Our archive of over 2,000 MBA admissions interview questions includes self-reported accounts from applicants. Please use the dropdown menu to view filter reports by school.
Had an interview recently? Please submit your MBA admissions interview report!
Published: February 6, 2007
Harvard MBA Admissions Interview Questions: On-campus / Dinged
With adcom who was personable. It was fast-paced, and afterward I wished I’d taken more time to think before I spoke. Was surprised by how little feedback I got during the course of the interview. Started off asking about my course of study in college. Why did I choose that major? What were the positives and negatives of the program? Asked about my work experience. Why did I choose to work at my first job? How did I get the job? What was my average day? My biggest challenge? How did I handle that challenge? Why did I leave that
Read more
Published: February 6, 2007
Stanford GSB MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Alum / Admitted
The alum was conversational and friendly. Asked me questions for 30 minutes and left me 15 minutes to ask questions. I was surprised by the intensity of the interview. Why an MBA? What would you do if you couldn’t get an MBA? Tell be about a time you led a team and let them down? Asked for a second example that was more team-oriented. Tell be about a time you saw and took advantage of an opportunity? Tell be about a time you overcame a great obstacle? What is your greatest accomplishment? Tell be about a time when you stood
Read more
Had an interview recently?
Want to share your interview experience with other applicants? Fill out this brief form and we’ll post your report to our Interview Archive.
Submit an Interview Report
Published: February 3, 2007
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1, Alumnus
I had my interview today with an alumnus at a coffee shop in Mumbai. We had fixed a time but eventually ended up meeting half an hour earlier. The internet is a fascinating place. I had found out about him as soon as I was matched with him by the system. That made the interview easier. I know who I was meeting and was at ease. He is a techie turned investment banker and has returned to India less than a year ago to be a part of this exponential growth. He was friendly and the interviewer was very business
Read more
Published: February 2, 2007
Harvard MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Adcom / Round 1 / Phone
The interview was conducted over the phone because I was deployed to Iraq. Most of the questions that were asked were different than the typical b-school interviews I had conducted: 1) What do you during your free time in Iraq? (I explained that I ran with my soldiers to try and stay fit) 2) Explain how you involved them in your team fitness program. 3) How does this goal setting process relate to how you manage other aspects of your job in Iraq? We continued to speak about goal setting in the context of fitness training for about 15 minutes
Read more
Published: February 1, 2007
Kellogg MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Alumni / Round 1
I had my Kellogg interview today at 10am with an alumni. It was interesting and interactive:-) No tough questions…he was very cool and enthusiastic person. Most importantly he allowed me to guide the interview the way i wanted. He started with “walk me through your resume” and he followed up with questions on each of my experiences, which covered my learnings, leadership style, teamwork, challenges and the way i approached them, etc. These questions covered all my professional and community experiences. Then he told me that you seem to be pretty much enjoying your current job, so why MBA now?
Read more
Published: February 1, 2007
Published: February 1, 2007
Tepper MBA Admissions Interview Questions: On Campus
Yesterday got back from my Carnegie Mellon Interview and to say it was adventurous would be an understatement. So here’s the scoop… Had my interview scheduled for 1st Feb – Thursday – 10:30 AM. And soo was supposed to fly from Minneapolis to Chicago and then Chicago to Pittsburgh ( Carnegie Mellon ) on Wednesday at 7 PM. All was well starting from Minneapolis at 7 PM…but then because of heavy snow in Minneapolis, flight got delayed and reached Chicago around 9 PM in night instead of 8 PM…Next flight was 9:15 PM and so obviously missed it… Talked to
Read more
Published: January 31, 2007
NYU / Stern MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Adcom / on-campus
I recently finished an interview for Round 1 at Stern. While the questions were fairly straight-forward (many are seen further down on this page), the overall interview was more challenging than others I had this year. This is because the adcom really does know/read your file before the interview, and comes prepared with specific questions about your career history. After a quick 30-second chit chat, we dove right into the questions. Questions asked in my interview (but probably not in this exact order): How did you choose your undergraduate school/major? How did you use it to get your first job?
Read more
Published: January 27, 2007
Tuck MBA Admissions Interview Questions: On-campus student interview, Early Decision Round
My interview was with a second year student who was friendly and professional. The interview was relaxed and comfortable. The interviewer had a copy of my resume and was familiar with it. However, he was unfamiliar with my field, which meant I had to briefly explain my industry’s landscape and my position in it during the initial “walk me through your resume” question. Additional questions: What are your Post-MBA career goals? Why MBA and why now? Tuck is different than other schools, especially in terms of location, why do you think it’s the right school for you? (Read: Why Tuck?)
Read more
Published: January 27, 2007
Kellogg MBA Admissions Interview Questions: On-campusn / Adcom / Round 1
A member of the Admissions Committee conducted my interview. In general, the interview struck a good balance; it was professional and challenging, while at the same time amiable and relaxed. Interview questions: 1. Briefly walk me through your resume. 2. What are your post-MBA career goals? 3. Why do you want an MBA and why now? 4. Have you considered Kellogg’s 1-Y program? 5. Why do you want to attend Kellogg? 6. How do you motivate people on a team? 7. How will you take a leadership role in campus organizations? 8. How will you work with the other students
Read more
Published: January 26, 2007
Kellogg MBA Admissions Interview Questions: On-campus / Adcom / Round 2
The Kellogg interview was fairly straight-forward. Since the interviews are conducted blind, the adcom member is looking at your resume with fresh eyes. We did a standard resume walk-through that consisted of: Why undergraduate school/major? Why first job? Why MBA? Why Kellogg? Why now? Short/long-term goals? How will Kellogg help you acheive them? After that, there were several teamwork-oriented questions, like how I would contribute to, and benefit from, working in teams at Kellogg. Just an observation–Kellogg interviews (what seems to be) dozens of people a day, and the admissions office will be packed with other applicants on the day
Read more
Published: January 23, 2007
Tuck MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Early Action Round / AdCom / Accepted
My interview was scheduled at 9:00 AM at the School. I was interviewed by an AdCom member and a trainee 2nd year student. The interviewers made me feel very comfortable. I was also helped by the fact that I approached it as a conversation rather than an interview. It was resume based and along the standard lines of “Walk me through the resume” , “Why Tuck” etc. We talked a bit about my extra-curricular activities too. I was asked a couple of questions on how my peers viewed me as a person. After that answer I was asked how did
Read more
Published: January 20, 2007
Duke / Fuqua MBA Admissions Interview Questions: On-campus / student / Round 1
A second year candidate who was fairly reserved and discerning conducted the interview. Because of this the interview seemed more formal than some of the others I have had. The interviewer was in a class I visited earlier in the day, so he asked me what I thought of it. He had a copy of my resume. The first question was the standard “walk me through your resume”. Additional questions: If you were going to assemble an ideal team, who would you choose for it and why? What is the difference between a leader and a manager? Describe a time
Read more
Published: January 19, 2007
Kellogg MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Alumni / Round 2
Interview was held at Goldman Sachs in NYC as part of an interview day. Met with an alumni from the class of 2005. He was a one year student, but was able to answer all my questions about the two year program. Nice guy, conversational, wrote a lot while I was talking, but he did make the effort to glance up and look at me from time to time. Most of the questions he asked are already in here. Standard walk me through your resume, tell me about teamwork experiences, leadership experiences in and out of work/school, what have you
Read more
Published: January 18, 2007
Yale SOM MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / On-campus / student
The second year student who conducted my interview was very friendly and intelligent. The interview was relaxed and comfortable. The interviewer had a copy of my resume. Since his background was in the same industry, he was most interested in the transitions between companies I had worked for and the reasons underlying those decisions. The interview was brief and conversational, yet professional; it focused mostly on the basics with just a couple industry specific questions. Interview Questions: 1. Walk me through your resume. 2. How do you see the future for your industry? 3. Why are you interested in Yale?
Read more
Published: January 17, 2007
Berkeley / Haas Round 1 Interview Report (Intl location)
I had an interview this morning with <Alum> at his office. He is a senior partner at Big consultancy. Alum was very friendly and the whole interview was conversational. Half the interview was about him talking about his experiences, his motivations, his school decision, what to look out for at HAAS and his favorite classes and Profs. He also compared HAAS and its benefits and disadvantages to the other programs that I was applying to. This cleared a lot of questions that I had regarding the program and was planning to ask. He asked me the following questions as part
Read more
Published: January 6, 2007
Ross MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Off-Campus / Alumni / R1
Had some trouble with the logistics because of weather and construction. Arrived early to calm the nerves and prepare. Setting was a typical corporate environment (the alumnus’s work location). Started very informal as we walked to a conference room (chatted about the weather and my commute). When we got comfortable in the conference room the alumnus then launched into the standard questions. After about 30 minutes, when it came time for me to ask questions, it became much more conversational. Alumnus Questions posed: Tell me a little about yourself? Tell me a little about the positions you’ve worked in?
Read more
Published: December 27, 2006
Wharton MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / On campus
I interviewed with a second year student. Started with my resume, the interviewer tried to understand my past experience flow. It took us between 5-10 minutes to finish this. Then he asked why MBA with so much experience, followed by why Wharton. He interrupted me in the middle of my Why Wharton answer and started asking about the leadership story. That was followed by the my leadership styles. I gave examples of at work and community services. Rest of the questions were my team work experience and how to resolve team conflicts. He also asked about the long term, short
Read more
Published: December 25, 2006
Harvard MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / alum
I was asked to interview with an alum. We met in the alum’s office My interviewer was very warm and personable. We spoke for a few minutes about the weather (It was unusally cold that day). The interviewer explained to me the purpose of this interview and told me that the adcom wanted him to ask me a few specific questions and that he would follow up with some questions of his own. From the type of questions I was asked on my essays, I understood that the interviewer had thoroughly read my application and essays (He did not read
Read more
Published: December 24, 2006
Stanford GSB MBA Admissions Interview Questions: R1, Alumni
I interviewed with a local alum. After going back and forth over email, we found a mutually convenient time to meet at his office. There was _nothing_ surprising about the interview. All the questions were asked in a very conversational, yet professional, tone. 10 minutes of icebreakers/small-talk. When did you realize you needed an MBA? Time when you saw poor leadership at work? Time when you did something that impacted people (in work or outside of it). Why Stanford? Favorite course at school, and why? <insert more generic questions here> Overall, it was a very pleasant conversation. My interviewer was
Read more
Published: December 19, 2006
London Business School MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Alumni
Interview was conducted in English. It took place on a weekday evening in my interviewers office. He received my current application, essays and CV. No recommendation letters or even the recommenders’ titles, no last year application (I am a reapplicant). He was curious “what were those huge improvements and changes that made adcoms consider you this year” so we talked about my last year aspirations as well. I wasn’t asked about Life and Universe and Everything (I mean why MBA, why NOW, why LBS), but this question loomed in the air. What I was asked: Your short-term and long-term goals.
Read more
Published: December 19, 2006
Stanford GSB MBA Admissions Interview Questions: R1, Alumni
I interviewed with an alum. The interview began after some initial chit chat and lasted for 45 minutes. The interviewer was extremely friendly. The interview itself was more of a dialogue rather than a set of questions followed by my answers and his taking notes. Here are the questions that I was asked: What has been your most rewarding experience among your two jobs and education? Why is this so? What have you learnt from this experience? How have you evolved as a person? Why do you feel the need for an MBA when your career seems to be going
Read more
Published: December 18, 2006
Yale SOM MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1, Adcom
My interview was with an admissions officer in November 2006. She was incredibly nice. The atmosphere was relaxed. It completely threw me off. I went in expecting a hard grilling session and had studied tons of interview questions. That was a mistake. The interview started with a “walk me through your resume” question. Basically, I think I blew it because I was deconstructing other answers in my head and re-forming it as I talked. Not smart on my part because it came out jumbled, or at least I thought so. Time alloted was 30 minutes. We went to 45. Not
Read more
Published: December 17, 2006
London Business School MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Alumni
Location: His office in a stylish skyscraper. Time: Early morning His sector: Private Equity His Previous Job: Consulting My background: Sales/Marketing in a famous multinational.Only 3 years experience but good progress. Strong GMAT/GPA. Strong Essays. Summary We bought coffee and muffins from the cafe downstairs; immediately he put me at ease by being very friendly. I asked him questions about the deal his firm was trying to close.(something I learned by researching about him) Interviewer had read my application carefully. He had specific questions to ask,making the interview experience similar to that of HBS. He walked me through his own resume first,then said ,now it is you
Read more
Published: December 17, 2006
Kellogg MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Telephonic / second year student / Round 1
NOTE: My interview was earlier waived, citing heavy application load. After reviewing my application, AdComm invited me to have a telephonic interview. I called AdComm to schedule an interview and this post is a briefing of the telephonic interview. I spoke with a second year student as a part of the Kellogg admission process. The call came in 20 minutes late. The interviewer seems to have had some trouble reaching me. The interview started with apologies from either end, she for having kept me waiting and me for the trouble she had in reaching me. The interview began with the
Read more
