAT score, what are my chances of being accepted?”). Instead, ask questions that other students might find useful based on the discussions in the session, such as more details about a club or advice for international students.

 

CLASS VISITS

Many schools will also allow you to schedule a class visit. For many business schools, the class you attend is “luck of the draw” based on which ones align with your scheduled visit; however, if you have the choice of several classes, try to choose one that is aligned with your interests. Keep in mind that it will greatly benefit your essays if you can discuss the details of how certain classes stood out to you.

During the class, you should follow any instructions given to you by admissions, and should only participate in class if the professor invites visiting students to chime in. 

Otherwise, use this time to examine how the class is taught and how students interact with each other and with the professor. This can give you great insights into what it might be like to be a student at this school, so make sure you turn your phone off before joining the class. 

 

SPECIALIZED VISIT PROGRAMS

In addition to these types of events, some business schools have specialized programs that allow you to experience “a day in the life.” MIT Sloan’s Ambassadors Program, for example, gives you the chance to have lunch with current students and meet members of the Leaders for Global Operations program. Wharton also has a similar program. Be sure to look up if your school(s) offer similar events on the admissions page!

 

MEETING WITH ADMISSIONS OFFICERS

Finally, some schools, like Columbia Business School, allow prospective students to drop in for individual meetings with a member of the admissions staff. If this option is available (you can either find this out on the school’s website or email a staff member of their admissions office), make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to personally connect with the people who will ultimately decide if you’re admitted or not. 

If you’re able to visit with a member of the admissions committee, it’s also a good idea to bring a few thoughtful questions to ask at the end of your chat. This will not only show you’ve done your homework about the school, it’s also a great chance to learn more about the program. Good questions include things like:

• Does the school have any new initiatives or programs related to my area of interest?
• Are there any events or clubs that I should attend?
• What, in their opinion, is the most unique element of their program?
• What are some key aspects of the school’s culture?

After your talk, be sure to ask for a business card so you can send a short email thanking the admissions officer for their time in meeting with you. 

During your entire visit, make sure to take diligent notes on what you experience. It’s easy to forget small details that will later play a big role in your essays and final decision. 

 

What should you wear during your visit?

In general, most business schools encourage students to adopt business casual attire to attend classes, events, and meetings with admissions staff. For informal meetings like coffee chats, dress smart casual. Though you definitely don’t need to wear a suit and tie, we also suggest you leave you cutoffs and flip-flops at home. 

Remember, first impressions matter. You want to send the message that you’re a mature, serious professional who is interested in advancing your career through an MBA. 

If you’re not sure what to wear, we suggest erring on the side of slightly more dressed up rather than slightly underdressed. 

TOP TIP: If you’re planning to visit schools during winter, make sure you bring adequate cold weather clothing and footwear. 

 

What if you can’t visit?

If you live reasonably close to the university, a visit is truly a must. If you can’t make a 1-hour drive to check out the campus, for example, it’s going to be quite difficult to convince that school’s adcom that you’re truly passionate about their program. 

However, if you live far from campus or in a different country, campus visits are optional. Though they can help show your interest in the school and can be powerful tools to help you decide where you fit best, admissions committees understand that visiting campus is just not feasible for all applicants, which is why visits are not mandatory. 

Here at Ellin Lolis Consulting, we see ourselves as allies our clients can count upon during the entire application. No question is too small, and we’ve helped clients not only prepare their stories and CVs for campus visits but have even helped clients find lost passports while abroad. 

If you’re considering a campus visit and want to make sure you leverage your trip as much as possible, get in touch and let us show you how.