2017-2018 MBA Admissions Events: A School-By-School Listing

Poets&Quants Editor-in-Chief John Byrne (left) leads a panel discussion of deans from leading business schools. Pictured from left to right are Scott DeRue (Michigan Ross), Matthew Slaughter (Dartmouth Tuck), Rohit Verma (Cornell Johnson), Doug Shackelford (North Carolina Kenan-Flagler), and Rich Lyons (Berkeley-Haas) at Poets&Quants’ Centre Court MBA Festival in June. Photo by Nathan Allen

You can learn plenty from a business school website. Most programs aren’t shy about framing their distinctive philosophies and features, cramming data points and testimonials onto every web page. If you have any doubts, admissions is happy to highlight how they execute on their promises by phone or email. Still, there is something about meeting an adcom face-to-face. Seeing is believing, as the cliché goes. In the booth, it’s easy to see who truly buys into the mission and personifies the culture.

Just visit campus, you say? That works when you’re ready to commit — and possess a surplus of cash and free time. Early on, you have questions — and doubts too. You’ve drilled deep and searched wide. Chances are, you’re overwhelmed by conflicting communiqués and near similar offerings. That’s where off campus events come into play. From information sessions to road shows, this is your time to explore the nuances, to ask questions and make connections.

Think of these events as reconnaissance. You’re a spy. Your job is to discretely assess the pitches and gather intel. You’re listening for clues and watching for cues, sifting through the courtesies and hyperbole for the elusive truth. In the end, you want identify which schools stir your imagination. If you’re successful, you’ll uncover a nugget of inside information for your essay. Best case scenario: you make a compelling case to an adcom who can serve as your advocate.

AN EXERCISE IN SALESMANSHIP

Indeed, MBA events are an exercise in salesmanship. Exposure alone doesn’t boost your odds. You need to seize the opportunity, positioning your background and aspirations to show you’re a well-prepared and serious candidate. Your goal is simple: You want the adcom to remember you. When they look back at the event, you should stick out as the candidate who matches the culture and projects as a star in the classroom and beyond.

Hoping to hobnob with Harvard? Confab with Kellogg? Mingle with MIT? The roadshows are in full swing. To find out when your favorite schools will be in your area, click on the “Upcoming Events” link below.

U.S. MBA Programs: Admissions Events

International MBA Programs: Admissions Events

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