An MBA admissions interview is the meeting that takes place when a business administration master’s program believes in your potential. Your interview invitation allows you to prepare for a variety of interview styles. Many MBA admissions interviews consist of a mix of general questions and behavioural or situational questions.
Knowing about the program as well as yourself is important and preparing your answers for situational questions allows you to remember distinct situations and experiences when asked. An interview request means the program likes what is on your resume, and a successful interview allows the admissions department to make their final decision.
These questions are used by the interviewer to discover more about your interest, personality and background:
· What makes you want to pursue a master’s degree?
· Why have you chosen to apply to our school?
· What are your concerns about getting an MBA?
· What are three words other people would use to describe you?
· Do you agree that breaking the rules is sometimes necessary?
· What has been your most rewarding academic experience thus far?
· Do you think your grades are an indication of your academic achievement?
· Describe the type of professor who has created the most beneficial learning experience for you.
· What are your short-term and long-term goals?
· Give an example of how you applied knowledge from a previous class/college to a real-world situation.
· What is your biggest weakness?
Resume-focused questions
These questions are asked to learn more about your accomplishments, goals and how you intend to apply your MBA to your career aspirations.
· What are you most proud of on your resume?
· What kind of changes would you make at work if you could?
· How do you plan to use an MBA to support your career?
· If you are a career shifter: Why did you start your career in X and how can our program help you get to Y?
Situational questions
These situational questions can help an interviewer understand your abilities and past experiences:
Tell me about a time when you…
· Had to make an important decision with limited factors
· Were forced to make an unpopular decision
· Had a manager that managed poorly
· Were faced with an ethical dilemma
· Persuaded team members to do things your way
· Had to think of your feed to extricate yourself from a difficult situation
· When you were a leader
· Set your expectations too high (or too low)
· Were tolerant of an opinion different from your own
· Surmounted a major obstacle