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8 Questions to Ask on a Business School Campus Visit

By U.S. News & World Report

The best way to predict what an experience will be like is to ask people who have been through that experience to describe it.

That’s why experts say it’s critical for prospective MBA students to visit business schools while classes are in session so they can speak with current students.

Harvard Business School alumna Betsy Massar says it is important for prospective MBA students to appreciate how challenging business school can be before they apply.

“Most of it is fabulously good, and some of it is not so good, and it’s important to have a realistic picture of what this experience is like,” says Massar, the founder of Master Admissions, a California-based graduate school admissions consulting firm.

She says that, when prospective MBA students visit business school campuses, they should come prepared with tough questions. “It’s big ticket item,” says Massar. “You should really know as much as you can, and most people don’t.”

Here are eight questions that experts say prospective MBA students should ask when they visit business school campuses.

[Be on the lookout for these four signs you should delay applying for an MBA.]

Questions for Current Students

What surprised you most about business school?

Massar says this open-ended question gives current students the opportunity to tell you whether their MBA program met or exceeded their expectations. It also can pinpoint areas where the business school’s sales pitch is inconsistent with the student experience and areas where the school could use improvement.

How accessible are professors?

Kari Graham, director of graduate admissions at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, says current students are the best-equipped people on campus to answer questions about how approachable MBA professors are and whether those professors serve as mentors.

[Discover 10 ways to ace the MBA admissions interview.]

Is the culture of the school more collaborative or competitive?

Graham says MBA applicants should inquire about whether business schools rank students. “Some MBA programs have a more competitive edge than a collaborative edge, and that’s going to work really well for some people, but for other people, that’s not going to be a great learning environment for them,” she says. “So I think you have to look at yourself and see what’s going to motivate you to be your best and do your best.”

Jeff Magnuson, an independent marketing and brand consultant, says the advice and encouragement of his former MBA classmates at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, was instrumental in allowing him to break into the marketing industry. He says prospective students should ask current students whether the atmosphere is cutthroat or supportive.

Question for Admissions Officers

Given my grades, test scores, work experience, and career goals, do you think I am a good fit for your MBA program?

Graham says it’s rare for prospective MBA applicants to directly ask about their admissions chances and whether they fit a business school’s typical student profile during campus visits, but they shouldn’t be afraid to ask.

It invites the admissions officer to give honest feedback and strategic advice, Graham says.

[Prepare for business school over the summer.]

Question for Financial Aid Officers

What kinds of financial aid am I eligible to receive at your business school?

It’s important to ask financial aid questions before creating your business school short list so that you apply to the right schools and maximize your chances of receiving scholarship offers, says Joseph Vijay Ingam, the head coach at the California-based Interview SOS, a college and graduate school admissions consulting company.

“You may end up going to a school that wasn’t your first, second or third choice, because you can’t say no to money,” he says.

Questions for Career Services Counselors

What kinds of courses and clubs does the school offer in my target industry? Do MBA students get internships in that industry, and where do they work? What percentage of recent graduates work in my target industry?

Ingam says every business school has strengths and weaknesses and that prospective MBA students need to identify schools whose academic strengths align with their career goals.

“If you’re interested in a specific subfield of business, which almost everyone is, you want to see that your school has strength in that particular field,” Ingam says. “Otherwise you could literally end up going to a school, spend $100,000 on your education or more and find out that you’re not getting advancement within the subspecialty of business that you’re interested in.”

Searching for a business school? Get our complete rankings of Best Business Schools.

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8 Questions to Ask on a Business School Campus Visit originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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