Non-School Contacts

Schools offer an obvious and important set of contacts for advice about business school.

But don’t overlook resources beyond the campus:

Corporate human resources (HR) representatives at some companies—particularly those in industries of interest to you—know what business schools and programs have helped make their top managers and executives successful. Most HR people will be willing to talk with you if you contact them.

When speaking with HR staff, describe your background and intentions for MBA study. Ask what advice they have and what types of MBAs they tend to hire. Not only will you gain helpful information, you’ll also create a valuable networking contact for your MBA internship search.

As you start researching schools, don’t overlook an excellent resource—your friends and family, as well as other personal contacts who have been to business school or know people who have graduated. These people know you and are at least somewhat familiar with your interests, abilities, and goals. Be sure to ask about the culture and learning environment of certain schools as well as the job prospects of graduates in the industry you plan to enter.

Although you might not want to share your MBA aspirations with all your work colleagues, you should seek out the opinions of professionals you trust and respect in your business world. If you work with MBAs, find out about their experiences. Ask what they see as your personal strengths at work, and ask how they think an MBA could help you to develop personally and professionally.

Outside your job, network with people in organizations that represent the industry you want to work in once you have an MBA. Ask those who have an MBA what school they attended and why. Ask their opinions about various types of programs and specific schools. Discuss your plans—not just your prospects of getting a degree, but your expectations once you graduate.