Regarding Visiting US schools in Feb-March 2011

[adi_800]

Hi All,

This is Aditya from Pune, India currently working in Indian IT industry for 4 years. I have given GMAT twice with last attempt in Sept 2010. The highest score for me is 590 (47/25). After that attempt, I thought of taking a break of one year and prepare again. Meanwhile, I have got a chance to visit US for 7 weeks as a part of my assignment at the job. I will be visiting Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI starting second week of Feb. I visited Auburn Hills for Chrysler in 2008. So, this will be my second visit.

In my visit, I would like to visit schools nearby Detroit. I am targeting middle range schools whose average GMAT score would be around 650-670...I am planning to visit below schools.

1. University of Michigan: Ross
2. Michigan State University: Broad
3. Purdue University: Krannert
4. Case Western Reserve University: Weatherhead
5. katz school of business
6. University of Chicago: Booth ( I know, I won't get in der..but just want to see the school...)
7. Wisconsin School of Business

I have been a part of The $100K Challenge but could not win main prize of visiting the schools. Now that I have got a chance to go to USA, I would like to visit schools and ask questions to adcom...Below are my questions I would like any of you to answer...

1. Can you please let me know which all schools that I can visit over the weekend?
2. Please add/remove schools as per the rank/popularity/ROI/salary/location...
3. What questions should I be asking when I get to meet admission committee?
4. Will visiting current faculty help? If yes, how?
5. Will adcom interview me if I visit the school? If yes, how should I be preparing for interview?
6. If I apply to the school that I have visited, then will the admit decision have any impact? I got to know that schools seek students who really want to make into that particular school and visiting that particular school shows candidate's interest in the school?
7. I will be required to get my resume done before any school visit? Can you let me know how to prepare for this kind of resume as this will be different from a resume for a job? Any particular site that I can refer to for these kind of resume?
8. What questions should I be asking to current students?
9. Anything more you think I should be asking?

These questions might be very simple/naive...But I want to make the most out of my visit and in the end attend the best
possible school. So, looking for your help...

Also, the sad news is I wont be having any leaves in US as its a short duration...So, I will be visiting skools on weekends and got to know that adcom is not available on weekends..Is it the case?

Thanks for all the great work the BTG site is doing and thanks for all the resources...

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Aditya

[Ttronn]

Aditya, I'm not a Michigan resident (nor an American for that matter) but if you are in the Detroit area for 7 weeks and can set aside time on the weekends to visit schools I'd suggest visiting one each weekend you are in Americaq. As you know, although these schools are all in the Mid-West they are not all localized in the same area. For instance, UMich is in Ann Arbor, while Case Western is in Cleveland. I don't know the exact distance between the two cities but I'd say you are likely looking at several hours travel between them. I think the list you've made is accurate with regards to ranked schools in the area (maybe add Notre Dame [Mendoza] and Ohio State [Fisher]) but I suggest consulting a map or even google maps to take a look at the distance between the schools to arrange for a trip itinerary to be made for each weekend visit. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your visit.

[beatthegmat]

Hi Aditya,

Let me try to throw in my opinion as well:

1) I agree with Ttronn over 7 weeks you should be able to do weekend trips out to most of those schools, including Booth. Wisconsin School of Business may be too far to drive too, but all the rest should be within 4 hours drive. I grew up in Michigan so I'm pretty familiar with the area.

2) I can't opine about adding/removing schools--this is going to take a lot of research on your part to see whether your background/skills/goals match to the programs you've listed. You may want to get some additional expert opinion though from the MBA admissions consultants in our community too.

3) Search Beat The GMAT for past articles/discussions about questions to ask. Here's a starting point: https://www.beatthegmat.com/questions-to ... 15089.html

4) Visiting current faculty may help, but I think visiting current students is even better for you. This will give you a better perspective on whether the school is a good fit for you.

5) If you request to speak with an admissions officer at your school visit, you can usually make that happen. But it's all about timing--after April it's probably easier since they distributed decisions for most of the important rounds at that point. Search BTG for questions to ask admissions officers--focus on fit questions, make sure that the programs/culture offered work for you.

6) Visiting a school is a definite plus. I don't know if it's always noted in your application, but sometimes it is. I would make your visit explicitly mentioned somewhere in your application essays too.

7) You don't need to have your resume ready for school visits. I wouldn't prepare one.

8) Again for school visits, it's all about fit. In some ways, you are interviewing the school--the school isn't interviewing you at this point. So ask students about the pros and cons of being an MBA student at their program. Ask about clubs that interest you and what life is like.

9) Last tip--if possible, try to make it to a class on a Friday (if available). I know this may not be possible given your work, but sitting in a real class can be exciting and provide excellent context for whether a school is a good fit for you.

And to your last question--unfortunately I don't think you'll be able to see adcom officers normally on the weekends. Call the admissions offices to see if it's possible, but expect that it's not.

Good luck!

[adi_800]

Hey eric,

Thanks mann!!

I m thankful to u for getting ur advice...
I ll post questions in d same post n ll pm u d link if required!!

[beatthegmat]

No problem!

[adi_800]

Hi All,

I am currently in US and I had been to Cleveland over the last weekend...I do not have a licence over here and so can not drive a car...So had to depend on that pathetic greyhound...

Anyways, I would like to share my experience of my visit to Weatherhead school of Management, which was ranked 80th in 2010..But is not ranked in 2011 rankings...

School building is kinda weird and looks like what this is? There is only one building this school has and every activity happens in this building....The facilities are pretty much what you expect in a B school with interesting lecture rooms in which you stand in between and audience (students/faculty) is present in a circular class...I imagined myself giving presentatn over der n im sure anyone wud face tough time over der!!

About the Program: This is a two year program with first year common to all and specializatn second year...Pretty much what normal program has...This school has a program called dialogues class in which You meet CEO/AVPs/Big shot guys and in this class people discuss about what ever problems those org. are currently facing, understand the problem, and provide the solution...This was something interesting. Industries with which students speak about are from cleveland...
Accountancy and Finance are the two classes spread over two semesters...

The school is based on the two themes: Manage by design and Sustainable Enterprise..You have one class on the same in the first year...
In the 2nd year, you can take either or both of the subject present under Manage by Design or Sustainable Enterprise...And then you can choose specializatn as per ur liking/current market conditions...

School Fees: 42,500 $ per year...Big no no when I might consider applying to this school...I am sure the school is not worth of 85000$ and when you convert that in INR, it will be HUGE !!
About aid: Class of 2010 was of 64 and as per the updates from Adcom, every person got in some sort of assistance...
I talked to current students and they said that its a tactic of every school in which they raise the fees and then give aid just to show the school evaluators that we have given the aid to so many people !! Kinda marketing strategy it seems !!

Diversity in class: Around 15 nationalities in the class with diverse backgrounds...
Discussion with Adcom person Deborah Bib:
1. I told her my profile (4 yrs IT with two US visits) and GMAT score [590 as of now:( ] : She said you will get into this program..This score is not something that will cause your rejection....( I was totally surprised) Current students also said that with 590, you can get in this school...
2. She said that we do not give much importance to your verbal score (Big Relief)..But try to get around 50 in Quants to have better chances...(N yes...She kinda meant that score of 47 in quant is horrible for Indian students.....
3. If you are considering about the aid (which I m and anyone would be) Give the GMAT again, get 50 in quant and you will surely improve your chances....
4. School does not consider GRE scores.
5. Asked about why the school is not listed this year in FT: She said, to come into rankings, our alumni and current class of 2010 should give the survey conducted by FT at the time of rankings survey...So, we did not have sufficient number of responses from people and FT wanted the same...So, our rank is not present in First 100 FT ranking....
6. Essays are very important and lets d adcom know about yourself...
7. School has desscent enough placement cell that assists second year students in getting the job...But as per the updates from current students, the placement cell is not up to the mark...But, they are hoping that it will come for 2012 batch...
8. Are the classes 100% case based : No
9: Asked her about How the day of a joined candidate goes...N she told me how it works out...
If students..get a sleep of 4 hours a day, then They feel that they managed a day perfectly...
Saw one US person with GMAT of 550..
10. For Indians: 1 current indian student said...Its nt easy after you come here.. Still remember that sentence "Bahut FIGHT Marni Padti Hain Aane Ke baad" (You have to work really hard once you are here) and this becomes tougher when you have taken more that 20 laks loan...
11. Also, cleveland is not a home of many Big companies..So, you might want to look for jobs outside cleveland when you pass out...
12. Networking n relationship management are very important when you come down in US and that's what helps u in getting the job (Good to be aware of this and this was my learning)

I ll put in more details tomorrow !!

[adi_800]

N yes...Most important point:
Average GMAT: 626....
N current students said do not look for rankings when you apply..Consider job prospects and then and job profile people are getting after passing out....