Courting Your Target Business Schools

When you’re applying for your MBA, it’s essential to realize that MBA admissions representatives want you to know and like their schools! This step is often overlooked during applications, but it’s critical for many schools. Understanding when and how to interact with business school students, staff and faculty should be top of mind throughout the MBA application process. Start planning now for better success!

6 Tips to Network With Your Target Business Schools

MBA networking can feel overwhelming, especially if you have no idea where to start or you are applying to a long list of schools. Personal MBA Coach has spent more than 17 years helping people like you connect with professionals in their fields and successfully apply to their target programs. These are our top six tips to help you stand out in the sea of MBA applicants.

1. Attend individual school networking events

Once the application season wraps up, MBA admissions staff hit the road, scheduling events throughout the world to target prospective candidates. Now is the time to schedule these into your summer travel plans. This does not mean you have to fly halfway across the world to attend, but be on the lookout for opportunities near you and plan accordingly.

2. Look for affinity group events

Similarly, there are many targeted MBA events for students of various affinities and nationalities. If applicable to you, these specialized events will provide you with a more intimate setting to show your interest and ask questions about particular programs. The more your questions show your research, the better.

3. Attend MBA fairs

Regardless of your location, there will likely be some opportunities in your area to speak with admissions representatives from schools across the country. Organizations and programs like QS Discover, Access, Forté Foundation and The MBA Tour host global campaigns to help schools find the best candidates from around the world — and even better, they are usually free. Check out this list of upcoming events!

These fairs offer a stellar opportunity for MBA networking, whether you are just starting your applications or are ready to submit. Every fair has its own format and participants, so make sure you attend each one you can to cast a wide net. The more opportunities you have, the more questions you will be able to ask of your target schools (just make sure they are intelligent questions and not ones you can find the answers to online!). Admissions reps will then become more familiar with you, which may be no small thing when they are reading through thousands of applications!

4. Seek out professors doing research in an area of interest

Why are you applying to specific MBA programs? Is there a course or a professor you are most interested in connecting with? If part of your reasoning comes down to a specific person, why not reach out to them ahead of time? Let them know you are interested in their research or course. If you can network with them and establish a relationship prior to application, they may be able to put in a good word for you. Even if you ultimately do not end up attending their program, you may have opened up a valuable relationship for internships and job opportunities in the future.

Know that this may not be possible for every candidate, especially if you are still exploring your interests. As you reach out, understand that this person is likely busy, so do not get discouraged if you do not receive a response. Sending a message like this can still be beneficial in future endeavors. At the very least, it will give you experience in cold networking.

5. Network with alumni

Many successful alumni are happy to discuss their time in their MBA programs and what they did to succeed in their careers. If you can access information about recent alumni, reach out and ask for a short phone call, email correspondence or even a coffee date if you are close by. Since they went through the same application process, they will be able to give you targeted information about the school-specific application and may even have advice about networking, class registration and more.

If possible, start by talking to people in your network and see if they know any alumni from your target school. Otherwise, you may be able to find information using undergraduate databases to identify a good choice.

6. Visit campuses

Making the trip to campus and scheduling a class visit can be an easy way to express interest. Visiting the campus before you apply is more important for some schools than others, but if you can make this trip work, it is never a bad idea. Not only will this confirm your interest in the target school, but it will be a good source to gather information to use in your application essays.

Keep in mind, it is possible to do too much of a good thing, so be sure to find a balance. In addition, schools vary widely in terms of which communication vehicles they find most effective and the importance they place on such communication.