{"id":38943,"date":"2017-09-03T07:00:14","date_gmt":"2017-09-03T14:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=38943"},"modified":"2017-09-02T15:39:34","modified_gmt":"2017-09-02T22:39:34","slug":"the-columbia-mba-interview-a-fresh-lens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/the-columbia-mba-interview-a-fresh-lens\/","title":{"rendered":"The Columbia MBA Interview \u2013 A Fresh Lens"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cDo I want this person in my network for the rest of my life?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a recent Q&A session<\/a>, Emily French Thomas, Columbia MBA Admissions Director, provided insight into the current Columbia MBA application interview process. A key takeaway: social and emotional IQ are key.<\/p>\n

Columbia interviews are conducted by alumni, and French emphasizes that for them, a strong current running alongside and beneath the conversation is that question at the start of this post: Do I want this person in my network for the rest of my life? Considerations like \u201cWould I want to work with this person\u201d and \u201cWould I want to be on a team with this person\u201d may be objective factors for evaluation, but such evaluation will always be formed in part by the interviewer\u2019s subjective response to you, the interviewee.<\/p>\n

So, in the interview<\/a>, pay attention to the person, to the vibe, and respond and adapt accordingly. It\u2019s not a matter of becoming gregarious if you are reserved or vice versa \u2013 it is about connecting with the other person by being your authentic self. And this is important because both alumni and adcom are seeking students who will contribute to their program and their community; they\u2019re invested. That raises one more point: they will be looking to see that you appear and behave professionally \u2013 even if the interviewer is around your same age and you meet at a cafe. By being professional, you are showing respect, and you are showing you belong.<\/p>\n

Of course, your alumni interviewer does greatly care what you say! The interviewer (and by extension the adcom) usually looks to learn whether you have a clear sense of what you want to do in your career. Using social IQ, listen carefully. \u201cWhat is your career vision\u201d is quite a different question than \u201cSo, what do you want to do right after graduating?\u201d The former is more expansive and reflects interest in your hoped for longer-term impacts; the latter seeks practical, concrete information about your next career step after earning your MBA. Also, they often are interested not just in why you want to come to Columbia, but also in how you plan to take advantage of being in the Big Apple<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Director French also discussed process. She noted that the interview is \u201cone piece of the puzzle\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s helpful to see it that way, not as binary pass-you\u2019re in, fail-you\u2019re dinged. This mental framework encourages a more fluid give-and-take. Also, the interviewers do prepare a written report on the interview, which becomes part of that puzzle.<\/p>\n

Click here to listen to a recording of part of the Q&A session.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you would like professional guidance with your Columbia Business School MBA application, check out Accepted\u2019s MBA essay editing<\/a> and MBA admissions consulting<\/a> or our <\/em>MBA Application Packages<\/a><\/em>, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the CBS MBA application.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Register<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Cindy<\/a><\/em>Cindy Tokumitsu<\/a>\u00a0has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Perfect Answers to MBA Interview Questions<\/a>, a free guide
\n\u2022 Columbia Business School MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines<\/a>
\n\u2022 The MBA Menu at Columbia Business School<\/a>, a podcast interview with Emily French Thomas<\/p>\n

This article<\/a>\u00a0originally appeared on\u00a0<\/i>blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/i>get accepted<\/a>!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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