What Do You Need to Know Before Your MBA Interview?

“MBA Interview Must-Know #2: You” is excerpted from the Accepted.com special report, How to Ace Your MBA Interviews To download the entire free special report, click here.

You. You are the first topic you need to know. After all, the interview will be about you. What do you want to do after your MBA? Why do you want to attend this program? When have you demonstrated the qualities this school appreciates, the qualities that will show you belong here? Much of this information appears in your essays or was uncovered in the preparation and introspection that took place before you drafted your essays. (Did you jot down notes? Keep a journal? Use them.)

In a BW interview, Dawna Clark, Director of Admissions at Tuck, gave the following very concrete advice to applicants facing a “blind” interview, which at many programs means the interviewer only sees your resume.

“I would recommend that people approach their interview with a strategy. When candidates are applying to Tuck, so many of them are so bright and so impressive, and there are probably 50 things that they would love to talk to us about in their interview. But there’s limited time, and I would recommend that they spend some time thinking about five of the top skills, experiences, or accomplishments that they most want to emphasize.

“I would literally write a list of everything that you’re proud of before your interview and then cut it in half, and cut it in half again and cut it in half again, until you say, ‘You know what? If I have limited time, here are the five points I’m really hoping to get across in this interview.’ With each of those five bullet points come up with some examples and substantiate them.”

Dawna provides excellent suggestions for an interview strategy where you will truly be prepared to present yourself.

MBA Interview Tip #2: Know the few most important things you are proud of and be prepared to discuss them.