admit weekend buzz

Admit Weekend is just around the corner. I was wondering^* if anyone has ever studied the impact attending such an event has on a student's performance in business school. Of course, it would be impossible to say for sure as we don't live in a bubble, and there are too many other factors to consider. And there is also the big questions of how you would measure success: grades, salary, job title in 10 years?

But if you could do such a study, and if you did see some statistically significant data showing that it did seem to improve outcome, would you argue that it is the smarter kids that attend these events anyway; or if the results were the opposite, would you argue the contrary? Other than some cool swag, what does an Admit Weekend get you other than a pocket of business cards and maybe a jump start on the search for housing?

Okay, perhaps I have been a little jaded by Keith Ferrazzi's book, Never Eat Alone. In it he talks about his game plan for attending a conference, which in some ways you can argue is pretty much what an Admit Weekend is. He does his homework and forms a list of people that he wants to make contact with while he is there. He pretty much skips out on most of the sessions, and tries to put himself in position so that he "bumps into" those on his list.

Honestly, I think the incoming students would do well to follow some of his tactics. So many people just hand out/collect business cards, that it can be a bit of a turn off. People would do so much better to use the information out there, and the tools like Google and the Yahoo! Groups and make a handful of key connections over the weekend, rather than just shake hands and exchange industry, location, and concentration while in b-school before moving onto the next person. It almost seems like some of these students are on a hidden scavenger hunt in which the goal is to collect as many business cards as possible.

And while I wouldn't advise on skipping out of the sessions, it certainly isn't necessary to attend everything. The key is to figure out what you want to learn and act accordingly. I'd advise coming up with a list of questions that you want answered by the time you leave. If many of them fall into a category (like say financial aid), then it probably would be a good idea to stick around for the Financial Aid session - the woman who puts it on is quite a hoot, so if nothing else you will be entertained. However, if you have no plans on studying abroad, go seek out someone on your list during that time slot.

Another tidbit from the book involves bringing people together from different parts of your world as a strategy for managing quality face time with the people that matter to you. So if you are coming to Chicago and have a friend or colleague you haven't seen in a while, set up a dinner or lunch and bring them together along with someone new to your circle. It really is more than just multitasking - it is about bring people together and building your network at the same time.

Of course I would be curious if anyone would go the extra mile and host their own little private party during the weekend? Invite your core list to drinks at the W Thursday night, or for Dim Sum on Chinatown on Sunday morning. Now that would be the person you would want to meet.

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^*Oh the things I ponder while doing the laundry.

currently reading :: The Kite Runner