The GMAT Club Blog

MBA Interview Admissions Tip

      

In the recent BusinessWeek chat, "Make Your B-School Application Stand Out," Cassidy asked me "I've done my homework on a school and I am preparing for an interview. Any suggestion as to a good question I might be able to ask?" I thought I had a blog post that addressed this question. It turns out I didn't, so here goes.

   

It is difficult to provide general advice on questions you should pose because the best questions will reflect your individual knowledge of the program and your background and goals, but let me give you some guidance or at least a place to start.

   

First prepare yourself to ask intelligent questions:

   

1. Review the school's web site and literature thoroughly. You don't want to ask a question that's answered on p. 2.
2. Review your application.

   

As you conduct your review, jot down questions that come to mind. The questions about those programs, clubs, and activities that are most relevant to your goals, educational preferences, and life style are the creme de la creme. Those questions are going to be very individual and I can't give you samples, but here are a few more general questions that may trigger queries in your mind:

   

• Is it difficult to register for popular classes such as yadda yadda? (Give examples of the classes you are most interested in.)
• What are the criteria for participation in a business plan competition? (if you are interested in entrepreneurship. Substitute another program if entrepreneurship is not your goal.)
• How are interviews given out for internships and full-time positions? (The latter can be a critical question if you are a career changer. Do students bid for a portion of interview slots or is it entirely recruiters' choice?)

   

If your interviewer is a second-year student or recent alum, ask about his or her experience at School X. For example:

   

• What were your favorite classes? Professors?
• Any activity that is simply not to be missed?
• What do you wish you had done differently before or while at School X.
   

BTW, we have been receiving absolutely terrific feedback on INSEAD interviews and IMD interviews in the MBA Interview Feedback Database (MBAIFDB). The MBAIFDB is a free, searchable database with feedback from MBA admissions interviews at all the top MBA programs around the world. You can use it to prepare for your interview, and please also to remember to share your interview experience after you interview.

Although most schools have not yet started interviewing, let me remind you of a few additional Accepted MBA interview resources:

• MBA Interview Coaching
• MBA I.V.: Mainline to Top MBA Programs, an ebook.
  
• MBA Interview Prep Course (free)
  

          

Chats past and future: Kellogg, Columbia, MBA Application

I just want to update you about an exciting chat this week and a couple of MBA admissions chat transcripts that are now available.

• Linda Meehan, Columbia Business School's Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, and Lauren Sickle, CBS MBA '08, will be our special guests at a chat this Wednesday Sept. 26 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/5:00 PM GMT.  If you are interested in learning more about Columbia's famed financial program, the advantages of studying in the heart of the Big Apple, Columbia's ties to media and health care, or the preparation it provides to budding entrepreneurs, this is your chance. Come to the chat to learn more about Columbia, its admissions policies, and its student life.
• The transcript from our Kellogg chat with Beth Flye is now online. An excerpt:

Linda Abraham (Sep 12, 2007 1:14:24 PM)
    Beth, Leigh and Justin,  can each of you comment on the MMM program? Justin, I know you are in both programs.

 

JustinDeanKellogg (Sep 12, 2007 1:16:16 PM)
The MMM program is a great addition to the typical Kellogg 2Y MBA. The program supplements the typical business school classes with additional classes in design, innovation and operations. I see it as having all of the benefits of a normal MBA plus additional engineering management and design benefits.

  LeighNagyFrasherKELLOGG (Sep 12, 2007 1:16:45 PM)
Linda, from my perspective the MMM program is a great program both to prepare students and attract employers to campus. The great thing is that the program prepares students to go into a variety of functions and industries - General Management programs at manufacturing companies, to investment banking, to consulting.

    BethFlyeKELLOGG (Sep 12, 2007 1:17:02 PM)
The MMM Program provides more of a foundation in product design the training in this area is through the course work that a student would complete at the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern.  The MMM Program provides a great advantage to students since they will earn both the MBA and the MMM in 2 years.

• BusinessWeek's admissions consultant chat with me as special guest is now online. "Make Your B-School Application Stand Out" gives you advice on doing exactly that.  For more tips along those lines, check out MBA BlastOff: 45 Terrific Tips to Launch Your MBA Application,, Accepted's featured book this month and 20% off through Sunday.

Chats: BW, Chicago, Wharton

Three exciting admissions chats this week and  one entails a role reversal.

   

• Tomorrow, Tuesday September 18 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET, I will be the guest on a BusinessWeek "Admissions Consultant Chat." After hosting and moderating over 150 admissions chats, I will learn what it's like to be on the hot seat. I invite you to attend the chat and submit your questions either during the event or ahead of time by emailing Francesca_DiMeglio@businessweek.com . In this case, she's the moderator.
• Right before the BW chat with me, those of you interested in Chicago can attend a chat on the Chicago GSB website with Rose Martinelli, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Enrollment, and other members of the Chicago GSB Admissions Committee about the new application and the admissions process.
• This Thursday I return to my customary role of moderator in an Accepted chat devoted to Wharton. Joining me at the Wharton admissions chat will be Thomas Caleel, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid; Jackie Zavitz, Associate Director, MBA Admissions; Naomi Tschoegl, Senior Associate Director, MBA Program Office; Barry Mattson, WG'08; and Sarah Sugarman WG'08. This is a great opportunity to ask question about Wharton's dynamic program and vigorous student life as well as the ever-fluid MBA job market.
• A number of you have written asking about the transcript from our recent Kellogg chat with Beth Flye. The transcript should be available by Friday on our MBA Chat transcript page.

MBA Audio

There has recently been an explosion of excellent multi-media material about MBA admissions on the web. Here is a small sample of what has appeared in the last couple of weeks. All the listed podcasts are recommended:

• How Do I Know When It's the Right Time To Apply? Dee Leopold, Director of Admissions at Harvard Business School discusses the wrong and the right time to apply to business schools. In the process she provides a lot of insight into what HBS seeks.
        
• MBA Podcaster has produced two dynamite segments:
  • MBA Podcaster Day in the Life Series A day in the life of a UCLA Anderson student, complete with business plan competition. As Janet Nakano accompanies Anderson student Dustin Smith through the day, she also meets with members of the admissions committee and  administration. If you are applying to Anderson, this podcast will give you a valuable window, or should I say ear, into life at Anderson as you learn about its strengths in entrepreneurship, media, and real estate as well as student life.
    
  • MBA Application Essays and Recommendations: Where to Begin? features:
       
    • Linda Baldwin, Director of Admissions at UCLA Anderson School of Management
       
    • Paul Bodine, Senior Editor at Accepted.com and author of Great Application Essays for Business School
    • Linda Meehan, Assistant Dean and Executive Director of Admissions at Columbia Business School

Kellogg Admissions Chat Tomorrow

Join us in a chat with Kellogg's Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Beth Flye. The chat will take place on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/5:00 PM GMT when Beth Flye;  Leigh Nagy Frasher, Associate Director of Kellogg's Career Management Center; and second year student, Justin Dean will answer your questions about Kellogg's admissions practices and its famed general management program. Learn about the program that provides a global perspective on values, leadership, and social responsibility in an environment emphasizing experiential learning and teamwork.

The chat will take place at Accepted.com's Chat Room

   

For information on the time in your location, please visit timeanddate.com.

MBA Interview Advice, Tips, Sample Questions

Maxx Duffy and I have published the only ebook that I know of devoted exclusively to helping you ace your MBA Admissions Interview. MBA I.V.: Mainline to Top MBA Programs -- MBA Interview Questions and Tips provides the questions that have been frequently asked during recent MBA admission interviews at the top business schools as well as the advice you need to prepare for your interview -- in one instantly downloadable, practical ebook.

MBA I.V.: Mainline to Top MBA Programs gives you:

   

• The 5 Must-Knows Before Your Interview
• The 1 Nice-to-Know for Your Interview
• The 3-part goal of every MBA interview.
• How STAR can guide your MBA interview responses.
• Sample questions from 22 top business schools including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Columbia, Chicago, Tuck, NYU Stern, London Business School, INSEAD, Tepper, Cornell, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Indiana, Michigan Ross, Haas, Anderson, Marshall, Darden, Yale SOM.

Check out MBA I.V.: Mainline to Top MBA Programs.

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