One was a technical trainer for an automation course, which requires only engineering skills. I knew that if I went to business school, I wanted to do it right. I didn't want to spend two years studying without any payback or career change. I started the application process in the spring of 1997 by searching through a number of B-school Web sites, including Wharton's , MIT's , Stanford's , Georgia Tech's , Kellogg's , and Carnegie Mellon's . I also downloaded old versions of the applications so that I could review the essay questions and get a feel for what the schools were like.
Most schools have apps available on their Web sites.
If they were not available online, then I either called or E-mailed the admissions office. I found the MBA Explorer site to be particularly useful as well. I tried to find out about everything B-school admissions committees were looking for in a prospective student. I kept a folder with information on each school that I planned to apply to and marked the strengths and weaknesses of each. I decided that the most important thing for me was to find a school with strengths that matched my interests.