Dear Applicants,

While you are working on your handicaps, and are in the process of understanding why a particular school is meant for you, remember, the Goal is not to pull out random electives or random professors.

The goal is to really REALLY be able to tell them - Why that particular school meant for you?

This answer should not be limited to your answering:

- Why do you need an MBA?
- Why do you want to go to a B-School?
- You putting information from the school's website randomly

The goal is that networking exercise is to REALLY REALLY FIND OUT - what that school is meant for you. Your goal is not to tell them - why they are good. The goal is to tell them WHY THEY ARE MEANT FOR YOU ?

Also, some schools do not have a "WHY THIS SCHOOL?" essay question. So, you can prioritise the networking activities accordingly. You should also plan the networking exercise based on the Essay topics. Duke Fuqua has a very strong contribution requirement- and that is a part of the School DNA. Your answer should not be generic. Duke is also known to emphasise a lot LOT on Why DUKE in the interviews, and they are not looking or you telling them things that they already know about them from the website.

Your goal is not NOT to describe their school to them. I know I am harping a lot on the networking activity as it will be a surprise for a lot of you, and that is why I also get you started on this right in the first week. Do spend a lot of time on this.

I have never seen anyone crack a top school without really NETWORKING very well.

Regards,
Jatin