School Materials and Admissions Staff

School informational materials and a school’s admissions staff provide some of the best and most easily accessible information when you’re researching and evaluating b-schools.

Whether in print or online, a school’s materials can give you everything you want to know about the school’s strengths, the programs it offers, curriculum, faculty, the learning environment, campus services, the student body. These materials can also tell you what a school looks for in an applicant, refer you to additional resources, and help guide you through the process of obtaining and completing an application, either on paper or online.

Admissions professionals have the dual role—first, marketing their school to the right applicants, and then evaluating their applications. Try to remember both of these roles as you talk to them. Admissions people are a great source of answers to questions you might have about what you have read so far. They can also tell you what the culture of a school is like and help you gauge if their school is a good fit for you and your interests.

One of the best opportunities you’ll have for talking personally with admissions staff is at school recruiting events such as those posted in the School Events Calendar. Examples include individual school events (information sessions and receptions) as well as the multischool events hosted by the MBA Tour, the World MBA Tour, Forté Foundation and many others. At these events, representatives from hundreds of schools can gather to meet prospective students, answer their questions, and hand out information about their schools.

You can save yourself time and money by attending a multischool event. But don’t expect to get half an hour of undivided attention from every school that interests you. 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' informational 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, who also may be present at these events, can be a great source of information about job placements of the recent graduating classes.

Many schools hold information sessions 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 events, school representatives typically make a brief presentation about their schools and then answer questions and mingle with the attendees. Such 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 School Events Calendar feature on this website or visit the websites of the schools that interest you.

If you are unable to attend a school event, consider making campus visits. Or contact admissions offices to learn of other opportunities to meet with staff members.

Admissions people expect that you have done some research on their programs before 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, such as:

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

"Why should I come to your school?"  Asking this question basically labels you as unfocused, which is not the first impression to make. Admissions people 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.

"What are my chances for admission?" Obviously, it’s impossible for admissions people (or anyone else) to answer this question. They could 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 considered in admissions decisions.  Also, remember that your application must be weighed against the relative strengths and weaknesses of every other applicant in the pool.