When applying to an MBA program, thorough research is important. Successful candidates gather information from multiple sources, such as school websites, magazines, alumni, current students, and visits. This helps applicants understand the school's values and culture as well as what makes the program unique. The lesson recommends discussing the steps already taken to research the top choice program, such as what was learned from each source and what makes the school distinctive. It also suggests identifying additional steps, such as speaking with current students, to gain more insights into whether the program is a good fit.

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SkimaTalk Official Course
Preparing for the MBA Application Process
Lesson 2: Do Your Homework

2. When Applying to an MBA Program, More
Information is Always Better
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“Are the professors
friendly?”
“What are the
students like?”
“What are the
school’s values?”
“How difficult are the
classes?”
“What do students do
for fun?”
“How expensive is
the city?”

3. Successful Candidates Collect Information from
Lots of Different Sources
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webcastsalumnistudents
class
visits
school
website
magazines
/ books
MBA
coaches

4. Doing Your Research Helps You Answer an
Important MBA Application Question
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Why are you a great fit
for our program?

5. Lesson Structure
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During the lesson you will discuss the steps you have taken to learn
about the top MBA program of your choice:
(15 minutes) – Review all of the steps you have taken to learn about the
MBA program. What did you learn from each information source? What
makes this program unique?
(10 minutes) – Discuss additional steps you can take to learn more
information about the MBA program. Who should you speak with? What
information do you need to learn?

6. Teacher Notes
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Teacher Version Only
Teacher Instructions:
This lesson helps students understand the importance of doing lots of research on each MBA
program they plan to apply to. Good research typically includes: school visits, speaking with
current students and alumni, exploring the school’s website, and sitting in on a class.
MBA programs want to know if applicants are a good “fit”. To answer this question effectively,
students must understand what makes each school unique.
1. (15 minutes) Spend the first 15 minutes of the session discussing the the steps the
student has already taken to learn about an MBA program of his/her choice:
• What steps has the student taken?
• What did the student learn from each step?
• What makes this school unique / what does this school look for in its students?
2. (10 minutes) Spend the last 10 minutes discussing additional steps the student can take
to learn more about the MBA program of his/her choice:
• Potential steps might include: visiting the school, speaking with current students and
alumni, exploring the school’s website, reading MBA books / magazines, and sitting
in on a class.
• Who should the student speak with?
• What information does the student still need to learn about the program?

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End of Lesson
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