Hi Lucas,
I think it is an excellent idea to visit your top choices of school. It is very helpful for admissions officers and faculty to be able to put a name to a face. You should indeed schedule an interview with admissions to coincide with your trip, so that you do not have to fly back at a later time to interview. It is OK if you have not yet submitted an application, you can still try to set up an interview. They may just ask you a few questions to determine if you are a loose fit. Meeting current students and seeing classes in session will help you determine if the program is right for you.
To prepare for your trip, you should indeed research the school in depth, and formulate an articulate response to the question, "How will attending our program help you achieve your professional goals?" So, you should also reflect on your professional goals. If you want to become a better entrepreneur, for example, you should apply to schools that focus on entrepreneurship, and highlight the importance of that focus in your interviews. Your business will probably come up in the interviews, and it would be fine to be like a proud parent, pulling photos out of your wallet. However, you don't need to make a .ppt or print out a full set of photos. 1-2 photos pulled out of your wallet are sufficient, will come across as very natural, and will convey passion for your business. It's fine that it is a small restaurant; schools were impressed with my (at the time) single-location coffee house.
At the time you apply, you will submit transcripts and your resume, so there is no need to bring those with you. All of my transcripts have contained font only, so I do not think there is an advantage to printing these in color. Admissions will ask you questions about your work history, but this is not the time they need "proof." You may want to bring business cards to give to staff, faculty, and students that you meet. To be honest, I'm not sure what a personal presentation card is, but if it is some sort of bio sheet I do not think that is necessary. It may just come across as trying too hard, and not being natural.
Be yourself, have fun, and shine through to the admissions people in a way that is true to you. Let them see why you need their program, and why they need you.
Best wishes,
Tatiana
Tatiana Becker | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
