The people who work in admissions have the dual role of first marketing their school to the right applicants and then evaluating applications. Try to remember both of their roles as you talk to them. They are a great source of answers to questions you might have about what you have read. They can also tell you what the culture of a school is like and help you understand whether their school is a good fit with your interests.

One of the best opportunities you will have to talk personally with admissions staff is to attend school recruiting events such as those posted in the Recruiting Calendar. Good examples might include individual school events (information sessions and receptions) as well as the multischool events hosted by the MBA Tour and the World MBA Tour. At these events, representatives from hundreds of schools can gather in one location to meet prospective students, answer their questions, and hand out information about the schools. You can save yourself time and money in travel expenses by doing some research at a multischool event.

If you attend a multischool event, you should not expect to get half an hour of undivided attention from every school you are interested in. A few answers from each school may be the most you can expect. So make your time count by asking questions that are not covered in the schools' print and Web-based materials. This is not the time to show the admissions staff your résumé and ask, "Will I get in?" Admissions staff at these events are primarily interested in marketing their programs, not evaluating applicants.

Alumni and placement staff may also be present at multischool events, and they can be a great source of information about job placement of the recent graduating classes.

Many schools hold recruiting events on their own campuses and in cities around the world. They often host off-campus events in the offices of companies with which they have strong ties. At these recruiting events, school representatives typically make a brief presentation about their schools and then answer questions and mingle with the attendees. Such recruiting events can be an excellent way to meet admissions staff in an informal setting. The best way to find out about these events is to look at the Recruiting Calendar feature on this Web site or visit the Web sites of the schools that interest you.
 
If you are unable to attend a recruiting event, consider making campus visits. Or contact admissions offices directly to learn of other opportunities to meet with staff members.

Admissions staff expect you to have done some research on their programs prior to talking to them.

Be prepared to tell them about yourself. Admissions staff can't give you effective advice unless they know something about your background, goals, and interests. (If you need help clarifying or articulating your goals or interests prior to talking to admissions staff, the CareerLeader online self-assessment can help you.)

Make sure you ask clear, well-focused questions.

• "As a prospective MBA studying [your intended concentration], with an interest in [the industry/field/function you wish to work in], why might I want to consider your school?"
• "What parts of the application do you weigh most heavily?"

• "Why should I come to your school?"
• "What are my chances of being admitted?"

Why Not Ask These Questions

• "Why should I come to your school?" Asking this question basically marks you as someone who is unfocused, which is not how you want to appear to an admissions staff member. Admissions staff assume that you have figured out why you want this degree and that their school somehow fits into your plan. It is not their job to tell you why or where you should get an MBA. They will give you information about their schools and guidance in preparing an application, but ultimately, you have to decide whether their schools are right for you. Once you decide which schools to target, it is your job to make the case that you and the schools are a good match.
• "What are my chances for admission?" It would be impossible for admissions staff to answer this question. They may be able to comment on the apparent strengths or weaknesses of your application (or future application), but they cannot account for all the other factors that must be weighed in admissions decisions. These factors include the relative strengths and weaknesses, backgrounds, work experience, recommendations, and interviews of all the other applicants in your applicant pool.