Are Campus Visits Worth Doing?

Getting to Campus means investing a lot of time and money. Is it worth the trouble?

The MBA admit process works on the brownie point system, and visiting campus can be worth some serious brownie points.  Admissions offices keep track of applicants who visit, and the effort can sometimes make the difference between being admitted and not.

What's an On-Campus Visit Like?

You shouldn't show up at business school unannounced.  For one thing, you might not get your visitation brownie points.  More importantly, you might not be able to sit in on classes.  Most top business schools have a formal visitation mechanism that allows applicants to sit through a lecture or two, get a presentation on the school's features, and maybe even shadow a current student for a day. 

If you're going to go through the trouble of visiting, you might as well get the full benefit.  Contact the admissions office and ask about the formal visitation program.

Are Some Visitation Programs Worth More than Others?

Definitely. The minority recruitment events put on by virtually all top schools can have a significant impact on your chances of success.  Be sure to attend these if you can.  They fill up early and demand is so high that many are now by invitation only based on applications submitted by candidates.

On-Campus Visits vs. Regional Receptions

Most top business schools host receptions for applicants in major cities around the world.  These gatherings are usually held at hotels and are occasions for the admissions staff to brag about the school and display their PowerPoint skills.  Attending one of these receptions doesn't merit quite the number of brownie points that one might receive for visiting campus, but they can still improve your chances of being admitted.  Be sure to check your target schools' Web sites for their reception schedules.

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