Interview Question

[cfoley]

Lisa,

I've decided to apply to UCLA, Stanford, HBS, and Chicago (and probably one or two others - USC? Haas?) and I'm wondering if you have any insight into the interview process at those schools (or top-10/15 schools in general). I'll be applying to UCLA, Stanford, and HBS in the first round, and the others in the second, and I'm curious about how much advance notice I might get if I'm granted an interview. And do schools generally prefer (or require?) that you interview with an adcom member on campus, or are they just as happy for you to interview with alumni in your area (phx for me)? Is there an advantage to interviewing with adcom rather than alumni?

Thanks for any insight!

- Chris

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Chris,

Business school interviews are similar to job interviews. You will be asked many questions about your work experience and mostly behavioral questions. It is critical you articulate why you want your MBA, why now and why that school. Anything you put on your resume is fair game, so be prepared to answer a question about anything you list, including hobbies and interests.

I think it is great if you can interview on campus, especially if you have not visited. It will give you a look at the school so you can make an educated decision on where to attend, and it shows you are serious about the school because you traveled to get there. However, interviewing locally with an alumnus or via phone is not a negative and does not count against you. Just remember--the standards are not necessarily lower so you will want to approach the interview the same as you would an admissions committee member. The only advantage to interviewing with an admissions professional over an alumnus is if you have questions on the program or process. While some alumni are well-versed and may have worked in the admissions office as students, many will not be able to answer those questions.

Best of luck,
Lisa