Blog Archive Mission Admission Look at Schools Beyond the Rankings

Blog Archive Mission Admission Look at Schools Beyond the Rankings Mission Admission is a series of MBA admission tips; a new one is posted each Tuesday. On our blog, in our publications, and in public presentations, we have tried repeatedly to persuade business school candidates who are deciding which MBA programs to target to downplay the schools’ rankings, which can fluctuate wildly, and instead focus on fit, which is enduring. Now, as a new admissions season is about to begin, we recommend that you accelerate and broaden your evaluation process. One way to look beyond rankings is to speak with MBA students. Even if you do not have direct access to students, reaching out to them in a targeted wayâ€"via email, club Web sites, and social mediaâ€"can be quite easy. You should not feel as though you are being “pushy” when contacting a student in this way, because most students take pride in their school and are open to speaking with candidates. They are a de facto part of the school’s marketing arm. For example, if you are interested in a certain program for its entrepreneurship offerings, you can reach out to the individual(s) leading the entrepreneurship club to learn more about the program (and the club!). Of course, you should be respectful of each individual’s time and be well prepared for your conversation. If you are conscientious, you will be able to gain some great insight into the school’s academic environment and then have time to find out more about the atmosphere on campus. Networking now should enable you to begin narrowing your search and more effectively focus your limited “free” time over the next few months. Share ThisTweet Mission Admission Blog Archive Mission Admission Look at Schools Beyond the Rankings Mission Admission is a series of MBA admission tips; a new one is posted each Tuesday. We at mbaMission have tried repeatedly to persuade business school candidates who are evaluating MBA programs to downplay the various schools’ rankings, which can fluctuate wildly, and instead focus on fit, which is enduring. Now, as a new admissions season is about to begin, we recommend that you accelerate and broaden your evaluation process. One way to look beyond rankings is to speak with MBA students. Even if you do not have direct access to students, reaching out to them in a targeted wayâ€"via email, club Web sites, and social mediaâ€"can be quite easy. Do not feel as though you are being “pushy” when contacting students this way, because most take pride in their school and are open to speaking with candidates. They are a de facto part of the school’s marketing arm. For example, if you are interested in a certain program for its entrepreneurship offerings, you can get in touch with the individual(s) leading the entrepreneurship club to learn more about the program (and the club!). Of course, you should be respectful of each individual’s time and be well prepared for your conversation. If you are conscientious, you will be able to gain some great insight into the school’s academic environment and then have time to learn more about the atmosphere on campus. Networking now should enable you to begin narrowing your search and more effectively focus your limited “free” time over the next few months. Share ThisTweet Mission Admission