Chat Transcript October 19, 2009, 11:30AM EST

Chat Transcript: Wisconsin Admissions

(page 3 of 3)

Erin L.C. Nickelsburg
Wisconsin-Madison

Story Tools

ElizabethMeyer: How can I schedule a campus visit?

KyleNel: The best way to schedule a campus visit is to sign up on the Wisconsin School of Business site.

Q: How has Wisconsin's career placement been affected by the economic crisis?

ELCNickelsburg: Overall, Wisconsin has an 83% placement rate with many of our specializations at or near 100%. What most people don't realize is that with the size of our program we currently have only 14 students who graduated last May or August who are still looking for a position. Most of our placement is on the West Coast, the East Coast, and in the Chicago metro area.

ELCNickelsburg: Our specialization model has helped to keep us insulated from the downturn because employers know that our students are experts in their fields.

ElizabethMeyer: What is your favorite part of living in Madison?

KyleNel: I love the Madison vibe. It has many of the perks of a big city, but it is very focused on all things green and holds onto that Midwestern charm. I am not from the Midwest, and I have truly loved it.

ElizabethMeyer: Does it matter if my campus visit occurs after I submit my application? I will be traveling on business near Chicago and would like to visit in mid-November (after the Nov. 4 application deadline).

KyleNel: No, it doesn't matter when you visit. We prefer that you interview as early as possible though.

FrancescaBW: Kyle, can you tell us something about the first-year workload?

KyleNel: The first-year workload is everything you hear about the first year of an MBA program—intense, exhilarating, a tad overwhelming, and exciting. It was a wonderfully intense experience. I never thought that I could learn and do so much, and I thought I was a hard worker before.

FrancescaBW: Kyle or Erin, what would you say makes your MBA program unique?

KyleNel: Our specialization model and our truly collaborative culture.

ELCNickelsburg: Wisconsin is unique in that we have chosen to strive to be the school of choice for those with a chosen career path. Our specialization model is truly a specialization in that each student takes almost 40 credits of work in that particular area while keeping the fundamentals of accounting, finance, etc.

FrancescaBW: Is the school addressing the economic crisis in the curriculum? If so, how?

ELCNickelsburg: There is no way to be a business school and not address the current economic crisis. We have integrated it into both our core and specialization curriculum and have also introduced it in our applied learning sessions.

ELCNickelsburg: In addition, the Wisconsin School of Business works to bring relevant topics with strong perspectives into the school. In the past year we have had pre-election Presidential economic debates, town hall forums, and presentations from numerous business leaders.

FrancescaBW: Any parting advice for applicants?

ELCNickelsburg: It can be tempting in this economic crisis not to visit the schools on your list. A visit is critical. Making the connections with current students, faculty, and admissions officers can affect your application in numerous ways. Assessing your fit is crucial and this can best be done with an on-campus visit.

KyleNel: Culture and fit of an MBA is very important. I would look not just at the stats of a program but also meet the students and faculty. That will tell you more about your fit with the program than anything else.