The College Visit 101

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Joining a class for the day will give you an idea of the type of education and learning environment offered at a particular school, while breaking bread with students is a chance to ask your peers questions and find out about the school's social life.

Some business schools prefer that you sign up for an on-campus interview when you visit, too. In fact, at certain business schools, the interviews are offered to everyone early in the application process and later become by invitation only. Signing up early shows you are really interested in a particular school. If you visit without signing up for an interview when it is offered, schools might think you are not as interested in their program as others.

break away from admissions

Although it is wise to make your presence known and to participate in the admissions-sponsored events, you should not solely rely on this information. "If you're giving some serious thought as to whether to go to this school, you must also break away from the admissions office," says Meehan. "Spend some time on your own, sit in our hallway, close your eyes, and listen." Others suggest taking at least 30 minutes to walk around campus on your own and to stop and ask students—those who are not trained by the admissions committee—about the school and its offerings.

If you plan far enough ahead, you can make contact with leaders of the clubs that interest you and see about meeting with one of them, says Richmond. Meehan suggests visiting the centers and programs in the field that you plan on pursuing while on campus.

Forget about trying to impress the admissions committee, says Alex Chu, founder of MBA Apply. That's what the application is for, he adds. Your job on a campus visit is to find out as much as you can about the culture of a particular school and what it means to you. "Put on your journalist hat," says Chu. "Go in with the idea of doing investigative reporting."

Asking the right questions is probably the most important way to make the most of your visit. Instead of wasting your time asking about your chances of getting in, which is annoying and just looks bad, says Chu, you should ask hard-hitting questions in a polite way. For instance, he suggests asking about the recruiting rates in the down economy and what kinds of things the school could stand to improve. Of course, you should also ask questions about how the school can help you meet the personal goals you are setting.

Pay attention, Chu says, to whether you get straight answers or people dodging the questions. Both results can tell you a lot about the character of the community. Never rely on the responses of just one person. Talk to as many people as possible. Most importantly, ask yourself, "Can I see myself here? Will I be comfortable on this campus?" Answering those questions, after all, is the ultimate goal of a campus visit.

To save money, admissions consultants suggest consolidating your trips for schools that are close to one another and taking advantages of the lodging discounts and freebies, such as lunch with students, which schools might offer. Staying with friends who live in the area or attend the business school is a great idea, but you should still make sure to formally sign up for something with the school. "Make yourself known," says Richmond. "It's a sign of interest that you bothered to go to campus."

Still, humility and polite behavior rule the day. Dress in business casual attire (or more formal business attire if you're interviewing). Never try to participate in a class that you are auditing for the day. Don't expect face time with the admissions committee unless you're interviewing, says Rosemaria Martinelli, associate dean for student recruitment and admissions at University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. And a thank you note for someone who was particularly helpful is never a bad idea, says Flye.

While the campus visit is not the time to seek out praise, you don't want to make a bad impression either. "If you take over a classroom or are arrogant to your host, it will get back to the admissions committee," says Julie Barefoot, associate dean of MBA admissions at Emory's Goizueta Business School. Be prepared with a standard message about your career plans and what drew you to this school. "You never know who you're going to talk to," says Richmond. "That person might remember you and talk to someone in admissions."

Di Meglio is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in Fort Lee, N.J.

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