Most applicants ask, “What’s your advice?” or “How was your experience?”

Here’s the truth: vague questions get vague answers.

But if you structure your calls well and get specific, alumni can give you gold: the highs, the lows, the personal, and the professional, all in just 30-45 minutes.

👇 Next time you set up an alumni call, skip the generic and get to the good stuff. Try these 10 sharp, specific questions that unlock real insight:

📌 1. What surprised you about the program after you started?

Why it works: This uncovers the gap between what marketing materials promise and what actually unfolds. It gives you an unfiltered take on the unexpected parts of the MBA journey.

📌 2. What electives have been most valuable?

Why it works: You learn which courses actually delivered value in real-world roles, helping you prioritize your own learning path. It also reveals whether the curriculum supports different goals.

📌 3. What clubs were you involved in?

Why it works: This gives you insight into how people find community and leadership outside the classroom. It also reflects how much students actually engage with the broader MBA experience.

📌 4. What are recruiting opportunities like for your industry?

Why it works: This grounds your career research in reality. You’ll learn whether target firms recruit actively, how competitive the space is, and how the school supports job-seekers in your domain.

📌 5. Would you choose this school again? Why or why not?

Why it works: This taps into both emotion and hindsight. It helps you understand what aspects alumni deeply value or regret, offering clues on long-term satisfaction.

📌 6. What were your goals before the MBA, and how did the program help you reach them?

Why it works: You get to see the MBA’s role as a bridge. This helps you understand if the program actually delivers outcomes aligned with your kind of goals.

📌 7. Looking back, what would you do differently during your MBA?

Why it works: This pulls out hard-earned wisdom. Alumni often share things they wish they had focused on more, or overlooked opportunities you can now look out for.

📌 8. How have you leveraged the alumni network?

Why it works: This shows how accessible and active the alumni ecosystem really is. It also gives you ideas on how to build relationships across batches and geographies.

📌 9. What’s one thing you wish you knew before joining?

Why it works: This question invites honest, personal reflections. It often surfaces blind spots that can help you enter the program more prepared and aware.

📌 10. What was your cohort like?

Why it works: Your peers shape your learning and growth. This helps you understand the diversity, culture, and dynamics of the classroom beyond surface-level stats.

✅ Find them on LinkedIn, most alumni have public profiles
✅ Keep your message short, clear, and respectful
✅ Mention why you’re reaching out (school, background, goals)
✅ Be fully responsible for logistics:
➡ Schedule the call
➡ Share your questions in advance
➡ Send a calendar invite
➡ Send a polite reminder the day before

🚫 Don’t:
❎ Show up late
❎ Ask them to send a link
❎ Leave it to them to chase logistics

Bonus tip: Offer them the option to reply over chat or voice note, some prefer async responses.

📅 The MBA Applicant’s 6 Month Timeline

The MBA application gameplan: GMAT to school selection to submission, and everything in between: a timeline that keeps you calm, clear, and in control.

Don’t miss it.

We are Oxford & IE grads helping you apply to Europe: calmly, clearly, confidently. Got a question? Feeling stuck? Just reply. We actually read every email. If you’re ready to get started: