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Interesting Adcom Feedback 06 Jan 2010, 20:25
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I read this on Soojin Kwon Koh's blog today - she's the director of admissions at Ross. I found it very enthralling and I wonder what people have said/done. I keep thinking back on whether I said something stupid - I keep getting that "is she talking about me" feeling.

I wanted to pass on a bit of advice to Round 2 (and 3) applicants based on some experiences during Round 1. It seems that some applicants view interviews with an MBA2 who is part of the Admissions Student Committee as less "serious" than an interview with an alumnus or staff member. Some applicants were a bit unprofessional, shall we say, probably thinking that an MBA2 is on the level of a peer/buddy rather than a bona fide admissions interviewer. Don't let that be you.
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Interesting Adcom Feedback 07 Jan 2010, 08:45
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I wouldn't be surprised if people said some very, very stupid things, just from my experience with prospectives visiting the school. Of course, 99.9% of prospectives are completely professional, but every once in a while one comes along that really sticks out in a bad way. One important point to keep in mind when visiting schools or interviewing: no matter who you're interacting with: students, administration, the receptionist in the admissions office - treat that person as if they're making the decision on your application. While adcom doesn't ask us for feedback on prospective students and we don't debrief them on our interaction with prospectives, if you come across as a complete jackass there's a real good chance the adcom will get that bit of feedback.
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Interesting Adcom Feedback 07 Jan 2010, 08:56
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As Jerz says. I think with an MBA2 you ought probably perform even more serious. These are people closely familiar with what makes good students as in their teammates, people they would want to recruit for a role in two years time and other elements.

The relationship and impression made on MBA2's is significantly more important in the long run than that on the AdCom, plus they are also taking on the role of an AdCom member in those circumstances.
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Hm. Interesting.

I can imagine myself slipping and saying a word like "crap" in the context of an interview with someone I perceive as being my age. Probably nothing worse than that -- although that of course is not cool in an interview. I wonder what happened at Ross that the Director of Admissions felt the need to comment.

On the flip side, I have had a job interviewer ask me out on a date. It was awkward.
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Interesting Adcom Feedback 07 Jan 2010, 09:13
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On the flip side, I have had a job interviewer ask me out on a date. It was awkward.
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Whoa....u r serious? That says a lot about your looks :wink:

What was your response?

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Interesting Adcom Feedback 07 Jan 2010, 09:27
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Whoa....u r serious? That says a lot about your looks :wink:

What was your response?
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Haha - thanks. Probably says more about him than me, though. :-D

I believe I stammered something about how flattering and generous his offer was, but that I was in a relationship. When I told my boyfriend about it, he was like: "You should have gone! I could never afford to take you to that restaurant!"

I didn't get the job.
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Hmm... I actually feel like there's the risk of the opposite happening as well with a student interviewer. I've had two of my interviews with adcom and two with second-year students. One of my student interviewers was completely professional and we had a great conversation; the other wasn't...

It wasn't a terrible interview, but I def felt like he was trying to impress me by how cool he was while he was interviewing me. He asked a question about what I would do with my career after I made "a crapload of money in private equity" and he said something rather sexist (I'm a woman). I think he was probably a genuinely nice guy, but I felt like he didn't take the interview seriously and it colored my whole experience with that school. Maybe I should have felt good that he felt comfortable enough to treat me casually, as a peer, but it definetly made me want to have the rest of my interviews with adcom members...
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Sometimes applicants may put his/her guard down during the interview because current students try to do his/her best to make the applicant more comfortable during the interview. That doesn't mean the applicant should turn the interview from formal setting to an informal setting, and behave as if you are speaking with a long time friend...

I remember Raabend said last year at YSOM interview, the current student started out the interview by saying, "This is gonna be the easiest interview that you have ever had..."

The interviewer was just being nice, but I will bet some applicants might relax after that phrase and drop his/her guards.... :-D
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I was actually wondering if any devious 2nd year students actually act casual on purpose to see what will happen when the applicant lets his/her guard down.

Guess we have to just assume that doesn't happen. So far 2nd years have seemed very pleasant (I haven't interviewed with any yet, though).

Me, I like to play "bad cop" during interviews -- mostly because it's not my natural persona at all.
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I read this on Soojin Kwon Koh's blog today - she's the director of admissions at Ross. I found it very enthralling and I wonder what people have said/done. I keep thinking back on whether I said something stupid - I keep getting that "is she talking about me" feeling.

I wanted to pass on a bit of advice to Round 2 (and 3) applicants based on some experiences during Round 1. It seems that some applicants view interviews with an MBA2 who is part of the Admissions Student Committee as less "serious" than an interview with an alumnus or staff member. Some applicants were a bit unprofessional, shall we say, probably thinking that an MBA2 is on the level of a peer/buddy rather than a bona fide admissions interviewer. Don't let that be you.
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I'm probably in this catagory last year for Ross
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highhopes
I read this on Soojin Kwon Koh's blog today - she's the director of admissions at Ross. I found it very enthralling and I wonder what people have said/done. I keep thinking back on whether I said something stupid - I keep getting that "is she talking about me" feeling.

I wanted to pass on a bit of advice to Round 2 (and 3) applicants based on some experiences during Round 1. It seems that some applicants view interviews with an MBA2 who is part of the Admissions Student Committee as less "serious" than an interview with an alumnus or staff member. Some applicants were a bit unprofessional, shall we say, probably thinking that an MBA2 is on the level of a peer/buddy rather than a bona fide admissions interviewer. Don't let that be you.

I'm probably in this catagory last year for Ross
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Oooh. Story?
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Hm. Interesting.

I can imagine myself slipping and saying a word like "crap" in the context of an interview with someone I perceive as being my age. Probably nothing worse than that -- although that of course is not cool in an interview. I wonder what happened at Ross that the Director of Admissions felt the need to comment.

On the flip side, I have had a job interviewer ask me out on a date. It was awkward.
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Wow, that is ridiculously unprofessional. Probably best you didn't get the job.

I have my first interview in a few weeks for MIT LGO. I have a background where I really shouldn't be nervous, however I must admit I'm a bit worried due to lack interview experience. For undergrad I actually had to interview with a congressman, but since I had already gotten in to the school we pretty much just bullshited (in a MOST formal manner of course) and the few questions he asked were softballs. As for job interviews, had one within my profession but that was a total check the block thing as well, I didn't even think of it as an interview. Need to start practicing I guess...
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I was actually wondering if any devious 2nd year students actually act casual on purpose to see what will happen when the applicant lets his/her guard down.

Guess we have to just assume that doesn't happen. So far 2nd years have seemed very pleasant (I haven't interviewed with any yet, though).

Me, I like to play "bad cop" during interviews -- mostly because it's not my natural persona at all.
Show more

Ha! That probably is a bit my style. Though I would probably relax them then throw loads of curveballs for s&g, but also to see how they cope. That is more a work setting though - it is hard to throw curveballs in an interview for an MBA I would think, save for making someone prove they are an arse.

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ridiculously unprofessional. Probably best you didn't get the job.
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She obviously wasn't going to get the job anyway, hence the interviewer decided to try his luck*.
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Aenigma
I was actually wondering if any devious 2nd year students actually act casual on purpose to see what will happen when the applicant lets his/her guard down.

Guess we have to just assume that doesn't happen. So far 2nd years have seemed very pleasant (I haven't interviewed with any yet, though).

Me, I like to play "bad cop" during interviews -- mostly because it's not my natural persona at all.

Ha! That probably is a bit my style. Though I would probably relax them then throw loads of curveballs for s&g, but also to see how they cope. That is more a work setting though - it is hard to throw curveballs in an interview for an MBA I would think, save for making someone prove they are an arse.
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Noted! If I get an interview invite I'll be ready for ya. Will you be ready for me? (Hint: I am an arse!)

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ridiculously unprofessional. Probably best you didn't get the job.

She obviously wasn't going to get the job anyway, hence the interviewer decided to try his luck*.
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It's possible! -- but he was one of four people to interview me that day, in quick succession, so he wouldn't have been able to make that decision unilaterally.

I think one of the problems with making a pass at a job / school candidate is that acquiescence could be construed as a condition for acceptance. So maybe I shouldn't have gotten that job. Or maybe I didn't get it because I didn't go out with him. (Or maybe they'd already figured out that I didn't want to (a) commute three hours from Brooklyn; or ::shudder:: (b) move to Jersey.)

I like your take, though.
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highhopes
I read this on Soojin Kwon Koh's blog today - she's the director of admissions at Ross. I found it very enthralling and I wonder what people have said/done. I keep thinking back on whether I said something stupid - I keep getting that "is she talking about me" feeling.

I wanted to pass on a bit of advice to Round 2 (and 3) applicants based on some experiences during Round 1. It seems that some applicants view interviews with an MBA2 who is part of the Admissions Student Committee as less "serious" than an interview with an alumnus or staff member. Some applicants were a bit unprofessional, shall we say, probably thinking that an MBA2 is on the level of a peer/buddy rather than a bona fide admissions interviewer. Don't let that be you.

I'm probably in this catagory last year for Ross

Oooh. Story?
Show more



Well probably that I am not strong at interviewing anyways. But tons of awkward moments....

for one, everyone told me that MBA2 are big football fans and do this whole tailgating together and how ann arbor shuts down on saturdays.... then I get a person who is like french born, german schools, came from mexico to ross that doesn't like football... apparently a rugby fan... (that conversation just died)

then talked about recruitment numbers (she did not get an offer and it was in feb) - conversation end really quickly there.

Talked about how I was interested in Tauber, didn't fit what I wanted to do... (she tells me she's a tauber student)... conversation ended there.




But I think I tried really hard to find that common ground aiming for being that student that they can see as classmates, rather than a more formal job interview.
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Sounds like you did what you could! -- just bad luck with who you got.
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I think one of the problems with making a pass at a job / school candidate is that acquiescence could be construed as a condition for acceptance. So maybe I shouldn't have gotten that job. Or maybe I didn't get it because I didn't go out with him. (Or maybe they'd already figured out that I didn't want to (a) commute three hours from Brooklyn; or ::shudder:: (b) move to Jersey.)

I like your take, though.
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Yet another great reason to be happy - you're not working in Jersey! Especially when you are from the greatest borough of them all!
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Yet another great reason to be happy - you're not working in Jersey! Especially when you are from the greatest borough of them all!
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Abso-freakin-lutely! BK!
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as a fellow Brooklynite, I also echo that sentiment!
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for one, everyone told me that MBA2 are big football fans and do this whole tailgating together and how ann arbor shuts down on saturdays.... then I get a person who is like french born, german schools, came from mexico to ross that doesn't like football... apparently a rugby fan... (that conversation just died)

then talked about recruitment numbers (she did not get an offer and it was in feb) - conversation end really quickly there.
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Ouch! That sounds like real bad luck man. Although I've had the sports thing happen with another alum I was speaking with, not an interview or anything. I've decided to not bring up sports at all, unless the interviewer brings it up first. :idea:
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