Researching your target MBA programs is an important part of your MBA journey\u2014and a key part of that research should be reaching out to students and alumni of your target programs. You have many options to do so!<\/p>\n
First, schools have invested a lot of effort to make a wealth of information available online. Frankly, this levels the playing field for applicants who cannot travel to visit schools in person because of work or cost barriers. Second, if you know someone at a program, reach out! Third, many MBA programs provide opportunities for applicants to talk with students virtually through admissions ambassador programs and coffee chats. These virtual meetings are often a great first step in connecting with current students. Fourth, leverage LinkedIn and search for your connections (or connections of your connections) at your target MBA programs.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s possible to gain background information on a school through its website, the best way to truly get to know a school is to talk with current students and alumni. Here are some tips to get you started:<\/p>\n\n
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Any time you reach out to someone to gain knowledge, make sure you are as efficient with their time as possible. Although you can have more open-ended conversations with good friends and colleagues about their MBA experiences, it is important to have thought through why you want to attend business school and what your career goals are before you have conversations with someone new. Have your one-minute elevator pitch ready so that you can succinctly talk to students or alumni about your goals for an MBA. The more specific you can be about what you are trying to accomplish with an MBA, the more helpful they can be with directing you to a resource or classmate with experience that might relate to your goals. Having this elevator pitch ready also allows you to practice it before you articulate it in your essays.<\/p>\n