Planning for your MBA Interview

Next to the actual application, the interview is your best chance to make a case for why an Admissions Board should admit you. It is important to understand how the Admissions Board uses the interview when evaluating a candidate. They use the interview as a way to check whether your "story"

Chioma founded EXPARTUS based on her vision of personal branding as a key component of a successful admissions process and her passion to enable others to realize their life's dreams. Previously, Chioma served as an Assistant Director of Admissions and a Member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School, where she reviewed applications, interviewed U.S. and international candidates, and developed a marketing strategy focused on minority candidates and the MBA program.

is authentic. It is also a way for the MBA Board to assess whether they missed anything else about you (positive or negative) that didn't come through in your application. Another value of the interview is that it can actually sway an admission decision when the board is on the fence about a candidate.

Most interviews are based solely on your resume. That means that your interviewer will not familiar with your essays so it is important to convey key messages in your interview even if you feel you have provided the same information in your essays. The exceptions to this are programs like Harvard Business School, where your entire application is scrutinized and follow-up questions are raised based on your actual application.

Interviews at MBA programs are either open (any applicant can sign up) or by invitation only from the MBA board. They usually last for 30-45 minutes. Recent trends in admissions show many MBA programs moving toward interviewing their entire class (HBS is a case in point). Also popular is a move from open interviews to invitation-only interviews demonstrated by schools like U. of Chicago's GSB. However, there are still a decent number of top programs that maintain an open interview policy (for instance, Tuck and Kellogg). Admission interviews can be conducted by board members, alumni, and current students. Interview options are offered at the school, in your city of residence, or over the phone. Regardless of which option you select, it is important to make sure that you take the time to visit the campus and attend a class to better understand the MBA program. You should visit each school's website to confirm their interview policy.

Regardless of whether a program has an open or invitation-only policy, you want to be prepared since lack of preparedness is a top reason to reject a candidate.

Here are some things you can do to proactively prepare for the interview ahead of time:

• Speak to alumni and current students of the MBA programs you are interested in to learn about their experience and the school.
• Visit the schools and attend classes to get a firm handle on the MBA programs prior to an interview. It gives you a credible vantage point to speak from when you convey your interest in the program and why the school is a fit for you during your interview.
• Update your resume and make sure that it focuses more on your impact instead of just your job description.
• Reread your application to ensure that you remember all the facets of the application
• Dress appropriately (business attire) and show up on time.
• Practice, Practice, Practice.