Those who have already been interviewed - Would you be able to share the questions that were asked by your interviewers? Any unexpected or unusual questions?
Lallalala here is what I posted a few pages back. Still applicable I think.
david88 wrote:
Can folks who have interviewed already share your interview experiences/questions. This is the first b-school interview I will be doing so I am a little anxious.
My advice would be to make sure you know yourself, know your story and what you want. The obvious question is, walk me through your resume. Have a ~2 min spiel ready to go about the highlights of your resume that describes key points about your experiences and how you got to where you are today. Then make sure you know the school. Have a clear idea of why you want to go to Columbia, specific classes, clubs, opportunities. You should have something more to say than just, it's in NYC and I can be near the finance centers for networking. That's fairly obvious and doesn't necessarily show that you have done any research into the school itself.
Have a good idea of what you want to do after school. This should tie clearly into the Why an MBA and how Columbia is going to help you in your career path. If you are a career switcher (like I am) expect a number of questions on your motivation to switch careers. Especially if you interview with somebody in the field you intend to pursue. They will want to know that you have really thought this out and aren't just throwing darts at a dartboard.
Ultimately it is about fit. You will be talking to an alumnus of the school. They are going to be evaluating if they would want you as a peer and fellow alumnus. The network and brand name is huge, so fit is important. It's easier said than done but just try to relax. Try and turn it more into a conversation than just an interview. If they feel a personal connection to you or your story they will probably be more likely to give favorable feedback to the school.