Welcome to another installment of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight new and notable reports published in the Clear Admit Wiki, an MBA applicant-driven resource of firsthand experiences with the admissions process. In addition to a detailed Cornell visit, there have been a number of new interview reports posted for Yale, Harvard, Chicago and Wharton! Following a cue from a few interesting inquiries found in the Chicago and Wharton interview reports, we’re taking a closer look at what admissions interviewers are asking about beyond the workplace.
Questions revolving around work experience, why MBA and career goals are common in the MBA admissions interview process, but what can applicants expect once they’ve outlined their professional performance and pinpointed their future plans?
In one recent Chicago interview report, it sounds as though a third of the scheduled interview time was spent on the applicant’s “Additional Information” resume section. As the applicant recounts: “[the interviewer] was very curious…these activities involved working with teams so he again asked how I handle teams, what difficulties I face and how I measure success in these activities.” Meanwhile, the question “What do you do for fun?” appears several times n this season’s Wiki-posted Wharton interviews, as does “What do you do outside of work?” As one applicant recounts, “The interviewer was interested [in] what I do outside [of] work…excluding my community involvement.”
Another chance to highlight anecdotes outside of work and present one’s well-rounded candidacy can appear with concluding remarks. Often open-ended concluding questions such as “[Is there] anything else you want me to know about your candidacy?” allow an applicant to direct the answer toward previously untouched material.
Of course, queries about subjects that fall outside the office walls are not just limited to one’s formal activities. As another Chicago interviewee relates:
“Some of the less standard questions were if you were interviewing yourself, what would you have asked and how would you answer it; what one word would you use to summarize your application; and what motivates you?”
This, of course, by no means negates advice such as one recent Chicago applicant’s urging that candidates “Be very crystal clear on your work experience.” We simply want to point out that, in light of the various questions highlighted above, one should also be prepared to present an equally pristine portrayal of one’s pastimes.
Thanks to all those who have made contributions to the Wiki to help their fellow applicants! We hope that Round 1 applicants will continue to post their reports as they interview with their target programs – you can add content by creating an account or sending your info to wiki@clearadmit.com. For further information regarding a particular school’s interview process, also check out the Clear Admit Interview Guides!
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