Dear mberkowitz,

Thanks for your post. It's always a great idea to visit your target programs, as this will help you formulate more powerful essays - not to mention give you a true sense for the culture, fit, etc. Having said that, a campus visit is by no means required in order for you to get into business school. Of course, if you cannot make it to campus, you should be learning about the program in other ways:

-reaching out to current student leaders in the clubs that interest you
-contacting the local alumni club
-reading press and publications that cover the school
-reading the school's web site
-attending MBA admissions receptions in your area
-visiting with the schools on the MBA Tour/World MBA Tour, etc

This research should then come across in your essays. You can always visit the schools for your interviews (where applicable).

There are some caveats to this line of thought:

1) Some smaller schools in more remote environments (Tuck, Darden) do really encourage applicants to come for a visit - especially if they live in the States. In other words if you are a New Yorker and don't find your way up to Hanover, NH for a visit/interview at some point, this may not play well with the adcom.

2) Generally speaking, if you are within a few hours of a target school, it is wise to find the time to visit. If you live in Dubai, no one will ever fault you for skipping the campus tour at MIT. If you live in New York, however, one may wonder why you didn't bother to make the trip.

Best of luck with your applications,

Graham