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Does attending a campus visit and tour impact my candidacy?

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Does attending a campus visit and tour impact my candidacy?

by Not lov'n the GMAT » Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:30 am
How important is on-campus face time with faculty and admissions personnel? Does meeting these people help your chances for admissions?

I work and live overseas but was set for an in person campus interview last week until inclement weather canceled my appointment. I have since done my interview off campus with an alumni and it went great. I know I like the program (so the visit isn't to convince me of fit) but I'm trying to learn if being on campus to visit will have an influence on the strength of my candidacy or if it isn't of relevance.

I return overseas next week but could possibly drive to the school to attend a class or tour if this will help in a tangible or intangible way. What insight do you have?
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by dmateer25 » Tue Feb 15, 2011 1:09 pm
Not lov'n the GMAT wrote:How important is on-campus face time with faculty and admissions personnel? Does meeting these people help your chances for admissions?

I work and live overseas but was set for an in person campus interview last week until inclement weather canceled my appointment. I have since done my interview off campus with an alumni and it went great. I know I like the program (so the visit isn't to convince me of fit) but I'm trying to learn if being on campus to visit will have an influence on the strength of my candidacy or if it isn't of relevance.

I return overseas next week but could possibly drive to the school to attend a class or tour if this will help in a tangible or intangible way. What insight do you have?
The school won't hold it against you that you didn't make it for an on-campus interview especially since you are overseas.
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by bln123 » Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:41 pm
I don't believe your chances will differ a great deal by visiting.

However, if you are able to attend an open day or generally visit the school, this can be a huge advantage for you.
Most MBA programmes are quite similar so I would always advise to get a feel for the school, the current students and your future peers, the faculty, the town its located in, etc.
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by money9111 » Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:41 pm
I don't know if I'm late with this post, but I will say that visiting the campus CAN impact your candidacy and here's why... if you can make an impact with the admissions committee and whomever you may meet then they WILL remember you. I experienced this first hand when I went to Cornell for my interview and people in the office were still talking about a student who visited the week prior from I believe Chile... they also said that a student (they called them both by name) had visited from Japan. There were two other people who were visiting that same day one of which had flown from India to visit. So does simply being able to check a box saying "YEAH I VISITED" help? No... will they remember you if you visit and immerse yourself in the school for the duration of your stay? Hopefully! You'll also be able to write about things that other students may not be able to write about for your essays or even talk about things in your interview.

I say that you should ALWAYS visit if possible but only if you know how to turn that visit into an ongoing process and not just a one time thing. I think there's a science to campus visits and that's one of the reasons I was able to turn my uncharacteristic background into an acceptance at Cornell.
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by Stacy Blackman » Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:35 pm
Hi Not lov'n the GMAT,

Visiting the campus helps for a number of reasons. When you visit the school, you develop a better understanding of the school's culture. This is sure to come through in your essays and interview. While others will be referencing the school website, you can site specific first-hand experiences.

Additionally, when you visit, you will meet people and have specific experiences that you can highlight throughout your essays and interview. This adds color and individuality to your application, which shouldn't be underestimated.

Hope this was of help!

Best,

Stacy Blackman
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