Interview

Tips
Under-Graduate & Graduate
Admission Interview Questions

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 Major Interview Questions and Answers
QUESTIONS AT THE INTERVIEW
Even if each interviews is unique, there is great similarity in the subjects touched upon. The principal things
your interviewer will be looking at are:
 your previous education
 your professional experience
 your extra-professional activities
 your character and your values
 your family background
 your motivation for doing an MBA and, more specifically, at the school with which you're interviewing.
We polled numerous MBA students in order to gather a list of the questions most frequently posed in each of
these categories. The great thing about this list is that it gives you the wording of most of the questions you will
be asked. This list is very exhaustive, and you certainly won't have to answer even a tenth of these questions.
The problem is that you don't know which ones you will be posed. We therefore suggest that you prepare a
response to most of these questions so that you can be convincing on the spot.

Your previous education:

Which school did you attend and why that one'?
Would you choose the same studies again if you could do it over again?
What was your major and why
What overall grades did you get? Did you get honors?
Which courses were you best at? Why?
What did you like most about this part of your education?
What did you least like about this part of your education?
What extra-curricular activities did you participate in? Why and what was your contribution?
How did you pay for your education'?

Your professional experience:

Can you briefly describe your career progress to date?
What are your long term career aspirations and why?
Please discuss the factors, both professional and personal, influencing the career decisions you have made
so far.
Can you briefly describe the key responsibilities of your current job?
What are the key challenges of your job?
While recognizing that no day is typical, please describe a representative working day.
Why did you choose this profession? Why this company?
What do you like best/about your current job?
Describe your most successful accomplishment at work.
Describe a failure on the job.
What could you do to be an even more effective member of your organization?
Describe a situation in which you have been in the position of leading a group.
What have you done to develop those under your responsibility
What specifically have you done to help your company change'?
How does your performance compare with that of your peers at a similar level?
Describe your relationship with your boss. What is good and bad about it?
Where is your industry heading in the next five years? (all the more important if your interviewer works in the
same domain).

Your extra-professional activities:

How do you spend your time outside of work? What activities do you enjoy most and why?
Describe a situation where you have been in a position of leading a group in those activities;
Describe your key accomplishments in these activities.
Describe any failure in these activities.
What is the last book you read? What did you think of it?
What is your favorite sport? What aspect of it appeals to you'?
Your reasons for doing an MBA and more specifically the reason you are doing this interview:
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Why do you want to do an MBA? Why now?
Where do you expect to be in 5 years?
What do you expect to get from an MBA?
Why do you want to come to our school in particular?
Which other schools are you applying to?
How did you choose these schools? Why so many/few?
Which school is your first choice?
What if you are not accepted in the schools you are applying for? if you didn't get into any programs?
What specific questions do you have about our school?
What would you contribute to our school that is distinctive?

Your character and your values

Tell me about yourself.
How would your friends describe you?
What are your main strengths and weaknesses?
What have you done that you are proud of?
Who are your heroes? Why?
Describe any significant experience abroad. What did you learn from this?
Describe an ethical dilemma that you faced. How did you resolve it?

The Most Probable Questions at Graduate Admission Interviews

Being aware of the questions that appear during the interview is the most important factor for this stage of the
admission process. Here you will find the questions usually asked at interview. Yet, the suggestions below the
questions are not necessarily to be followed; directly-honest and candid responses are more valuable.

What are you doing now?

Describe your occupation. It is better if the job you do is relevant to your chosen field of study. If it is not, do not stop on
your major occupation but go swiftly to and emphasize on your extracurricular activities that must relate to your study
major. If what you say will specially interest the interviewer, most of the following interrogation will be based upon what
you have already said. It will eliminate the formal progress of the interview and naturally prompt you to talk about your
interests.

What is the most challenging aspect of your field of study (in your country)?
Review your field of intended study. What do you believe to be the root problem? Or, what do you believe to be the
weakest point, etc. Recount it when asked and ground your opinion. It is good if you have solution of your own to offer.
You may have a personal challenge within your field of study (you may be questioned specifically on this)-define it and
point it out during the interview.
What disciplines in the curriculum are the most appealing to you?
You should know what subjects are offered on the curriculum before the interview. It is implicit that you are familiar with
the curriculum from the materials you are provided with by the university. Choose the three (the number usually asked)
courses you find most interesting, better from the core (not those from the introductory term or the ones weakly related to
the major stem). Be prepared to explain your choice.

The hardest item: THE Be-bold question

In fact it is not the question but rather offering opportunity to represent yourself. Usually the interviewer will invite you to
be bold in recommending yourself for the program by explaining your positive qualities and aptitudes in persuasive
manner. Recall the information you gave in your essay and/or resume. Explain what you are able to contribute to the
program (contribution may be your sharing information from your practical experience, your active participation in social
activities, etc). You may remind them of your academic achievements along with TOEFL score (if it is high). However,
your answer might be unusual and you will not know what the impact it might make, negative or positive. Both outcomes
are possible in this case. It may negatively influence the interview result. On the other hand, the interviewer may
appreciate your honesty, frankness and independence of thinking.

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Less probable questions
Are you ready for multinational (or foreign, or cross-cultural) study?
While answering, recall any multinational experience you have had. We live in a multinational environment, and many
ethnic groups contribute to our societies. If you do not have international experience, you may connect an everyday life
experience of interaction with the representatives of these groups with your preparation for living in the multinational
environment. Also, you can remark on your tolerance towards other nationalities whether based on your experience of
socializing with other ethnical groups or skills you believe you possess. You do not need to consider tolerance towards
you or be worried about being questioned on it as fostering a tolerant academic environment is the policy of the university.

Are you ready for another language (or just different) environment?
Recollect any experience of living in a place distinct from your habitual environment. You may have traveled abroad or
even regions of your own country with distinct culture or with language different from your native. Explain in a positive way
your adjustment to such an environment. You may love traveling and learning about other cultures and/or languages. Use
it as an argument when answering this question.

What do you expect to gain from the studies?

This question had to be answered in your application. Refer to the information in your application, summarize it and add
what you think is necessary. Review what the program offers you and analyze why you have decided to apply to this
program.

What skills do you expect to apply to the studies?

You may have covered this in your application as well. If you have, update it and rework it for oral presentation. If you
have not, consider the skills you have. Your resume, recommendations (if you know the information in them) and your
application may assist you. Decide which skills are applicable for the studies. Note them and restate when asked.

Why have you changed the specialty comparing to the previous one (if you have)?
Alternatively, you may have changed the specialty during your professional experience and are striving to heighten your
professional level. In this case you may also recount the circumstances of it.

Why have you decided to continue your education?

Consider the circumstances that encouraged you to undertake this educational endeavor. They may be various: further
education may develop your professionalism, bring new opportunities, implement your plans about something specific, or
lead to an academic career, etc. Decide yours.

Why have you decided to apply to this university/ individual program)?

Again, this question should be answered in your application. If it is not, to reply consider why you have decided to apply
exactly to this university (for this individual program)? Take into account university's significant, unique points. Materials
issued by the university usually emphasize them. Pick these peculiarities out and rephrase them when you are asked this
question.

Specific details questions

If your interest in a new subject is the result of some personal experience, explain how this has come about. Or you may
be asked to express your feelings about some events in the world that affect issues in your chosen field. You may also be
asked to highlight major problems in your field (in your country) in your opinion. You must be aware of the field of your
chosen specialty to corroborate the gravity of your concern.

The other possible questions

o What recent publications on the subject relevant to your field do you have?
o How do you see yourself in five (ten) years?
o What would you say about your country to a person who has no idea of it?
o Examples of your resolving problems in your life.
o How would you describe the situation in your field in the world (or in your country)? (or, What is situation in your field in
the world (or in your country) in your opinion?)
o What books have you read (or read currently)?
o What do you do with your spare time?

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 Some more Sample Interview Questions
A group of applicants have offered the following as questions asked of them when they interviewed for
admission to MBA programs:
 Discuss your career progression.
 Give examples of how you have demonstrated leadership inside and outside the work environment.
 What do you want to do (in regard to business function, industry, location)?
 Why the MBA? Why now?
 Describe an ethical dilemma faced at work?
 Describe your career aspirations?
 What would you do if not accepted?
 What are your long- and short-term goals? Why?
 Why are you applying to business school?
 Why does this school appeal to you?
 What is an activity you are involved in? Why is it important to you?
 Talk about experiences you have had at work.
 Why are you interested in a general MBA program?
 Why did you choose your undergraduate major?
 Discuss yourself.
 What contributions would you make to a group?
 Name three words or phrases to describe yourself to others.
 What is most frustrating at work?
 How would co-workers describe you?
 Describe a typical work day.
 Have you worked in a team environment? What were your contributions to the effort?
 Discuss any experience you have had abroad.
 How did you choose your job after college?
 What do you do to relieve stress?
 It's two years after graduation, what three words would your team members use to describe you?
 Describe a situation where you brought an idea forward, and it failed.
 How do you define success?
 Is there anything you would like to ask me/us?

Admissions Interview Tips

General
1. Be yourself; allow your personality to shine.
2. Respond to questions honestly and candidly.
3. Understand what is asked of you. Feel free to ask for a repeat if you don't clearly understand a question.
4. Avoid the "smart-aleck" reply or the clever-flip demeanor (you know, the effort to be cute, snappy alert, falsely
witty).
5. Do your homework on the school and program.
6. Be on time. Look nice.
7. Examine yourself. Know something about the MBA and how it can aid you.
Specific
1. Discuss special interests and ask how the school may help you to pursue them. For example, one representative
particularly enjoyed talking to a young lady about her interest in fund-raising management.
2. Ask about faculty research and interests, especially in areas that concern you.
3. Review with representatives your work background, highlighting the benefits you received from the experiences.
4. Know something about the MBA degree and what it can do for you. Explore the possibilities of the degree as it
relates to what you are seeking.
5. Inquire about the school's philosophy, approach, and direction. Since management education is young, many
schools are still defining and redefining themselves in regard to what they do and how they do it.
6. Inquire about facilities (library, computer equipment), housing, and campus life. A recent graduate chose a school
based on its tremendous computer laboratory.
7. If financial aid is critical to you, ask about aid sources, its availability, and the name of the person responsible for
administering the program.
8. Describe to the representatives who you are: your strengths, assets, traits needing development.

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