No Essay and No Waiting: What’s Not to Like?

Pomerantz Center

Ranging in age from 23 to 41, most confessed that they’d sign up if a spot were offered. Four of the seven would ultimately gain acceptance.

Most were late-comers to the admissions process, who had limited exposure to the Tippie program. Matt, a brand manager and Dordt College alum, had been speaking to Tippie students, along with the school’s admissions team, before arriving. Steve, a CFO from Seattle who’d already been accepted by Texas A&M’s Mays Business School, was drawn to Tippie after speaking with his cousin, an alum who’d raved about the program’s career services center. Zach, a Kansas native who was looking to break into finance, became intrigued after receiving emails on various Tippie projects and alumni. And Frank, a local who’d already been accepted into the university’s medical school, was pondering whether to start his joint MD-MBA now or later.

A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

Overall, theY came away with a positive impression of the experience. Kristin, who had expected to be “talked at,” was surprised by the tone of the visit. “They wanted to get to know us. [They] cared about us as people.” Although Kristin hadn’t decided to pursue an MBA until April, she was relieved about the next day turnaround. “This all just fell into place…[This way], I won’t have to stress out waiting.”

Unlike many campus visits, where prospects only interview with one person, this crop of one-and-doners was happy to make their pitch to multiple people. “You get exposed to so many people,” says Zach. “You have an opportunity to express yourself to many. I know [the administrators] speak to each other, [so] there isn’t just one shot to get everything out there.” While Zach’s visits and admissions interview contained the usual line of questions, he felt it was more like a “conversation.” “I didn’t feel like I was being grilled.”

In addition, the program freed candidates to compare their options. For example, Zach had already met with representatives from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. After matriculating at a big school “where you don’t get a lot of individual attention,” he was seeking a place that was “more tailored to me.” While he still needed to wrestle with a few things, the event had left an impression. “This would likely be the way to go,” he says.

Matt, who was surprised by how fast the event went, gushed that the event left him, “more excited than when I came here.” Even more, it reinforced to some that the MBA was the right direction for them. “I’m ready to be here,” says Kristin. “If I’m going to make it, I have to do it now.”

DON’T MISS: 2014-2014 MBA APPLICATION DEADLINES AT TOP BUSINESS SCHOOLS or POETS&QUANTS’ TOP 100 MBA PROGRAMS OF 2013