Tips for the interview (and essays)

For those of you who submitted your apps this past week, you're probably thinking ahead to the next part in the process - the interview. I've just finished updating our interviewer training materials (which I do each year based on learnings from the prior year). Our on-campus interviewers (MBA2s) will undergo training today and tomorrow. Here are the key things I will tell them:

• Ask the "why" question, and not just the "what." We want to understand what matters to you, how you think, what your key drivers are - stuff that is better gleaned through a conversation than a resume.
• Look for self-awareness. We want to know that you've taken the time to reflect on your experiences and learned something from them. The entire application process is an opportunity for self-reflection - from deciding to pursue an MBA to the topics you write about in your essays, and soon, the interview.
• Look for fit with our program and our culture. A lot of smart people apply to business school, but schools aren't just looking for smart, we're looking for fit. Each school defines fit slightly differently, which explains why some applicants get into some schools and not others. We're looking for fit between your goals and what we offer, as well as fit between your personality and ours. If you want to be successful in the Ross admissions process, do your homework on our program and our culture.

As for other tips - be prepared to talk about your career path, your goals, and how an MBA and Ross fit into your plans. The interview is intended to be a conversation to get to know you better and see if there's a mutual fit. As with the essays, don't strive for uniqueness. The uniqueness comes when you answer questions using your own experiences and your own points of view developed through your unique way of processing experiences. That's what makes getting to talk to MBA aspirants so fun.

Comments

[Ben Newhouse]

Hey Soojin, I know interviews are by invitation only, but could you give us any insight into how they're scheduled? For instance, do you try to do most of the 1st round interviews in October and November? Or do they happen right up until January? Should I be waiting by the phone?

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[Ross Hopeful]

Hi Soojin,

Obviously I am no expert in your field, but I must say that from a candidates point of view, your post-application process is pretty screwed up. Making us wait 3 weeks between interview waves takes toll not only our psyche, but also on our work and to some extent our family. I don't wish any ill will towards you, but God forbid one of your own has to go through this someday. I seriously hope you take a hard look at your approach and revamp it so that those who don't make it into your program 'die a quick death rather than slowly bleeding to it.' I hope you will understand.

Thanks much.

[Soojin]

We know that applying to business school is a very involved and sometimes stressful experience for applicants, and we certainly take that into account when we design our evaluation processes and timelines. A main goal of ours (and a big part of why I write this blog) is to be as transparent as possible regarding what we’re seeking from applicants, when you can expect to hear from us, etc., so as to minimize the anxiety. I’m sorry to hear that our interview process has taken a toll on your psyche, work and family; that is definitely not our intention.

This is the second year we’ve released interview invitations in two main waves. We received very positive feedback from applicants about this new process last year - they liked knowing the dates that invitations would be released and not having to check for an invitation every day over a 6-8 week period.

Your feedback is important to me, and I’ll certainly incorporate it into our thinking when we revisit the invitation process again in the future.

[Ross Hopeful]

Hi Soojin,

Thank you for a prompt reply; I appreciate your willingness to look into Ross' application process in the future. I also appreciate the transparency of your process. Believe me when I say, I have no problem with your modus operandi, but when it comes to 3 week delay between releasing interview schedule for candidates all of whom applied on the same deadline is preposterous – to say the least.
“We know that applying to business school is a very involved and sometimes stressful experience for applicants…” – I must point out that it’s not ‘sometimes’ but ‘always’. A candidate who feels passionate about Ross (or any other school that he or she is applying to), puts in a ton of effort – including hard earned money – into the application process. All we ask for as candidates is you to treat us fairly and not leave us hanging upside down.
You’re in a great position of power – power to change the lives and careers of so many young people. Please use it wisely.

Thanks much.

[Thumos]

Wow - Ross hopeful - did you even read the reply? Like Soojin said, most applicants actually LIKED the two waves process more than the rolling process. Yes, most does not equal all. Unfortunately, it appears that you fall into the small proportion of candidates that actually prefers the rolling process. Well, not to repeat the obvious, but you are in the minority. Since most applicants prefer the waves (there is no evidence to suggest otherwise), this process should stay.

Thank you for pointing out that applying is "always" a stressful experience. I agree - your point is duly noted. But I think business school is supposed to be a "stressful" experience - at least, as stressful as being a business leader is.

[BValderas]

Wow, Ross Hopeful, I'd give you some advice to choose your words a bit more carefully when speaking to somebody who has gone out of their way to help you by starting this blog and creating one of the most transparent admissions processes around. Saying the system is "screwed up" and "leave us hanging upside down" is misguided at best. What is your perfect solution? You speak as if you are entitled to something and nobody asked you to apply so you have no standing to make demands. As somebody who applied to a number of MBA schools and who knows the anxiety that comes along with the process, I'd say that I wouldn't want a classmate with an attitude like yours. We are all lucky to have the opportunity to apply to such great schools when other people are scraping to pay rent and get by in a competitive world. I personally think you owe Soojin an apology for your lack of discretion and I hope if you are admitted to Michigan that you learn some humility before you get to campus.

[EssaySnark]

Ross Hopeful has clearly not applied to Columbia! The rolling admissions there is a plus, as well as a HUGE minus, in terms of making many people wait 8 to 12 weeks before knowing their status. Also, HBS does a 3-week cycle, somewhat similar to Ross, and schools like Wharton and Stanford and Haas and NYU are seemingly random in how they issue invitations. In our experience, the Ross process is exceedingly fair.

Ross Hopeful, hopefully :-) you understand how unusual it is to get such a direct and thoughtful reply from an adcom-person (and, a whole separate blog post on it later!). You've been schooled in this comments thread enough already by others; we just wanted to point out that the schools actually have a REALLY tough job in processing so many applications so quickly. When people are rejected, they often accuse the adcom of not giving their app the proper attention it deserved! We can't have it both ways.

[Faqing Yuan]

I like the interview waves, I think as a mature person and a future business leader, such a little wait is not a big deal. Ross Hopeful, take it easy:)