Atul Jose (Admissions Consultant, F1GMAT): This is an interesting question. Most international applicants will not visit the Campus – because of visa restrictions, costs, and other scheduling reasons. But if you are from the US or can afford to take time off and travel during the summer, I would recommend that you do so.
On-Campus School info sessions are typically conducted between June and August. Plan your travel accordingly. I recommend visiting the Campus for three reasons.
1) Culture of the School
It is extremely tough to find out whether you fit with the school's culture by just talking with a few student ambassadors during global tours or publication-run events – virtual or otherwise. But if you visit the Campus and get to sit in one of the classes, you get to see how professors interact with the students; how involved the students are in the discussions, the overall facilities on the Campus, and the vibe of the people around the Campus. You are unlikely to reach a conclusion in one day, but it is better than just reading about the culture or making inferences based on Alumni interaction.
2) City
Last admission season, when I suggested a school for a client, he immediately said, "No, I don't want to stay for 2-years in cold weather."
You might have reasons for not choosing a particular school. Some of you might be skeptical about living in a college town, and some might not be sure whether city life is ideal for them. Regardless, once you visit the city/town, you will know whether you can spend the next two years in that culture. Despite all the good things you hear, some cities are just not a good fit for you. And you can learn that only by visiting the city and the campus.
3) Stories for Essays
When you visit the Campus, you will likely network with a few students assigned as part of the student ambassador group. But the real magic happens when you network around the assigned people through LinkedIn. Once you connect with non-assigned students, talk to them and understand the good part of doing an MBA, some of the challenges, and most importantly, some of the unique value propositions of the MBA program. They will definitely share a couple of facilities, courses, or interactions that are extremely valuable. So when you write your goals or why MBA essay, these interactions will demonstrate that you networked. And schools love applicants who make the extra effort to network and learn something unique about their MBA program.
I hope you got value from my advice. For help with career planning, essay editing, scholarship application, or interview preparation, reach out to me, Atul Jose,
