I interviewed at Harvard’s research center in Menlo Park, CA. At the start of the interview, the Adcom gave her typical speech: she would take exactly 30 minutes and the focus of the interview would be about her getting to know me (no questions at the end).
- How did you find the application process? Did any part of it surprise you?
- How is X consulting firm different from Y consulting firm? (based on my resume)
- Why do you feel an MBA is necessary for what you want to do?
- What do you feel you need to improve at most at your current job?
- How do you think you will like the case study method?
- Tell me about a company you admire.
- Let’s talk about your leadership style. How do you lead?
- Can you give me an example of a time when people’s first impression of you turned out to be wrong?
- What books are you reading?
- How would you be different from your other classmates at HBS?
- Is there anything I didn’t ask that you wish I had?
The best advice I got before the interview was to treat it as a conversation. With the rapid fire of questions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and turn defensive. I was advised to keep it light and conversational and just be genuinely honest in my responses. Good luck!
