During the fall and winter, many applicants dread answering the question “why this school instead of that one?” in their essays and interviews. Now that admissions notifications are out, the question is resurfacing once again. Some admitted applicants are choosing between multiple offers, while others are considering attending a school that they researched only briefly in the fall. And of course, many applicants are now debating the pros and cons of relocating with their significant others. Luckily, MBA programs are currently reaching out to individuals in all of these categories -not to mention that fact that, at this time of year, prospective students are in a better position to collect information without the stress of simultaneously filling out applications!
Debating between Harvard and Stanford, blogger MBA Babe said it best:
“So far, I have found the admit weekends to be the most telling, so I don’t think my decision will be made until the end of April. I want to meet the other admitted students…. Truthfully, although both schools are near either family or friends, it does sound like you spend most of your time with your fellow classmates so I’m really looking forward to meeting them and seeing where I fit best.”
Across the country (and the world), schools are hosting weekend events for admitted students. Each one provides myriad opportunities to meet prospective classmates, current students, faculty and members of the administration. Visitors are kept busy with a wide range of activities: conventional presentations, small group discussions, visits with current students, mock classes, and city tours. Some academic departments even hold job interviews for prospective students seeking employment during the upcoming school year.
Most schools also make a sincere effort to include partners (and even children) in the weekend’s activities. For example, at Ross’s Go Blue Rendezvous last weekend, there was both a wine hour and a coffee lounge for partners. Wharton does a great job of reaching out to family members as well. At the Wharton Welcome Weekend, which begins this Thursday, partners events feature free child care, as well as some activities specifically targeted to male partners. This is just another way in which MBA programs try to make themselves fully accessible to prospective students who remain undecided.
Many schools also coordinate more succinct events for prospective students who can’t make the trip to campus for a long weekend. Forrest Gump blogged about a fun meet-up for Chicago admits in his hometown, and HairTwirler also recently enjoyed a dinner and bonding experience for prospective Georgetown students. On the other hand, Ipoel came away from Anderson’s A-Days somewhat skeptical about her fit with the school. Their experiences show how valuable admitted student events can be for candidates still deciding between schools.
In the coming weeks, we encourage admitted students to take full advantage of these exciting events. Soak up the atmosphere on campus, meet your potential classmates, explore the surrounding neighborhoods, and enjoy those happy hours! As always, we would love to hear from admitted students as they weight their options, and we invite readers to post their thoughts on the School Choices page of the Clear Admit Wiki!
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