Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Ides of March

The second round application deadline has passed and the review process is underway. About 40 of the applicants for the Class of 2011 came in for interviews on March 15th. While that may not have been a good day for Julius Caesar, it may prove to be an auspicious day for some of the applicants.

Stacey, Sharianne, Philip and I acted as student ambassadors for the event. We gave tours of the Haas campus and answered any questions that the applicants may have had about the EWMBA program. The applicants asked many great questions and were very enthusiastic about EWMBA program.

I was that applicant sitting in the waiting room not too long ago. It was interesting to be on the other side.

I had a few thoughts about the interview process. This is not a job interview—it’s worse. The EWMBA application process is long and takes many steps. Applicants need to write several essays, get letters of recommendation and take the GMAT. After all that, only two-thirds of the applicants are invited for an interview. The interview is a chance for the admissions committee to get to know the applicant. This is the applicant’s chance to shine.

Here are some things to consider before an MBA interview.
  • Be gracious.
  • Ask questions. This is a good chance to interact with people from the EWMBA program.
  • Wear a suit. Men should wear a tie. If you don’t own a suit, then buy one. It may even be considered as tax-deductible. There will be plenty of occasions when wearing a suit is required during the EWMBA program.
  • Smile and say, “Thank you.”