From one Student to Another: Alejandro’s top tips for MBA success
In short
Most applicants underestimate the highest-leverage part of MBA planning: talking to real people. Alejandro's core lesson is simple—use intentional conversations with students and alumni to cut through marketing language, understand program culture, and validate outcomes pathways before you commit. This post shares Alejandro's background, how he approached school research through networking at scale, what he learned about getting "true student experience" signals, and how that process supported his decision to attend London Business School.
Alejandro: background and trajectory
Alejandro graduated from Creighton University in the United States in 2012, obtaining degrees in both Physics and Philosophy.
After graduation, Alejandro began his professional career in Argentina. He began working at Invertironline in Buenos Aires and then spent 4 years working with PUENTE in wealth management. He then began working at UMCO S.A. in 2019 as a Senior Consultant.
Currently, Alejandro is Head of Marketing at UMCO S.A. in Ecuador.
The real topic: how to research MBA programs when everything sounds the same
Many schools describe themselves with similar language—collaborative culture, global network, leadership development. That makes it hard to judge fit from websites alone.
Alejandro's approach was to treat school research like due diligence: gather perspectives from multiple angles, compare patterns, and only then make decisions.
Volume helps, but only when it's intentional. The goal isn't collecting opinions—it's identifying repeatable signals: what recruiting pathways look like, what student life actually feels like, and where people struggle.
We get the most value when we combine breadth (many conversations) with structure (the same core questions every time).
Who to talk to (and why each group matters)
Different conversations answer different questions. Consider:
- Current students: the most accurate picture of day-to-day experience and what resources are truly used.
- Recent alumni: recruiting reality, transition friction, and what actually drove outcomes.
- More senior alumni: long-run network value and how the brand travels over time.
- Admissions: program structure and what the school is intentionally building (useful, but not the full story).
Use each group for what they can uniquely tell you.
How to use LinkedIn without sounding transactional
One of the best ways to get the inside scoop on a true student experience is to talk to a student at the University themselves! Linkedin is a great platform to strike up connections and it can be very easy to strike up connections.
Keep outreach short and learning-focused. Ask for 20 minutes. Be clear about why you're reaching out to them specifically. And follow up with one action you took based on their advice.
A simple question set for "fit" and outcomes
To cut through generic marketing, ask questions that force specifics:
- What did you actually do in year one to move toward your target role?
- What surprised you about the culture once you arrived?
- Which resources are real accelerators here (and which are mostly noise)?
- What kinds of candidates struggle in this program?
- If you were applying again, what would you do differently?
The goal is pattern recognition, not one-off anecdotes.
Alejandro's key point is that you should not rely on one perspective—especially when you're making a high-stakes decision. You want enough conversations to see what is consistently true.
In essence, Alejandro recommends connecting with as many people as possible before making your decision and hearing as many different perspectives as possible.
The outcome: choosing London Business School
After his acceptance to multiple MBA programs, Alejandro decided to attend London Business School.
Regardless of where you apply, the takeaway is transferable: your best school-list decisions come from structured learning—real conversations, repeated questions, and honest comparisons across programs.
How Merchant MBA supports school research and fit
Merchant MBA helps candidates build an outcomes-first school list and a fit narrative that's specific and credible. We clarify goals, identify who to talk to, define the questions that matter, and convert what you learn into stronger "why school" logic across essays and interviews—without letting research derail your timeline.
What should I ask MBA students and alumni to evaluate fit?
How do I message someone on LinkedIn for an MBA networking call?
Should I talk to current students or alumni?
Do I need to talk to "a lot" of people for this to work?
How do I protect my admissions timeline while networking?
Turn networking into a clearer school list—and stronger "why school" essays
We'll map who to talk to, what to ask, and how to convert insights into a fit-driven application strategy that stays on timeline.