drivechipputt wrote:
I suppose my best advice for the interview would be...don't overthink it. Most b-school interviews will converge on the same basic themes: why get an MBA now, and why is Vanderbilt the right fit (read: why are you a good fit for us!). There's really no gaming that question; either you see something unique in the program and believe you belong, or you focus your pursuits on the best match for you as a candidate.
With all that said, you'll want to know the character of the program. At ~170/class, we're small, and that's a very important element of our brand. It's how Owen makes the experience very personalized for every student, which isn't just lip service. Personally, I loved that I served on multiple club boards and had a top position in student government, which gave me access to all of the administrators, professors, and distinguished guests (several lunches with Fortune 250 CEOs). We are also in the top handful of programs for health care and human and organizational performance (HR), so if that's your interest, bring it up. Finally, we're in Nashville. And it's amazing!
As far as the mechanics of it, I had the director of admissions (Christie) conduct it and the interview lasted 45 mins. Be prepared for a conversation, and for it to go outside of the conventional "tell me a time when..." direction. We chatted about Brunelleschi's architecture in Florence, baseball, and cooking (all of which you won't find on a standard interview sheet).
*Warning: accurate cliche coming*
Be yourself and have fun!
Thanks a lot for the info drivechipputt! I remember speaking to Christie via email and she came off as a really nice person. I've read up loads about Vanderbilt! Nice to see the interview wasn't really structured when they were talking to you... personally I like that more as it really lets them know who you are and gives you the opportunity to talk about things that interest you. All the best with your MBA and thank you again for responding.