Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 12:15 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 12:15
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
DimensionalF
avatar
Joined: 28 Feb 2014
Last visit: 09 Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
4
Posts: 10
Kudos: 4
How important is the interview? 03 Mar 2014, 01:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
For schools such as Tuck and Kellogg, I heard that the interviews are weighed more heavily compared to other schools. Is that true?

If someone bombs the interview and it goes poorly, is there any hope? Anything you can do post-interview, after thank you letters have been sent, to make up for it?
User avatar
DefyingGravity
User avatar
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Last visit: 31 Jul 2019
Posts: 381
Own Kudos:
209
Given Kudos: 13
Concentration: General Management
Schools: HBS '16 (M) Kellogg '16 (A) Duke '16 (A$) Tuck '16 (A) Yale '16 (A) Stanford '16 (A)
Schools: HBS '16 (M) Kellogg '16 (A) Duke '16 (A$) Tuck '16 (A) Yale '16 (A) Stanford '16 (A)
Posts: 381
Kudos: 209
How important is the interview? 03 Mar 2014, 08:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
DimensionalF
For schools such as Tuck and Kellogg, I heard that the interviews are weighed more heavily compared to other schools. Is that true?

If someone bombs the interview and it goes poorly, is there any hope? Anything you can do post-interview, after thank you letters have been sent, to make up for it?
Show more

Kellogg and Tuck allow for applicant-initiated interviews because those two programs are both big on fit. Oftentimes, as applicants I think we are more critical of ourselves. Personally, there are many things that in retrospect I wish I had said better during my interviews. But in the end, it all worked out.

What makes you think you bombed them?
User avatar
CriticalSquare
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 18 Apr 2013
Last visit: 07 May 2017
Posts: 2,226
Own Kudos:
495
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,226
Kudos: 495
 [1]
How important is the interview? 03 Mar 2014, 09:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey there mate,

The answer is a definitive yes. Think about the time and resources interviews take. Most programs only pull the trigger on them with a shortlisted applicant pool. Kellogg and Tuck incur the cost on EVERY applicant. The interviews for them are a big deal.

As for a poor interview - there are definitely some things that can be done. Something you can consider is sending a follow up email to your interviewer. Let's say they ask you a question you weren't quite ready for and you stumble through a response. If you walk and go, "oh man, I should have said..." you can always add on to the thank you email. Say something along the lines of "Also, I wanted to add a little more context around my response when you asked X." That also shows you were introspective and reflective enough to realize what could have gone better. That's just one technique and there are, of course, others. But that one's pretty effective for that situation.

DefyingGravity has a good point - you're your own worst critics at times. But if you know something went poorly, being proactive can make a big difference.

Have you already interviewed or are you just thinking ahead? If it's the latter, make sure you're prepped well for those two schools. Work on the front end can save you heartache on the back end!

Cheers,

Bhavik
avatar
bdepp
avatar
Joined: 15 Jun 2012
Last visit: 16 Jul 2014
Posts: 114
Own Kudos:
54
Given Kudos: 17
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: Kellogg '16 (M$) Ross '16 (A) Duke '16 (A$) Tepper '16 (A$) Booth '16 (WL)
GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V48
GPA: 3.1
WE:Engineering (Manufacturing)
Schools: Kellogg '16 (M$) Ross '16 (A) Duke '16 (A$) Tepper '16 (A$) Booth '16 (WL)
GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V48
Posts: 114
Kudos: 54
How important is the interview? 03 Mar 2014, 10:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I agree with DG and, for the most part, CS above. However, if you do send a follow-up e-mail to expound on something that you think you flubbed in the interview, keep it short. Whether it is a second-year student or an adcom member, your interviewer is very busy; if you write them a novel I think you are going to hurt yourself more than help.

Also, interviewers know that it is much easier to sit behind your computer with unlimited time and craft an answer to a question than it is to answer that question face-to-face in an interview situation. My point being: don't expect a follow-up e-mail with a better response to save you from a bad interview.

The interview, from what I can tell, is to gauge whether 1) you'd be a good classmate and 2) you'll be able to interview well and get a job after school. They already know everything relevant about you from your application, so they're not necessarily looking for new information. They want to see how you interact with people.
avatar
DimensionalF
avatar
Joined: 28 Feb 2014
Last visit: 09 Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
4
Posts: 10
Kudos: 4
How important is the interview? 03 Mar 2014, 10:14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I already interviewed and felt that it went poorly. It was my first interview and I felt prepared going in, but none of my answers came out right as I got mostly unexpected questions. I was fumbling for words and I wasn't in the right zone. I didn't speak clearly and I definitely feel that my answers were too short so the interview lasted only 20 minutes. Felt real bad coming out of it.
User avatar
DefyingGravity
User avatar
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Last visit: 31 Jul 2019
Posts: 381
Own Kudos:
209
Given Kudos: 13
Concentration: General Management
Schools: HBS '16 (M) Kellogg '16 (A) Duke '16 (A$) Tuck '16 (A) Yale '16 (A) Stanford '16 (A)
Schools: HBS '16 (M) Kellogg '16 (A) Duke '16 (A$) Tuck '16 (A) Yale '16 (A) Stanford '16 (A)
Posts: 381
Kudos: 209
How important is the interview? 03 Mar 2014, 15:22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
CriticalSquare
Hey there mate,

As for a poor interview - there are definitely some things that can be done. Something you can consider is sending a follow up email to your interviewer. Let's say they ask you a question you weren't quite ready for and you stumble through a response. If you walk and go, "oh man, I should have said..." you can always add on to the thank you email. Say something along the lines of "Also, I wanted to add a little more context around my response when you asked X." That also shows you were introspective and reflective enough to realize what could have gone better. That's just one technique and there are, of course, others. But that one's pretty effective for that situation.


Bhavik
Show more

Critical Square offers some great advice if you have not already sent a thank-you email. However, it sounds like you already have and are asking for additional steps to take. Apologies if I'm misunderstanding your question.

Once you've interviewed, and then sent a follow-up email, I think sending another email may not have much weight. If things don't work out with Kellogg and Tuck, are there things that you learned from those two interviews that you could apply to future interviews? Try to take advantage of the experience.

In the meantime, hope for the best. A less than stellar interview doesn't mean an automatic rejection, just as a great interview doesn't guarantee an acceptance.
User avatar
MBAbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 01 Oct 2013
Posts: 988
Own Kudos:
47
Posts: 988
Kudos: 47
How important is the interview? 30 Aug 2021, 21:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club MBAbot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.