How necessary/beneficial are school/classroom visits? Will it influence your admissions results negatively if you do not visit a school before you submit your application?
I took classes at one of the business schools I'm applying to albeit more than 7 years from the point of matriculation. (I went to law school at the university). So, I know what B School classes are like generally but I do appreciate that the atmosphere can be very different at other schools.
I have not visited the other 3 schools I'm interested in (listed below). I have very specific reasons for the schools that I'm interested in (mainly, specific courses that they have at their school and/or cross-disciplinary offerings, special centers/projects, and clubs that they have plus their national reputations) and have done a hell of a lot of research to get my list to what it is. I also have several friends who are alumni from Harvard and Columbia B-Schools and have asked their perspectives on the schools.
Harvard
MIT
Columbia
I plan to apply first round which is early October for HBS and MIT (though I also plan to submit my app for Columbia in October as well, just not "early decision). As such, I would likely be able to squeeze in an East Coast trip to do classroom visits before any interview offers but after already having submitted my materials.
Am I going to be at a great disadvantage if I don't do a classroom visit BEFORE submitting my apps?
My reasons for not wanting to go now are a) time constraints (I'm trying to sell my condo and I was just assigned a huge project at work -- which is going to make for a good anecdote for my letter of rec if I can pull it off with grace!), b) I may be switching employers (doing the same work that I do but it would be a promotion at a more prestigious organization with a national reputation), and c) budgetary concerns (plane tickets are pricy though I have people to crash with!)
Other overarching concerns are that I am also a little overwhelmed with personal obligations, and the application process in general and I'm also trying to bump my GMAT up further. I don't know if I want to add the stress of doing classroom visits, since I feel like I would want to research professors to meet with on top of the schedule that they give me. I already looked at the schedules for the below schools and know that I could visit all 3 schools spaced out in less than a week.
CANDID feedback appreciated, even if it is a "SUCK IT UP AND GO."
I took classes at one of the business schools I'm applying to albeit more than 7 years from the point of matriculation. (I went to law school at the university). So, I know what B School classes are like generally but I do appreciate that the atmosphere can be very different at other schools.
I have not visited the other 3 schools I'm interested in (listed below). I have very specific reasons for the schools that I'm interested in (mainly, specific courses that they have at their school and/or cross-disciplinary offerings, special centers/projects, and clubs that they have plus their national reputations) and have done a hell of a lot of research to get my list to what it is. I also have several friends who are alumni from Harvard and Columbia B-Schools and have asked their perspectives on the schools.
Harvard
MIT
Columbia
I plan to apply first round which is early October for HBS and MIT (though I also plan to submit my app for Columbia in October as well, just not "early decision). As such, I would likely be able to squeeze in an East Coast trip to do classroom visits before any interview offers but after already having submitted my materials.
Am I going to be at a great disadvantage if I don't do a classroom visit BEFORE submitting my apps?
My reasons for not wanting to go now are a) time constraints (I'm trying to sell my condo and I was just assigned a huge project at work -- which is going to make for a good anecdote for my letter of rec if I can pull it off with grace!), b) I may be switching employers (doing the same work that I do but it would be a promotion at a more prestigious organization with a national reputation), and c) budgetary concerns (plane tickets are pricy though I have people to crash with!)
Other overarching concerns are that I am also a little overwhelmed with personal obligations, and the application process in general and I'm also trying to bump my GMAT up further. I don't know if I want to add the stress of doing classroom visits, since I feel like I would want to research professors to meet with on top of the schedule that they give me. I already looked at the schedules for the below schools and know that I could visit all 3 schools spaced out in less than a week.
CANDID feedback appreciated, even if it is a "SUCK IT UP AND GO."
Last edited by LawGirl30 on Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.