Business School Interviews
Each business school has a different policy when it comes to admission interviews. Some b schools and in some instances only specific programs of a b school require one. Some schools grant interviews by invitation only, while others do not interview at all.
The focus of a B-school interview can range from specific questions about your job, your academic specialization to broad discussions on life. Approach the interview as a conversation to be enjoyed, not as a question-and-answer ordeal.
Given an opportunity, ask for an interview to be granted, even if an interview is not required. It can be a great way to gain firsthand information about the school's facilities, students, and faculty. That knowledge can help you make an informed decision after offers of admissions have been made by more than one MBA program.
An interview provides the admission committee of a b-school to evaluate your interpersonal and soft skills. Presenting yourself in person and building rapport with a school representative will provide valuable inputs to the admissions team about the suitability of your candidature.
Admission interviews are usually conducted by admissions staff, alumni, or other representatives of the b school. Interviews usually take place on campus. However, in some instances it is conducted off campus at a corporate office or a hotel, especially if it is conducted in a different city.
Benefits of Interviewing on Campus
If possible, you should schedule an on-campus interview. A candidate who takes the extra time and money to visit a campus is demonstrating a serious commitment to the program. It is also a great opportunity for you to get a guided tour of the MBA department of the university / college and
interact face to face with other students who are currently pursuing their program at the school.
If you cannot schedule an on-campus interview, an off-campus interview is preferable to having none at all.
Interview as an integral part of the admissions process
The admissions process of some business schools require that the MBA applicant attends a mandatory interview. Use the interview as an opportunity to market your strengths and address your weaknesses, in relation to other applicants in the pool.
These mandatory interviews are usually conducted as in person ones. If you are an international applicant and the business school has not been able to either send its representative or identify an alumni in your country to conduct the interview in person, the interview is conducted over the phone or through web conference. Again, an in-person interview is generally recommended as you can build rapport and use it to get feedback to determine your fit for the particular program.
In many instances, the admissions committee uses interviews to clarify aspects of candidates’ applications. Therefore, watch for any concerns on the part of the interviewer and try to address these as best you can.
Optional Interviews and Interviews by request
Even if a school does not have mandatory interviews, opting to be interviewed is still an opportunity for you to make a good impression and assist the admissions staff to gauge your interest in their school.
Some programs will grant interviews by candidate's request. If this is the case, you should take advantage of the opportunity to sell yourself and get valuable firsthand information from the admissions representatives.
In general, programs that tend to have very large applicant pools will not grant interviews at all. Assess yourself in terms of your gmat score, your past academic performance, your professional experience before applying to such places. Obviously, you will not want to waste your time and money if you realize that your chances of success in such a place is only marginal.
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