The Application Process

dragoljubce wrote:LOL! Do you want to know my timeline? For years I wanted to get EMBA, but couldn't bring myself to sacrifice time with my family to get yet another Master degree. This summer I decided MBA is what I want, so I decided to go back to school full-time.

UNC doesn't require GMAT for EMBA for people with advanced degrees in science, so I though the same principle would apply for a daytime program. Boy, was I wrong. I though that GMAT was no big deal; wrong again. SO, that's what my life is all about for the past 2 month: GMAT and writing application essays.

How's that for a timeline

Yes, your timeline sounds stressful. I prefer mine; it is much more relaxing!

When do you plan on applying? I would like to visit schools at some point this spring, but don't plan on applying until fall 2010 (for fall 2011 admission). Do any prospective students take visits so early? I'd also like to visit UNC at one point

Don Wrigley wrote:When do you plan on applying? I would like to visit schools at some point this spring, but don't plan on applying until fall 2010 (for fall 2011 admission). Do any prospective students take visits so early? I'd also like to visit UNC at one point

Hi Don Wrigley,

I will be applying to programs in the fall of 2010 too. I personally feel it is ideal to visit the schools this early. I like to be well prepared and think it is important to visit schools prior to applying. I am sure that after visiting all of my target schools i will remove one or more from the list if i don't think the school will be a good fit based on my visit.

Thanks for the info, I feel better about scheduling my appointments (I planned on calling the admissions office and asking them if it's a good time to visit, but I'd imagine they can be biased one way or the other), I'm glad to know I'm not the only one thinking the way you are.

I have 3 days to take off work in March and drive down toward north carolina (plan on visiting UVA, Duke, UNC). The info in this thread is very good--keep it coming.

Don Wrigley wrote:Thanks for the info, I feel better about scheduling my appointments (I planned on calling the admissions office and asking them if it's a good time to visit, but I'd imagine they can be biased one way or the other), I'm glad to know I'm not the only one thinking the way you are.

I have 3 days to take off work in March and drive down toward north carolina (plan on visiting UVA, Duke, UNC). The info in this thread is very good--keep it coming.

Let me know when you schedule your visits to Duke and UVA. I will be visiting both of those schools in either March or April.

dmateer25 wrote:

Don Wrigley wrote:Thanks for the info, I feel better about scheduling my appointments (I planned on calling the admissions office and asking them if it's a good time to visit, but I'd imagine they can be biased one way or the other), I'm glad to know I'm not the only one thinking the way you are.

I have 3 days to take off work in March and drive down toward north carolina (plan on visiting UVA, Duke, UNC). The info in this thread is very good--keep it coming.

Let me know when you schedule your visits to Duke and UVA. I will be visiting both of those schools in either March or April.

Good plan--at least this way we would both know there's at least 1 other person not interviewing having already handed in an application. I'll let you know.

Hi! good to see someone else who is getting an early start. I also graduated in 2008 and plan to enroll in Fall 2011. I took my GMAT yesterday (680) and am considering retaking it early next year (more than likely I will) but have already established a short list of schools. (Duke, Darden, NYU, McCombs and Ross) and will start my school visits next year as well. If you do plan visits to any schools we have in common, I would definitely be interested in joining in. Good job with the blog and the early start. I have had FT MBA seriously on my mind since June '09 and since I dont plan on starting till 2011, I have often felt like I was getting ahead of myself.

mbalady wrote:Hi! good to see someone else who is getting an early start. I also graduated in 2008 and plan to enroll in Fall 2011. I took my GMAT yesterday (680) and am considering retaking it early next year (more than likely I will) but have already established a short list of schools. (Duke, Darden, NYU, McCombs and Ross) and will start my school visits next year as well. If you do plan visits to any schools we have in common, I would definitely be interested in joining in. Good job with the blog and the early start. I have had FT MBA seriously on my mind since June '09 and since I dont plan on starting till 2011, I have often felt like I was getting ahead of myself.

Hey mbalady,

Congrats on the GMAT score. What was your Q and V breakdown?

It is good to see someone else that is starting very early! I do plan to visit both Duke and Darden so keep in touch and I will let you know when I schedule my visits.

Nice man! That's cool that you are getting started early.

After doing some interviews and class visits, including some on the same day I do have an opinion regarding wardrobe choice:

Class visit: Dress like a current student. Jeans and a polo may be just fine, depending on the school. I walked into Chicago Booth dressed like that and was much more comfortable than the people who chose suits. Students were asking those people if they had an interview scheduled for the same day. They felt kind of silly when they told them they did not and appeared inappropriately formal. But if suits are just how you like to dress, wear whatever you will be most comfortable in. For me, it's the jeans.

Interview: Suit!

Class Visit/Interview: Suit! Now when people see you and ask if you are interviewing today you can say "Hell yes, what can you tell me about Interviewer X?" I was hanging in the student lounge at Kellogg and had several students approach me just because of the suit and talked with me for awhile about their interviews and the school.

Good luck, amigo!

Whats with visiting the schools?? I am sorry, but each of you are spending one full year visiting a school and then applying for it after the visits??? Am I missing something??

In either case, why would you want to visit a school before applying for it???

dessy116 wrote:Whats with visiting the schools?? I am sorry, but each of you are spending one full year visiting a school and then applying for it after the visits??? Am I missing something??

In either case, why would you want to visit a school before applying for it???

Why would you apply to a school if you haven't visited it?

How do you know that you fit in well with the community, the students, the social life. I can go on, but in my opinion it is important to visit schools so know where you want to apply.

Hey dmateer,
How's it going. I agree it is imperative to visit schools especially before you spend your time money and other resources applying. I certainly would love to join in on some school visits and get a little network of 'class of 2013' folks going.

My breakdown was 44q and 40v which is why I wanna retake it cos I can do much better in quant. Def stay in touch as well ...the next 12 or so months may be challenging at times and support is very essential in my opinion. Thanks!

mbalady wrote:Hey dmateer,
How's it going. I agree it is imperative to visit schools especially before you spend your time money and other resources applying. I certainly would love to join in on some school visits and get a little network of 'class of 2013' folks going.

My breakdown was 44q and 40v which is why I wanna retake it cos I can do much better in quant. Def stay in touch as well ...the next 12 or so months may be challenging at times and support is very essential in my opinion. Thanks!

Things are going well, but haven't had a lot of time for MBA research lately. I do plan to visit CMU sometime in January. I will let you know how that visit goes. Getting a network of "class of 2013" would be great!

If you think you can do better on the Quant then I think you should take it again. Your score is very similar to what mine was on the first attempt (Q44 V41 690). I knew I could do better than a 44 in Q so I decided to take it again. I think I was just nervous with the Q section. Perhaps you had the same issue. Let me know how it goes if you take it again and good luck!