Saturday, July 23, 2011

Which MBA? It's all about fit.

If you're early on in the MBA process and still trying to figure out where you want to apply, the best piece of advice I can give you is:

Visit EVERY program you're seriously considering.

Yup, that's right. You heard me.

At the end of the day there are a lot of great MBA programs and frankly you'll get a great education at any of the top schools. That said, the MBA experience, especially first year, is intense. As the cliche goes, 'it's like drinking water from a fire hose'. Given the intensity of the program, it's really important to choose a place where you fit and will feel at home.

In early fall '09, prior to beginning the application process, I visited MBA programs that intrigued me. Tuck, just so happened to be the first visit on my list. Prior to visiting Tuck, I wasn't sure I was even going to apply here. However, that completely changed as soon as I stepped on campus. I fell in love with the New England charm of Dartmouth and was captivated by the classroom experience and the camaraderie of the students. I knew this was the place for me. Two years later, I can hands down say coming to Tuck is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Given that you're about to make a $160k investment in yourself, it's entirely worth the extra time and money to visit each program. As soon as you visit a school, you'll know whether it's for you. And, as an added bonus, if you decide to apply you'll have plenty of great material to help flesh out your essay on Why MBA / Why School X.

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