How to Plan a Campus Visit at Business Schools

Often, business schools and universities provide potential students with the opportunity to take tours, sit in on classes, have lunch with students or alumni, etc. Some encourage those applying to combine a visit with the admissions interview. Business schools often offer special interest visits for groups, such as those in the LGBTQ community or students of color – which are usually more in-depth stays.

Whatever their interest, applicants can gather information online or via phone and plan accordingly. While they should also investigate the school on their own, unencumbered by the school’s mission to portray a certain image, they can take these opportunities to learn about the culture from the school’s community.

After a while, applicants might find all the schools blend together. To avoid this, they should take notes and photos to remind them what they saw and felt at each campus. Also, they should make check out the places and people that most interest them at every stop. For instance, someone who wants to focus on marketing, should visit that department and talk to those students at every school. But it shouldn’t just be limited to academic pursuits, for example, if you’re av avid gym goer, you should see where you could work out.

Also, check out the events the school hosts for students, says Morgan Bernstein, executive director of full-time MBA Admissions at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. This will give applicants an idea of what kind of experience they will have outside the classroom.

Applicants should visit the area around the school to envisage what living there would be like. After all, most graduate students spend lots of time off campus. The town or city should be somewhere they can call home. Perhaps it will offer activities that spark interest, but, most importantly, it should be an area where they could find internships or full-time opportunities that fuel their professional aspirations.

There’s no point in traveling just to see a building or two. The real test of a school’s fit lies in its people. As a result, applicants must talk to those who have already experienced the school.

“You'll get more out of your experience if you have prepared some questions to ask your student or admission hosts,” says Bernstein. “Remember that students love to talk about their MBA experience, so have some thoughtful questions that ask about their personal business school journey.”

Applicants should avoid trying too hard. They should be respectful to everyone they encounter because bad behavior could make its way back to the admissions office. Also, they should maintain perspective.

“While it's important to come with questions to ask students and admissions officers, do it for your benefit, not theirs. No admissions officer is taking copious notes on who asked the most impressive or the most questions, or how many times you could quote random facts about their notable faculty or alumni,” says Bernstein. “Campus visits are provided so that you can step into the shoes of a student for a few hours and see if it fits.”