I applied for the third deadline, and opted for an off-campus interview. I was interviewed on January 21, 2011 at a hotel in San Francisco. My interviewer was Sherry Wallace, Director of MBA Admissions. She was visibly exhausted conducting back-to-back interviews for two days in a row, but was still very friendly and inspiring. We started off with my current job and she asked me to explain my duties and the significance of my work as a Traffic Safety Engineer at Caltrans. Other questions included:
- Why an MBA? Why do you want to work on improving infrastructure in the emerging markets (my career goal)? What is your inspiration and motivation?
- Why Kenan-Flagler?
- What is one thing that you are most proud of? (I gave example of a personal and a professional accomplishment)
- What are your greatest qualities that people who know you well would talk about?
- What is one thing that they would say you could improve upon?
- What role do you play in a team? (I explained my role with an example)
- How are you going to finance your studies?
- Do you have any role model in the career path that you have chosen? (I mentioned about an alumnus of Kenan-Flagler, who returned to his country Costa Rica after his MBA, and worked on financing small businesses and helping in economic development)
- Outside of work, how do you engage yourself?
Sherry asked the questions in a very friendly, yet professional manner. She probably had a set of questions that needed to be completed within the stipulated 30 minutes, so at times I found her as well as myself rushing a bit. However, our conversation seemed to be pretty engaging. She showed genuine interest in my experiences and my future career goals. Also, when I touched upon various unique characteristics of the MBA program at Kenan-Flagler, she expressed her agreement.
At the end of her questionnaire, there was a few minutes left, so I asked her about new initiatives at Kenan-Flagler, and also about opening a new club focused on the emerging markets. I also briefly talked about one of the famous Indian Professors at the school, and she was very excited to talk about him as well.
Overall, it was a nice experience. I felt that I could have said a bit more if I would have had a little more time. That is an area I have to improve, and that is my advice as well – do not keep talking too much about one topic. Once you have said your bullet points, move on to the next topic. If your interviewer wants, she will ask for more.
Hope this feedback helps you in your endeavors. All the best to you in your application process.
