Inside the MBA

Inside the MBA is a series of small receptions sponsored by fifteen of the world’s leading business schools: Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Emory University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Indiana University, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, University of Rochester, Southern Methodist University, University of Southern California, University of Washington, Vanderbilt University, and Washington University- St. Louis. Along with our colleagues from other top schools in the region, we look forward to a productive, informative and enjoyable evening. After all of the school representatives are introduced, you can explore individual schools by interacting with admissions officers, local alumni and current students who are eager to share their insights and experiences with you. We encourage you to use the sample questions to gain insights in building a successful business school application.

Please help yourself to food and beverages, which are provided throughout the event. Thank you for joining us and good luck in your quest for an MBA degree!

6:00 – 6:30 Registration

6:40 – 6:50 Introductions of the school representatives

6:50 – 8:30 One-on-one interaction with school representatives

1. Is an MBA still valuable and relevant in today’s economy?
2. How would you describe the ideal MBA candidate?
3. How do MBA programs value educational, professional, cultural and other forms of diversity?
4. What factors should I consider in selecting a school or program? How can I find the MBA program that is right for me?
5. What are the advantages of a full-time MBA program?
6. When should I visit schools? What if I can’t visit all of them?
7. How important is the location of a business school?
8. How should I use rankings to decide where to apply or attend?
9. What kinds of financial assistance are available?
   

1. How important is prior work experience? What if it is non-traditional? What if I was laid off? Do you consider internship and co-op experiences as an undergraduate student?
2. How important are future career goals in the selection process?
3. How easy is it to change careers in today’s economy?
4. How have career management centers recently changed their approach to the internship and full-time job search process?
   

1. What are some general tips to make my application stand out? How can I avoid typical application pitfalls?
2. What are the dos and don’ts for an admissions interview?
3. What are the advantages of applying early?
4. What should I do if my undergraduate GPA is low?
5. How important is the GMAT? What if I take the test more than once? How are the scores reported? Which score is used?
6. How do you view prior graduate degrees?
7. What are admissions officers looking for in essays?
8. Who should I ask to write my recommendation letters? What if I can’t tell my current employer I’m applying to business school?
9. How important is previous involvement and leadership? What if I worked full-time during college?