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<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\nAt the same time, competition is fierce, and the interview has never been more important. Nowhere is this truer than with the M7\u00a0<\/span>MBA<\/span>\u00a0programs, or the top 7 <\/span>graduate<\/span> schools in the country based on <\/span>rankings<\/span>. These include prestigious institutions like Harvard Business School<\/a>, <\/span>Columbia<\/span> Business School<\/span><\/a>, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Among M7 MBA programs, your prospects of admission are generally between 1 in 10 and 1 in 18. But secure an interview and your shot at acceptance at any of their <\/span>MBA programs<\/span> has just improved to about 1 in 2. You now have a great chance of getting in, and now is the time to prepare with gusto.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re confident in your interview skills, you have a short window to impress, so thoughtful preparation is essential. (Harvard confirmed\u00a0it will conduct the HBS interview<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>in-person or on Zoom this year.)\u00a0You need to focus on the essentials, get to the point quickly, and prepare to adapt to various MBA interview styles. Schools will be looking for your leadership and communications skills, your ability to articulate your career ambitions within the context of the MBA, and whether you\u2019re a good fit for the school. Says Fortuna’s Karla Cohen<\/a>, former Harvard Business School Associate Director:<\/p>\n \u201cThe interview is essentially a search for authenticity. Do you seem like the person we thought we met on paper? Are you who we think you are?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can expect to have very different kinds of interviews depending on the program you are applying for. As former admissions directors and business school professionals from the world\u2019s top business schools, my Fortuna colleagues and I are fully aware of how different schools are looking at new interview formats and using a wide range of interview techniques. You should become acquainted with each kind of interview format and prepare accordingly.<\/p>\n For example:<\/strong><\/p>\n Expect your Stanford GSB interview<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to be an hour-long, blind interview with an alum, meaning the interviewer has only seen your resume. GSB places heavy emphasis on behavioral questions, so you’ll want to speak to very specific examples of what you did, why, what was going through your mind at the time, the outcome and impact on others. The GSB plans to conduct its interviews both in person or remotely.<\/p>\n \u201cStanford is looking for evidence of intellectual vitality and demonstrated leadership potential, your personal qualities and contributions,\u201d says Fortuna\u2019s Tatiana Nemo<\/a>, a Stanford GSB alumna and former admissions interviewer. \u201cThey\u2019re looking for personal character, they\u2019re looking for traits and potential.\u00a0And they\u2019re certainly looking for sound analytical skills, creative instincts and strong performance \u2013 these are a must and a constant across their application process.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For an HBS interview<\/strong><\/a>, on the other hand, you have just 30 minutes to make a great impression. HBS confirmed its interviews will be conducted virtually this year by an interview board member (or two) who will have read your entire application in depth. The MIT Sloan interview<\/a><\/strong> is the only other M7 school besides HBS in which the interviewer will have studied your entire application (others typically reference your resume only). Unlike MIT, HBS tends to concentrate less on behavioral questions (although these could come up), in favor of delving into your resume to discern your motivations, experience, understanding of your industry (current and future), and decision-making process. They speak of approaching the interview like \u201ca case discussion.\u201d You\u2019ll also need to send an\u00a0HBS post-interview reflection<\/a><\/strong> within 24 hours.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not so much where you\u2019ve worked, but why you worked in those different places, and getting an understanding of your role within different organizations at different levels,\u201d says Karla. \u201cThey\u2019ll push you in terms of trying to understand your rationale for making different moves, for example. They want to see, too, how you handle unexpected questions.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Wharton<\/a> and Michigan Ross invite you to participate in a\u00a0Team Based Interview; Wharton’s website confirms it will continue to conduct Virtual Team Based Discussions<\/a><\/strong> until further notice. The school brings together a group of candidates and gives them a real-world business scenario to work through together. This dynamic format allows admissions to observe how you\u2019ll operate in a team setting and gives them a sense of how you\u2019ll perform in an MBA setting where interaction is extremely important. At Michigan Ross, the Team Based Interview is in addition to a traditional interview, while at Wharton, the activity is followed by a 10-minute one-on-one debrief with an admission representative.<\/p>\n \u201cIndividuals who present themselves with a closed leadership style rather than a facilitative one, or a style lacking in team-orientation, will be at a disadvantage in terms of being granted admission,\u201d says Fortuna\u2019s Judith Silverman Hodara<\/a>, former Wharton head of Admissions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n At Yale<\/a>, Kellogg<\/a>, INSEAD<\/a> and London Business School<\/a> \u2013 in addition to the traditional invite interview \u2013 your application includes a video essay component, which prompts you to spontaneously answer a question with little or no prep time. Interestingly, Berkeley Haas<\/a> is offering invited candidates to opt for a pre-recorded option again this year as an alternative to participating a live, virtual interview this cycle.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trend of MBA video essays means that candidates face a combination of the most challenging aspects of live interviews and written essays with the added pressures of camera, time limits and technology concerns,\u201d says Fortuna\u2019s Cassandra Pittman<\/a>, who worked in admissions at INSEAD and LBS. \u201cThe lack of any real-time feedback that you would get from a face-to-face discussion is perhaps most challenging of all.\u201d\u00a0 You only get one chance to convey your poise, confidence and clarity.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 2. Make time to prepare and practice. Be ready to offer how you\u2019ll contribute to the community, with examples of your leadership and teamwork. This includes having a two-minute MBA elevator pitch<\/a><\/strong> to \u201cwalk me through your resume\u201d or \u201ctell me about yourself.\u201d Beyond the standard questions, you\u2019ll want to prepare to be calm and poised in the face of tricky or unexpected questions.<\/p>\n First, sketch out some thoughts on paper. Then practice with video, recording yourself as you walk through sample questions. What type of impression are you conveying? Are you friendly and approachable? Find someone willing to put you through your paces in a mock interview, as well as offer candid feedback on your performance (check out Fortuna\u2019s MBA Interview Prep<\/a> <\/strong>service). Practicing aloud will also help reduce your chances of rambling \u2013 you want to focus your response on the question being asked and stay on topic.<\/p>\n 3. Identify your key selling points and supporting stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n The content you prepare should include at least five key selling points to offer during the interview. Each selling point should have a couple of short stories to illustrate your point. Your selling points and stories should relate to your strengths, your personality or soft skills (leadership potential, teamwork skills), your contribution to the school, and your MBA career vision<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Keep the program\u2019s core values in mind, and identify stories that include behavioral examples that support your points with specifics. And while I can\u2019t overemphasize the importance of practice, you need to be savvy about not sounding overly rehearsed, or crossing the line to pushing your agenda and trying to take control of the interview.<\/p>\n 4. Anticipate how to approach tough questions. And if you gave a bad answer? Don\u2019t lose confidence. Take a breath, carry on and, at the end of the interview, ask to clarify your response to the earlier question. This shows self-reflection and confidence, and most interviewers will let you do this.\u00a0(A recent client was recently asked to solve a probability question in an interview with a top school \u2013 and was admitted despite answering incorrectly.)<\/p>\n 5. Prepare thoughtful questions for your interviewers. For an alumni-led interview like Kellogg\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>, remember that you have a valuable opportunity to learn from their experience and glean insights that can help inform your decision. For admission representatives, you might ask questions specific to the strengths of the school community, or logistical questions about support for partners and families.<\/p>\n 6. If your MBA interview is virtual, maximize the advantages. There are special considerations you want to address in advance, such as lighting, sound, Internet connection and potential technology concerns. Do a test call with your coach or a friend to work out any technical \u00a0issues ahead of the interview, ensuring your audio is excellent and your connection is flawless.<\/p>\n \u201cAttention to both engagement and environment are a must when interviewing on video,\u201d says Judith. This includes awareness of your nonverbal cues like maintaining eye contact with the interviewer (not watching yourself) and making sure your background is clean and uncluttered. (Judith recommends turning off the pesky self-view to avoid the temptation of watching yourself speak.)\u00a0Adds Fortuna\u2019s Sharon Joyce:<\/p>\n \u201cA big upshot is that you have the opportunity to place things outside your interviewer\u2019s field of vision, such as sticky notes with key words or messages on your wall. Just a couple of \u2018cliff notes\u2019 in the background to help you get unstuck if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 7. Stay grounded. Finally, your interview is also an important moment to assess fit \u2013 not just you for the program but the program for you. Once you enter the interview itself, allow yourself to enjoy the opportunity to bring your candidacy to life. You\u2019ve captured their interest, and the most compelling way to win them over is to let your authentic self shine.<\/p>\n Explore an extensive roster of Fortuna’s related articles and videos on our\u00a0MBA Interview Tips<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0Or, sign up for one of our\u00a0MBA interview prep services<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to receive direct, customized support.<\/p>\n Updated\u00a0September, 2022<\/i><\/p>\n Fortuna Admissions expert coach Malvina Miller Complainville<\/a> is former Harvard Business School Assistant Director.\u00a0For a candid assessment of your chances of admission\u00a0success from an <\/span><\/i>elite business school<\/span><\/i>, sign up for\u00a0a free consulting session<\/a>. <\/em>If you already know what you want, you can sign up directly for MBA interview prep<\/a> with a Fortuna expert coach or explore all services<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The post MBA Interview Tips: the M7 landscape to Your Prep Strategy<\/a> first appeared on Fortuna<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you receive an MBA interview invite from an M7 business school, it\u2019s a clear signal the school believes in your potential. At the same time, competition is fierce, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,1831,775,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-fortuna-admissions","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56022"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56022\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
Here are 7 essentials to keep in mind for acing the M7 MBA interview<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Know the M7 MBA interview landscape.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>You\u2019ll want to be proactive (versus reactive), and practice is the best way to build your confidence and train yourself to give informative, natural and confident answers. You\u2019ll need to speak without hesitation about why you\u2019re pursuing an MBA degree, what your career goals are, and why you\u2019re interested in this particular school, versing yourself in responding to the most common MBA interview questions<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Despite your preparation, you\u2019re likely to get a question that you didn\u2019t anticipate. Whether you\u2019re asked about an area of weakness, an example of a failure, or why you left a certain position or industry, the key is to respond with honesty and humility. Present yourself in a positive light by focusing on your personal growth, lessons learned and ability to be introspective. Showing how you\u2019ve stretched yourself in the past can be a compelling success story.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Be ready with meaningful questions to ask at the end of the interview (with answers that can\u2019t be found on a spin through the school website). This kind of thoughtful preparation demonstrates your genuine interest in learning more about mutual fit. If you know your interviewer\u2019s name ahead of time, do your research \u2013 look him\/her up on LinkedIn for example. Considering your interviewer\u2019s profile will help you tailor your questions accordingly.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Several\u00a0MBA programs<\/span>\u00a0(including HBS) are keeping a virtual option this fall. And while that may seem like a disadvantage \u2013 especially for the extroverts among us \u2013 a big upside to interviewing from your own space is that you can create the conditions to feel more relaxed. As Fortuna\u2019s Karen Hamou cites in What to Wear for the Virtual MBA Interview<\/strong><\/a>, this includes embracing \u201cmullet dressing\u201d with gusto (business on top, party on the bottom). Awkward as it may be to wear a suit jacket in your living room, no one has to know you\u2019re also wearing fuzzy slippers or essential oils.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Try to approach the interview as a conversation. Admissions wants to know what makes you unique, what you care about and what fuels your career aspirations. This means sharing your story with enthusiasm and personality, while keeping the general tone calm. You\u2019ll want to come across as a sincere, grounded and thoughtful candidate. Whether it\u2019s your only MBA interview or one of several, you\u2019ll want the interviewer to feel their school is your first choice.<\/p>\nWant more advice?<\/h3>\n
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