Just had my interview today, so I thought I'd share my experience with everyone.
Quick stats:
28/Male/American
GMAT 710, Q47, V41
UGPA 3.1 from top public university
Entrepreneur/Business Owner
Interview Location: Starbucks in Orange County, CA
My interview was with a CBS alumni, class of 2005. He had a background in Finance and worked and his first job out of CBS was at Citigroup. He then moved over to a hedgefund for a few years, and is currently working for one of the worlds largest bond companies. He was also an international alumni orginally from South America, so the international element definitely played into the interview.
Demeanor: Very laid-back and soft spoken, he wanted me to feel comfortable and simply have a conversation about Columbia with him. I walked him through my resume and shared my story of starting a company after college with him, and my various accomplishments. He definitely understood everything I was saying, but was not trying to "grill" me i.e. poke holes in my story, or stump me with random questions. He seemed very satisfied with my reasons for getting an MBA, and even told me that my reasoning was almost exactly the same as his when he applied.
The only mandatory question he said he had to ask me was "Tell me about a time in which you faced adversity" He told me this was the only question he was required to ask. He also told me that the school does not communicate with him about the interview, they just look at the interview sheet that he fills out.
All in all, it was much easier than I had prepared for it to be. My advice to those yet to interview, is go through the columbia interview boards, write down all the different questions that have been asked to past applicants, and prepare a response for each one. that's about 25 possible questions. If you do this, you will be ready for whatever comes your way, and even if they don't ask the questions you prepared for, you can work that information into the interview anyway.
I'm very happy with the interview, and even if things don't work out, I know for a fact that my interview won't be the reason I didn't get into Columbia.
Hope to get the call soon!!!!!
28 Sep 2012, 08:20
