Question: I am targeting one of the top MBA programmes in the US and will be flying in to visit the school in a few weeks. I plan to tour the campus, attend sample classes and meet some current students. What should I look out for in this visit? I am worried that if I make a bad impression with the students during this visit, it might hurt my chances of admission. What do I need to prepare before I go?

Emma:

I am so glad to hear that you plan on visiting the school before committing – it is indeed very important to do your due diligence very well before committing yourself to a programme for two years. Visiting the school is usually a very important part of that process.

The most important thing to look out for during this visit is to explore the “fit” – how you fit into the school and its community. “Fit” is very difficult to measure or quantify, but usually you would know it when you are there.

Having said that, you need to do your homework really well before you go – spend time reading up on everything about the school, from official publications to comments on various online forums, then go and ask good questions based on what you have read. If you ask questions on topics that you should have already known by reading about it, not only are you wasting your precious time there, you would also appear that you haven’t done your homework well.

Don’t worry about impressing the students there – I have never heard of a programme where they would have current students meet applicants and evaluate them in a formal capacity. That said, you do want to spend time hanging out with them both inside and outside the classroom. Remember that business school is not just about learning the materials but also about networking.