Kudos to all of you who successfully submitted your Round 1 MBA applications on time! For some of you, that might have meant some late nights polishing your essays, fumbling through the online applications, and bugging your recommenders. For others, it might have been more of a leisurely stroll to the finish line. In any case, you certainly deserve a high five and a weekend off\u2014but now is the time to get back to work!<\/p>\n
This \u201cwork\u201d generally falls into two categories: preparing for your hoped-for MBA interviews and starting Round 2 applications. Today, we will talk about the interviews; next time, we will discuss strategies for Round 2 MBA applications.<\/p>\n
There are a few things you should make note of as you start your MBA interview preparation. Interviews are almost always required to gain admission to a top MBA program. The chance of acceptance to a school rises from the single digits and teens to about 40%\u201350% for applicants who are invited to interview. So, now is the time to sharpen your interview skills. Here are some tips for doing just that.<\/p>\n
At many schools, the only information an interviewer will have about you is what is in your resume, so it likely will be the focus of your discussion. Therefore, you must know your resume inside out and upside down.<\/p>\n
In real terms, this means remembering all those small points, random numbers, and overly general descriptions that populate most resumes. Remember how you wrote on your resume that you \u201ccut costs by 30%\u201d? Well, guess what? The MBA interview is exactly the place where you will be called upon to answer questions like \u201cHow did you calculate that number?,\u201d \u201cDid you do it by yourself?,\u201d and \u201cWhat role did you play as a leader?\u201d Get ready to talk about even the smallest bullet point on your resume because that is where most people get tripped up.<\/p>\n
I frequently tell my clients that interesting applicants are those who have a unique story to tell\u2014a story that no one else is telling. Avoid talking about how you ran a marathon, love to travel, or are a \u201cfoodie.\u201d The candidates who are interviewing before and after you are probably saying the same things. Instead, focus on a unique piece of your story that might not have been shared in your application. What is\u00a0your<\/em> story? Get ready to tell it.<\/p>\n Your MBA interview is frequently a test to see how you will fit into the business school community, how you will get involved, and how excited you will be to attend. (Note: Admissions committees pass up plenty of well-qualified candidates whom they suspect will not attend if admitted.) To properly communicate all of this, you really have to know the MBA program intimately.<\/p>\n Now is when (and this is likely your last chance!) you need to talk to students and alumni, connect with club leaders, and attend info sessions. Nothing will impress an interviewer more than you knowing exactly why you want to attend their school; explain how you will contribute and why you are so enthusiastic about going there. Remember, specificity equals credibility.<\/p>\n As noted earlier in this post, many MBA programs have resume-focused interviews, but not all do. Know what kind of interview to expect before you arrive. The Wharton \u201cinterview,\u201d for example, is a \u201cTeam Based Discussion.\u201d Candidates are asked to prepare a one-minute pitch, which they share with four or five other prospective students. These applicants must then all work together to blend everyone\u2019s ideas into a single pitch to the admissions committee facilitator\u2014in just 35 minutes. During the 2022\u20132023 application season, this process takes place online.<\/p>\n MIT Sloan requires that candidates craft an additional essay before its MBA interview. For Harvard Business School, you must submit a \u201creflection\u201d essay within 24 hours of completing your interview. So, be prepared for each of these different possibilities.<\/p>\n3. Know the school.<\/h4>\n
4. Know the interview.<\/h4>\n