Full house: Attendees at the MBA Tour event in the Four Points Sheraton Lagos listen as a panel of admissions officers from North American schools offer advice on applying and getting in. Marc Ethier photo
MBA admissions events are a great way to not only learn more about a business school program, but to leave a positive impression on admissions officers.
US News recently highlighted key questions every applicant should ask at an admissions event to gain a better understanding of a program and showcase your intent to attend.
WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OF YOUR PROGRAM?
Asking this question to admissions officers can help you narrow down your options, especially if you’re looking to align your career path with a business school’s strengths.
“The school could say, ‘We’re very strong on entrepreneurship, or we’re very strong on finance or we put a lot of people into consulting.’ All schools have a reputation in one of these areas,” Sam Weeks, an MBA admissions consultant based in Amsterdam, tells US News.
You can also frame your question by leading with your career goals as a way to demonstrate your fit with the business school. For instance, try asking: “Considering my career goals, what is the strength of your program?”
“If possible, lead with the ways you believe the program will support your goals and ask them for their opinion of your assessment,” according to mba.com. “This approach displays your critical thinking skills and the fact that you’ve already done your research, elevating the conversation to nuances and perspectives.”
HOW CAN I ADDRESS WEAKNESSES IN MY APPLICATION?
This is a particularly good questions to ask during 1:1 advising sessions, as it can give you proactive steps to improving your weaknesses in your application.
“The applicant could take additional coursework, such as a quantitative course or boot camp to demonstrate quantitative proficiency,” Lenore Grant, senior director of graduate business recruitment and admissions at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, tells US News.
HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH CURRENT STUDENTS, ALUMNI, OR FACULTY?
Asking this question can give you insight into how to write your essays and convey a strong sense of fit for a program.
“A big part of how you’ll be evaluated as an applicant is how you see yourself being a positive contributor to your class,” according to mba.com. “If in your essays you can communicate this while drawing upon a specific example of something you learned from an alum or current student you spoke with, that’s a home run.”
Sources: US News, mba.com
Next Page: Tips for writing a strong goals essay.
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