Preparing for Your Lauder Institute Interview: Eight Expert Tips for Success
When I served as director of admissions, marketing, and financial aid at the Lauder Institute, one of the most common questions I received from applicants was “How should I prepare for my Lauder interview?”
If you’ve applied to the Lauder Institute’s joint degree program with the Wharton MBA or Penn Law JD, you’ll be invited to complete two separate interviews: Wharton’s Team Based Discussion (TBD) and a Lauder interview.
Wharton’s TBD focuses on group collaboration, but the Lauder interview is a more traditional one-on-one conversation. You’ll spend approximately 30 minutes with an admissions officer, alumnus or alumna, or (most often) second-year Lauder student. Because the student interviewer will have just completed their first immersive year, they’ll be able to offer a firsthand perspective on the program’s culture, coursework, and intensity. Most interviews are conducted virtually, but on-campus visitors will occasionally meet with a student or staff member in person.
Because Lauder’s identity is deeply international and interdisciplinary, your interviewer will want to see that you understand the program’s unique culture and, above all, that you can clearly articulate “why Lauder.”
Here are eight tips to help you get ready for your Lauder interview.
1. Lead with “why Lauder?”
“Why Lauder?” is the single most important question of your interview. Be crystal clear with respect to why you’re applying to Lauder in addition to Wharton or Penn Law. What draws you to the institute’s global curriculum? Is it the immersive regional focus, the Capstone research experience, the close-knit community, or the opportunity to combine language, business, and culture in one degree?
Think about what Lauder specifically adds to your goals. What does the program offer that you wouldn’t gain through Wharton or UPenn Law alone? Be ready to back up your reasons with examples from your experiences, interests, and aspirations.
2. Share your global perspective and what you’ve learned from it.
Lauder looks for candidates who think and operate globally, not just individuals who have stamps in their passports. Be ready to discuss how your international exposure – whether it was through work, travel, education, or upbringing – has shaped your worldview.
You might talk about leading multicultural teams, collaborating across time zones, growing up in a cross-cultural environment, or learning a language that deepened your understanding of another culture. Tie these experiences back to what you hope to explore at Lauder.
3. Clarify your goals and how Lauder will help you reach them.
Your interviewer will expect you to connect your professional goals to Lauder’s unique resources. Explain how the program’s global focus, language requirement, and regional depth will prepare you for the next step in your career.
Are you hoping to work in the same region as your chosen Program of Concentration? Would you like to launch a global venture? Join a firm with an international footprint? The clearer your vision, the easier it will be to show how the Lauder degree will complement your Wharton or Penn Law degree.
4. Discuss your Program of Concentration and language choice.
Be prepared to discuss why you applied to your chosen Program of Concentration, what you can add to your mini-cohort, how you learned a second language, and why you want to advance. If you applied to the Global or Africa track, explain how you acquired the relevant language fluency, along with your motivations for that particular Program of Concentration.
Your interviewer will want to understand your motivation(s). What personal, academic, or professional connections led you to your choice? How do you hope to deepen your regional expertise or language fluency during your time at Lauder? Even if you’re still developing proficiency, show curiosity, commitment, and a genuine connection to the region you’ve selected.
5. Determine what you might want to research at Lauder.
Lauder has a unique Capstone project that you likely learned about when researching the Lauder program. Come to your interview prepared to share and discuss the topic you would like to research while in the program. What you propose will not be binding, so do not worry about being locked into a topic as a result. However, you’ll want to show the interviewer (and through them, the adcom) that you’ve thoroughly explored the Capstone project and spent time thoughtfully considering a subject you’re interested in. The project is required for graduation and is a unique opportunity to do on-the-ground research, so make sure you fully understand how the project works. For inspiration, you can take a look at past students’ topics as you brainstorm.
6. Reflect on how you’ll contribute to the Lauder community.
“Lauder Love” is more than a saying, it’s a defining part of the program’s culture. Students travel, study, and live closely together, forming bonds that last long after graduation. To learn more about Lauder’s students and read their profiles, you can do so by checking out their bios here.
Before your interview, reflect on how you’ll contribute to this tight-knit global community. What perspective, experience, or skill will you bring? Have you helped build inclusive, international communities in the past? Your ability to connect across cultures is as valuable as your professional experience.
7. Be ready for the “how” – your time management and engagement plan.
A joint degree program is no small commitment. Between your Wharton or Penn Law coursework, recruiting, and your Lauder responsibilities, your schedule will be intense. Expect a question in your interview about how you’ll manage your time and balance both programs.
Identify examples from your past of times when you successfully juggled competing priorities. Having this information ready to share shows that you’re realistic about the workload and ready to thrive.
8. End with thoughtful questions.
At the end of your interview, you’ll likely be asked, “Do you have any questions for me?” Your answer should always be yes.
If you’re interviewing with a student, ask what drew them to Lauder, what has surprised them most about the program, or how they’ve balanced the responsibilities of the dual degree. You can also ask how their language study or regional focus has shaped their Wharton or Penn Law experience.
Thoughtful questions not only show preparation, they also reflect genuine curiosity and fit.
Every part of your Lauder interview should connect back to why Lauder is the right fit for you, academically, professionally, and personally. Keep that focus front and center, and you’ll make a strong impression. Good luck!
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