Sponsored Content
Have you attended an MBA event with the University of California-Berkeley Haas School of Business? No matter if it was a fair with multiple schools in attendance, an information meet-and-greet, or an information session, you had a wonderful opportunity to get to know the school and the admissions team in a personal way. This can be invaluable for informing your school decision and improving your application. However, if you really want to be sure you had the best experience possible, don’t forget to follow-up.
Just as you prepare questions, elevator pitches, and introductions before attending an MBA event, you need to prepare to close out the event with the admissions team. At U.C. Berkeley Haas this means reaching back out to the admissions team to continue the conversation. In particular, the Senior Associate Director of Full-time MBA Admissions Liz Rosenberg feels that connecting with admissions as much as you can in an authentic way is the smart way to go.
- Should they write thank you notes to any school reps or alums they engage with? Why or why not?
It can never hurt to connect with an admissions rep or alumni from a school you want to attend. The best notes are ones that share a unique reason why that school is right for you; a reason that wouldn’t apply to every school on your list. Sharing something about yourself that sets you apart from other applicants is a great way to make yourself memorable with the admissions committee and to show your genuine fit with a particular school.
- Should they follow up on any advice given by the admissions reps or alums about things to research, and then let those individuals know that they did so? Why or why not?
If you actually followed the advice of the rep and learned something valuable about the school or had a perception changed or validated, by all means, let the rep know! We are constantly trying to figure out what resonates with applicants and what information or connections are the most valuable so we truly appreciate the feedback.
- Should they follow up an info session or fair with a visit to the school itself to meet once again with the rep(s) they encountered? Why or why not?
We always recommend visiting Berkeley Haas if you possibly can. Taking the time to walk the campus, have lunch with current students or meet with admissions reps can be invaluable in your decision-making process. Our Campus Visitation Program is available throughout the academic year and we look forward to welcoming you and having you get a feel for student life “by the Bay”. Choosing a business school is like buying a car and you wouldn’t purchase a new car without taking it for a test drive so, by all means, take us for a spin! If you’re going to be on campus, feel free to reach out to the rep you met on the road. We may not always be available to meet with you when you arrive but can certainly connect you with a colleague or a Haas Student Ambassador who can provide additional information.
UC Berkeley Haas wasn’t the only school to answer these questions. If you’d like to see what the admissions teams at Cornell Johnson, Duke Fuqua, Michigan Ross, NYU Stern, UVA Darden, and Yale SOM had to say, head here.
