In keeping with our recent string of posts written with the aim of setting class of 2009 applicants on the right path, we wanted to offer some tips on engaging the community of one’s target programs. Communicating with b-school insiders can be beneficial for a number of reasons; in addition to learning about a given school and your potential fit, you’ll also generate material for your essays, demonstrate your interest in the program, and perhaps even make an ally or two. In launching your communication campaign, there are a few key groups to whom you should reach out:
Current Students – People who are currently enrolled in a given program can obviously provide the clearest picture of the current state of the school and community and help you to understand the overall culture, as well as the academic and extracurricular options available to students. In addition to reaching out to friends and acquaintances who are studying at a given school, it’s also wise to get in touch with the leaders of clubs and programs in which you are interested (their contact information is generally available through the website). This will help you to understand the impact you could make while on campus and provide a sounding board for various ideas you might have for a certain student group or organization.
Alumni – While students offer a great view of the program itself, a school’s alumni can often provide the best perspective on just how far an MBA from a given program can get you in a certain field. By meeting with alums who are working in your target post-MBA industry (tracking them down either through your own network or school-sponsored events), you should be able to get a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of your target schools in terms of setting you on a course to achieve your career objectives. You might also gain some valuable insight that will help you to refine your career goals and better understand what short-term position would best prepare you for your long-term plan.
Faculty – The professors at business school tend to be a bit less accessible than students and alums, but if you’ve identified someone whose research interests you or sat in on a class that you found particularly interesting, there’s no harm in sending a note to let the faculty member know that you find his or her work appealing and would like to speak if possible. These individuals responsible for designing and teaching the curriculum can offer great insight into the specific skills and lessons you would learn from one class to the next, and help you to refine your understanding of the ways that an MBA would bridge the gap between your current skills and those you will need to achieve your goals.
Hopefully, this has given Class of 2009 aspirants a sense of the people to contact and the sort of questions to ask as they go about determining which MBA programs would be the best fit given their goals and other criteria. For more tailored guidance on what sort of programs you might consider, feel free to contact us for a free initial consultation.
