Mission Admission: Getting to Know a Target Program More Intimately
May 16th, 2008 | Posted in Mission Admission, Blogroll
On our blog and in public presentations, we have tried to persuade candidates to eschew rankings, which fluctuate frequently (and sometimes wildly), and instead pay attention to fit, which is enduring. Now, as the admissions season is underway at HBS and on the precipice elsewhere, we recommend that you accelerate your evaluative process.
One way to get beyond rankings is to speak with current students. Even if you don’t have direct access to current students, it is generally easy to reach out to them in a targeted way, via club websites. You should not feel “pushy,” as most current students take pride in their schools and are open to speaking with candidates. They are a de facto part of the school’s marketing arm. So, if you have an interest in a certain school for, hypothetically, its marketing program, you can reach out to an individual who is leading the marketing club in order to learn more about the program. Of course, you should be respectful of the individual’s time and be well-prepared for your conversation. Assuming that you are conscientious, then you have the opportunity to learn about the academic environment and then leave time to find out more about the atmosphere on campus. By networking now, should enable you to narrow your search and focus your limited “free” time during the next few months.
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