Tips on the MBA Admissions Interview
For those of you who are invited for an MBA admissions interview at UCLA Anderson or another top business school, here are some insider tips to help prepare you. Much of this same advice will apply to other programs to which you have applied.
PURPOSE: Interviews are one of many factors included in the final review(s) of your application and admissions decision. In most cases, interviews are fairly consistent with the application. In others, they may add additional insights into one's personality, interests, or reasons for pursuing an MBA.
STRUCTURE: Interviews are blind so that your interviewer has no preconceived ideas of your ability or personality based on your written application. You begin the interview
Interviews are largely behavioral. Discussion may center on specific examples or detailed descriptions of events, projects or experience that demonstrate how situations you’ve faced in the past have been handled and what you learned from them. Behavioral interviewing assumes that past performance predicts future behavior.
No advance preparation is required (particularly if you wrote your own essays!). Questions are straightforward and cover topics such as why you seek an MBA, why you feel you are a good fit for UCLA Anderson (vice versa), what your career goals are, how you spend your spare time, what you value, about what you are passionate, etc. You will not be asked analyze a case study or demonstrate your mastery of particular subjects.
All interviews carry equal weight. There is no advantage to interviewing on-campus or with an admissions staff member. Alumni are terrific interviewers and, like admissions staff, are interested in admitting the best applicants to the program. Arrange the type of interview that is most convenient for you.
GENERAL TIPS: Interviews are a dialogue or exchange between two people. Steer away from pre-rehearsed speech and over reliance on your résumé. We are interested in getting to know you as an individual, so follow the queues of the interviewer.
The length of the interview does not indicate how well the interview went. While we schedule 30 minute interviews, they may vary a bit. Deviations from the schedule are random and unrelated to an individual candidate.
Do not expect the interviewer to give you feedback – literally or figuratively. Be careful to avoid any interpretation of verbal or non-verbal communication, as both may mislead you.
Interviews are not a popularity contest. The interviewer is assessing your fit for the UCLA Anderson MBA program, not whether or not the two of you would make good or best friends.
In short, if any rule applies, it is that you be genuine in the interview. Let us get to know you as an individual and not as someone who fits a preconceived image of who you think we want to meet.
(found at http://mbablogs.anderson.ucla.edu/mba_admissions/2010/11/tips-on-the-mba-admissions-interview.html; accessed 2010/11)
PURPOSE: Interviews are one of many factors included in the final review(s) of your application and admissions decision. In most cases, interviews are fairly consistent with the application. In others, they may add additional insights into one's personality, interests, or reasons for pursuing an MBA.
STRUCTURE: Interviews are blind so that your interviewer has no preconceived ideas of your ability or personality based on your written application. You begin the interview
Interviews are largely behavioral. Discussion may center on specific examples or detailed descriptions of events, projects or experience that demonstrate how situations you’ve faced in the past have been handled and what you learned from them. Behavioral interviewing assumes that past performance predicts future behavior.
No advance preparation is required (particularly if you wrote your own essays!). Questions are straightforward and cover topics such as why you seek an MBA, why you feel you are a good fit for UCLA Anderson (vice versa), what your career goals are, how you spend your spare time, what you value, about what you are passionate, etc. You will not be asked analyze a case study or demonstrate your mastery of particular subjects.
All interviews carry equal weight. There is no advantage to interviewing on-campus or with an admissions staff member. Alumni are terrific interviewers and, like admissions staff, are interested in admitting the best applicants to the program. Arrange the type of interview that is most convenient for you.
GENERAL TIPS: Interviews are a dialogue or exchange between two people. Steer away from pre-rehearsed speech and over reliance on your résumé. We are interested in getting to know you as an individual, so follow the queues of the interviewer.
The length of the interview does not indicate how well the interview went. While we schedule 30 minute interviews, they may vary a bit. Deviations from the schedule are random and unrelated to an individual candidate.
Do not expect the interviewer to give you feedback – literally or figuratively. Be careful to avoid any interpretation of verbal or non-verbal communication, as both may mislead you.
Interviews are not a popularity contest. The interviewer is assessing your fit for the UCLA Anderson MBA program, not whether or not the two of you would make good or best friends.
In short, if any rule applies, it is that you be genuine in the interview. Let us get to know you as an individual and not as someone who fits a preconceived image of who you think we want to meet.
(found at http://mbablogs.anderson.ucla.edu/mba_admissions/2010/11/tips-on-the-mba-admissions-interview.html; accessed 2010/11)
