Part 5 (1/2)

As the top schools began strongly recommending or requiring interviews, other schools followed suit. The rush to emulate programs that first established interview requirements was motivated by more than a desire to imitate the leaders. There was a heightened recognition that success in business is not always correlated with academic success. This was accompanied by an increased interest in attracting students who were not only qualified to perform well in a rigorous academic program, but who also possessed the personal qualities that would contribute to a successful post M.B.A. job search and greater likelihood of rapid career advancement. The current emphasis on leaders.h.i.+p, teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills within M.B.A. programs is an outgrowth of the insights and goals that originally led to the admissions interview.

Most schools will say that the interview gives the admission committee a chance to evaluate aspects of the candidate that are not apparent or that cannot be judged on the basis of the written application alone. These attributes include poise, self-confidence, social skills, ability to think on one's feet, reaction to stress, maturity, and communication skills. A clear understanding of what the school expects to accomplish in an admissions interview and what you wish to gain from it will help you to prepare appropriately and gain maximum benefit from the interview experience.

INTERVIEW FORMAT.

The interview format you encounter will depend on whether you requested the interview or it was recommended/required by the school. If you requested the interview, you need to go into it with a firm idea of what you want to discuss. Schools that do not routinely grant interviews will expect you to provide them with information that was not included in your application. The school may wonder why you feel the information is so important that it couldn't be written up and included as an additional essay. You'd better be prepared to do more than just chat with the interviewer.

Multiple QuestionsSome schools conduct panel interviews, so be prepared to meet more than one person at the same time. Remember to be yourself and don't get defensive.

When the interview is recommended/required by the admissions office, on the other hand, the school is much better prepared to handle it. You had better be prepared also. Most interviews follow the same basic format: introduction, some welcoming comments and relaxed conversation, a little information about the school and how the interview will be conducted, detailed questions about your educational and work experience, future plans and goals, and so forth, followed by your chance to ask questions, and finally the wrap-up. They usually last 30 to 60 minutes. You need to make sure that you use the time wisely, that you make the points you want to convey and ask the questions you want to get answered, without seeming to take control of the interview. The only way to ensure success is to prepare.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW.

The very first thing you should do is review your application. What did you say and how did you present yourself? You need to remind yourself of these items before you go into to your interview so that you can give the interviewer some value-added information. Always a.s.sume that the interviewer has read your application thoroughly and reviewed it before the interview began. You can (and should) refer to details that you covered in your application, but you need to be able to discuss them in more depth if asked. If you refer back to your essay drafts, you should find that there is much more information to impart that you edited out in the name of length or simplicity. This is good information to have on hand for the interview portion of the application process.

You should also review everything that you know about the school with which you are about to interview. Nothing irritates an interviewer more than an unprepared interviewee who obviously hasn't read the catalog or done enough research to confirm that he or she has chosen the right school. It will also help you if you have read some other material about the school that will show that you were interested enough to do further research. Knowing which departments are strong or well known will allow you to discuss why you have chosen to apply to this school and why you will be a good choice as a student.

It is certainly helpful if you know something about the background and education of students who are already attending the school. You may find that you fit the mold of the accepted student quite well, or that you need to convince the interviewer that you can add something to the school.

In order to get an impression of what an interviewer might be looking for, take a look at the following interview form from Carnegie Mellon University. This form should help you identify the skills and demeanor required to impress the interviewer. Review the categories and make sure that you can express yourself in a manner that will convince your interviewer to rate you on the ”5” end of the scale for each quality.

The Experts Advise . . .Some suggestions courtesy of Karen Davis, an admissions adviser at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management:DO:Come prepared. Make sure that you prepare for your interview and bring a current resume. Know that you will be asked questions such as: Why have you selected the school? Why have you opted for the part-time program? Be ready to discuss your academic and professional objectives and be able to trace your career history from undergraduate school through your current position, validating the choices you made along the way. Make sure that you prepare for your interview and bring a current resume. Know that you will be asked questions such as: Why have you selected the school? Why have you opted for the part-time program? Be ready to discuss your academic and professional objectives and be able to trace your career history from undergraduate school through your current position, validating the choices you made along the way. Give thorough and complete answers. Give thorough and complete answers.The interviewer is not privy to your complete application-he or she must provide an independent opinion, with no bias from your quant.i.tative results.DON'T:Speak negatively of other schools.Be positive about your decisions and your experiences with other academic inst.i.tutions.

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Work on your body language-don't fidget or present barriers between yourself and the interviewer (such as leaning back and crossing your legs). Maintain eye contact. Good, nondistracting body language will help you come across as confident, poised, and mature.

If you are concerned about your presentation, you may want to practice your interviewing skills before the actual event. You should select someone to practice with who will give you good feedback and understands what is involved in this type of interview. The best choice would be an M.B.A. grad who has gone through this process himself, or someone who is also applying to B-school and understands the importance of this exercise. You may also want to give a copy of the form to your interview partner. Ask him or her to give you both positive and negative feedback so that you can work on the weak portions of your presentation.

WHAT ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER?.

How you present yourself is very important, but how you are perceived will depend on the interviewer. You may find yourself being interviewed by a permanent member of the admissions staff, a faculty member, another administrator, an alum, a part-time admissions person, or even a student.

Ask QuestionsThe interview is as much an opportunity for you to learn about the school as for the school to learn about you. Good questions demonstrate your knowledge of a particular program and your thoughtfulness about the entire process.

Many B-schools, especially those who conduct numerous interviews, have extensive training sessions for their interviewers and may even require that questions be asked in a certain order. Other schools are more flexible, allowing their interviewers to conduct the interview in whatever way is comfortable for them. It's important to keep in mind that different types of interviewers may have different approaches to the interview and different sets of primary interests. For example, a student may a.s.sess you as a potential fellow member of a group for a cla.s.s project and feel free to ask pointed questions that admission staff, who are also recruiters, would not. Similarly, current students and alumni may provide you with insights about the program that you won't get from the admissions office.

Although students and alumni may be able to spend more time with you than admissions staff charged with conducting hundreds of interviews each, be just as respectful of their time as you are of everyone else's. Business schools want these volunteers to feel good about the time and effort they spend interviewing applicants and will take any complaint about demeanor or behavior very seriously.

WHAT QUESTIONS WILL YOU BE ASKED?.

Some general areas are often covered by interviewers. Here is a range of questions that they might ask you: * College Career College CareerHow did you plan your course of study in college?How did you decided which college to attend?If you had it to do again, would you make the same choice and why?What extracurricular activities did you partic.i.p.ate in?* Motivation MotivationTell me about an instance/incident in which you were particularly motivated.What are your career goals?What do you plan to do to achieve these goals?* Management Potential Management Potential Have you developed a managerial style? If so, what is it? Have you developed a managerial style? If so, what is it?How would the people who report to you describe you?What are your weaknesses as a manager?* Intellectual Capacity Intellectual CapacityWhat courses did you do best in?Do your grades reflect your capacity to succeed in this program?* Work Experience Work ExperienceWhat are your current job responsibilities?Describe your changes in responsibilities since you started the job.How have you handled the changes in responsibilities?What have your major successes been?The ”Right” Answers Don't struggle to think of ”right” answers to the questions you're asked in the interview. The only right answers are those that are right for you. By responding openly and honestly, you'll find the interview less stressful, and you'll come across as a more genuine, attractive candidate.

* Interpersonal Relations Interpersonal RelationsWhat kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with?What is it about them that you would like to change?What do you normally do about such people?How would your co-workers describe you?* Perseverance PerseveranceIn your first job, what were the drawbacks in pursuing it as a career?What were some of the problems you ran into in doing your job?Which one frustrates you the most?What do you usually do about it?* Communication Skills Communication Skills Tell me about an instance when you had to persuade someone to do something he did not want to do. How did you do it? What were the results? Were you successful?

Remember that this is just a general description of some of the types of questions that you may be asked. You can't prepare for every possibility, but as long as you feel confident about your background and application, you should do fine. You do not need to ”script” or over-rehea.r.s.e your responses, but you should go into the interview confident that you can field any question.

It's Not Just Luck”Some of what happens in the interview is luck, but you can prepare for it to a certain extent. I would suggest that you call each school that suggests an interview early for an appointment. Usually you are asked why now and why this particular school, what you can contribute to the school, and how you plan to use the degree, so you should know how to respond to those questions before you go in.”- E.M.B.A., Stern School of Business, New York University Some interviewers won't ask you any of these questions. Instead, some experienced interviewers feel that they can carry on a general conversation with you, drawing you out to talk about yourself and your interests, and get enough information to make an admissions decision. Professionally trained interviewers are more likely to ask you about specific situations than they are to ask broad open-ended questions. They can learn more by asking what you've done in situations than by asking what you think you would do. Be prepared to discuss specifics-what you did and why you did it that way.

Special to the International StudentAs an international student, you are faced with additional challenges and pressures when interviewing in a language that is not your native tongue. Practice with a friend or colleague beforehand, arrive at your interview early, speak slowly, and stay calm.

If you experience this type of interview, you may walk away wondering what just happened! Don't worry. Even if the interview seems somewhat unconventional, it doesn't mean that it was unfair or incomplete. Just be glad that you were given the opportunity to express yourself.

What the Top M.B.A. Programs Say: Interviews Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville ”Applicants should understand how the interview will be used in admissions process. Applicants should be prepared to put their best foot forward; don't show up like you just arrived from the beach. This is just like a job interview; make an impression. An interview allows applicants to amplify more about their application. They should be ready to give examples about their work or school experiences that are related to their intended degree interest. Applicants should be prepared to sell themselves by stating how they can contribute to the overall cla.s.sroom climate and environment.”

Tulane University, Freeman School ”The Freeman School requires interviews of all applicants living in the United States or Canada, and encourages interviews for international applicants as well. All interviews are conducted by a member of the admissions staff. The interview may be completed on campus, by phone, or off campus, if admissions representatives will be in the applicant's area. The candidate's application is not reviewed prior to the interview; therefore, the interview can be conducted at any time during the admission process.

”The advantages and disadvantages of each interview option greatly depend on the preferences of the candidates. I feel most candidates believe they can make a stronger impression in person and prefer the on-campus or off-campus interview. However, the admissions committee has no preference as to how the interview requirement is satisfied.”

Indiana University ”We encourage interviews prior to admission-either on- or off-campus-at forums and receptions. On-campus interviews are preferable, because the applicant can get a feel for who we are, learn our culture, and sit in on cla.s.ses. The interview process is a two-way street. We're each looking for a good fit.”

University of California/Berkeley, Haas School of Business ”Interviews are strongly recommended. Both on-campus and off-campus alumni interviews are available. On the east coast, alumni interviews are available in Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C., New York, and Boston. As regards a.s.sessment value, no particular advantage or disadvantage applies to either type of interview. However, because a campus visit is highly recommended, applicants who are able to visit the school, meet with students, and attend cla.s.ses are at a distinct advantage in making an informed decision about the school that best meets their requirements and expectations.”

The Complete Picture”The best advantage of an on-campus interview is that it allows the candidate to see the school, meet with students, sit in on cla.s.ses, and explore the city. This complete picture of the school is not possible with other interview options.”- Admissions officer, Tulane University Emory University, Roberto C. Goizueta Business

School ”Interviews are strongly encouraged. The majority of interviews are conducted on campus, but admissions officers conduct interviews (by appointment) in selected U.S. cities in the spring. Phone interviews are available upon request. Trained alumni also conduct off-campus interviews. Face-to-face interviews (be they with admissions officers on campus or with officers or alumni off campus) are preferred because they provide the most interactive, and therefore, typically, the most fruitful discussions.”

Columbia University ”While not required, we encourage face-to-face interviews. While the majority of interviews take place on campus, should an applicant not be able to visit the campus, we will arrange, through Project Interview, an interview with an alum located in close proximity to the applicant. Phone interviews may be conducted if there are no other alternatives.”

Northwestern University, J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management ”All applicants are required to interview as a part of the admissions process. Applicants may interview on campus with a staff member or student or in their area with a member of the 1,200-member alumni admissions organization. All interviews are given equal consideration.”

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT ADMISSIONS INTERVIEWS.

The most important thing to remember is to be yourself. Present yourself in as positive and professional a manner as you are able, but don't try to make yourself into someone that you are not. The interviewer will pick up on that and try to pin you down or catch you in an untruth. Be as relaxed as possible.

Don't ramble through your answers. Be as concise as you can be without shortchanging yourself in providing the information. Try to listen to the questions you are asked so that you answer appropriately.

Finally, dress as you would for any job interview. Be courteous to the support staff. Be on time for the interview. Follow up with thank-you letters.

Remember that this is one of the areas of your application over which you have control, so do everything in your power to make the interview a positive experience for both you and the interviewer.

Don't ForgetA well-worded thank you letter speaks highly of the candidate, and is usually retained in your file and considered when the admissions decisions are made. Don't email! If you decide to handwrite your note, make sure your writing is legible.

CHAPTER 11.

Writing Your Essay One of the most crucial components of your admissions application is your essays. Admissions officers use these essays to get to know more about you than can be seen through your work experience, your undergraduate grades, and your GMAT scores.

Many B-school applicants look upon the essay requirement as a part of the admissions application to be gotten through as quickly as possible. They throw together something that may or may not answer the questions asked and send it in, a.s.suming that the rest of their credentials will be more important than the essays. They couldn't be more wrong. You can make or break an admissions application by writing outstanding or awful essays. Taking the time to compose an impressive essay can only help your chances of getting into the B-school of your choice.

Before you begin crafting your essays for any application, take a look at the big picture.

* What are your compet.i.tive strengths?* Are there any weaknesses you'll have to overcome?* How do your grades, scores, and experience stack up against the overall cla.s.s profile?Be Consistent”When writing your essay, be sure to make your story consistent with what your recommenders are saying about you.”- M.B.A., Stanford Graduate School of Business School of Business WHAT MAKES AN ESSAY EFFECTIVE?.