1. Don’t ask questions that can be found in FAQs
You don’t always have long when meeting admissions officers, so write down a list of questions to ask the directors that are unique to you and leave a lasting impression.

2. Come with a resumé
Most admissions directors are there for that initial meeting of prospective candidates. Although you won’t be handing out your resumé to everyone you meet, it always pays to be prepared.

3. Dress to impress
It may sound like a cliché, but that age-old saying “first impressions last” remains true. A polished appearance will go a long way toward letting the admissions directors know you’re serious about pursuing their qualification.

4. Don’t be a brochure-napper
Business school websites will have all the information you need when researching your program. Use this time to engage in conversation with the admissions directors and alumni.

5. Ask whether you can meet alumni
You’ll find out just as much, if not more, about business school life from those who have lived to tell the tale. They’ll be able to tell you about course workload, time management, specializations on offer and perhaps most importantly, about that work/life/study balance.

For more helpful hints to guide you in this endeavor, read the original article, QS World Executive MBA Tour bootcamp: golden rules and fair etiquette.

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If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

I am on Twitter too…click to follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/stacyblackman

Also, all incoming MBA students in the class of 2012 who are interested in a career in financial services should check out the Forté Foundation’s Financial Services FAST Track Conference, June 24-25 in New York City.

At this event, participants will meet senior professionals working in financial services and get a jump start on planning a career in the world of finance.

Register here for the conference, and apply here for the Financial Services FAST Track.

* * * * *

If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

I am on Twitter too…click to follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/stacyblackman

Many Voices: Perspectives on Diversity, Saturday May 15, 2010. Many Voices is an opportunity for prospective applicants who bring diversity to the Stanford GSB community to learn more about our program.

XX Factor: Women Changing the World, Sunday May 16, 2010. XX Factor is geared toward women who are considering applying to business school.

Both events provide an overview of the MBA program, a class immersion experience, and opportunities to hear from students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Due to limited space, anyone interested in attending these conferences must complete a brief application.

Many Voices Application
XX Factor Application

Applications are due on Friday, April 9, 2010, by 5 p.m. PST. Notifications will be emailed by Friday, April 16, 2010.

* * * * *

If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

I am on Twitter too…click to follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/stacyblackman

The new fee waiver program will permit business schools to offer free access to the standardized entrance exam to a limited number of prospective students.  Each school must apply for the waivers, and the school itself determines which applicants are eligible.

If you would like to get a GMAT fee waiver, check your target school to find out if they already have a program to help economically disadvantaged applicants. With this program, GMAC takes a lot of the burden off both schools and the underrepresented applicants’ shoulders.  For more information, read the fee waiver .pdf here.

* * * * *

If you are feeling stumped by your application essays and need some additional guidance, check out our NEW series of essay guides for MBA applications. Columbia, Harvard, Kellogg, Stanford and Wharton available now. They are seriously terrific and we are proud to say that almost every person who has ordered one has come back for more!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

I am on Twitter too…click to follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/stacyblackman

New York Times bestselling-author Daniel Pink, who has written extensively about the rise of right-brain thinkers, will speak at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event takes place from 1-3 p.m. EST and will be video streamed live at www.darden.virginia.edu/iLab and available online 60-days after the event.

Elizabeth O’Halloran, managing director of the Batten Institute, says that “In these challenging economic times, the i.Lab makes possible an effectual, multi-disciplinary approach to entrepreneurship and innovation, providing students a powerful and relevant skill set to succeed and excel in today’s global marketplace.”

Darden also recently announced the launch of new Global Business Experiences–one-to-two week courses that take place in countries around the world each spring. The programs highlight how to do business in each country and introduce students to both cultural and business protocol through classes at partner schools, company visits and meetings with prominent political and business leaders.

This year, first and second-year Darden students will travel at mid-term break to Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, India, Mexico, Spain and Sweden, and – for the first time – to Egypt and then to Israel in May.

Professor Gal Raz, who teaches operations and supply chain management at Darden, says this GBE is unique in its focus on innovation and entrepreneurship in Israel; students will  work on an actual project to develop a business plan to bring a product to the U.S. market.

For more on the GBE program, the video below shows interviews with three participants from the MBA class of 2009 explaining why they took advantage of this internationally focused program at Darden.

Click here to view the embedded video.