($) The deal with culture and school fit

October 11, 2012 by EssaySnark

We talk about ‘culture’ a lot here on the EssaySnark blahg – almost as much as we do ‘school fit.’ Both of these concepts are a little slippery and hard to put a finger on. They’re also very interrelated. Beyond the match-up of your profile stats (GMAT/GPA) that determines if you are QUALIFIED for a…

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Here's what others have said about this:

livetorise says

October 11, 2012 at 3:58 pm

I second everything EssaySnark said in this post. This one of most helpful advice I got from them when I first started my process in May.

Besides helping yourself in choosing the school, you show effort and sincerity to the school. I feel it is no different from dating/relationship. When you want to impress the girl on your dates, you have to show the effort and sincerity to know the person and that you care who you are with. Because the other person (adcom/date) can easily see the difference.
bulaohu says

October 17, 2012 at 12:09 am

This week I visited Tuck, HBS, MIT, and Wharton. You learn SO MUCH MORE about a school by visiting. What looks similar on a website feels very different in person.
RyanCJW says

October 17, 2012 at 1:05 pm

No matter how good a school might look to you on paper, it doesn’t mean anything until you’re actually on the campus and you get an idea of what the next year or two will be like. Although undergrad is a bit different, I had my heart set on a college from about 6th grade on – I eventually got into that school and was offered a decent scholarship, but I passed it up because I felt more at-home on another campus. While that feeling might not be important to everyone, to those that it is – don’t underestimate the power of a visit.
- essaysnark says
  
  October 17, 2012 at 1:46 pm
  
  @livetorise, @RyanCJW and @bulaohu – love it that you’re all out exploring these places and getting your firsthand 411 down.
  
  @bulaohu, you picked an awesome time to be visiting New England! Bet it was gorgeous.
  
  @livetorise, they absolutely can tell the difference – it’s so obvious when someone has done the homework (or not!)
  
  Best of luck to all of you, hoping for some positive outcomes for each one!