 Why Rice? Why MBA? Why now?

 What after MBA? Why?

 Strengths/Weaknesses
 Examples of when you failed
 Examples of leadership
 Critical feedback from your superiors.
 Go through the Rice website and research on the upcoming events.
 Make a list of your stories/achievements/fun facts that you would like to bring up in the
conversation.

Tell me about yourself (i.e. introduce yourself).

Give me an example of conflict.

Why did you choose your career field?

You will have 30 minutes to relay your story to a complete stranger, so think about the experiences
you want to highlight prior to your interview. The dress code for interviews is Business Professional,
regardless of whether you are here in person or on a computer screen. Be aware of your body
language. Your interviewer is trying to predict how you will act around your future classmates and
how you will represent the Jones School as an alumnus, so be cognizant of the nonverbal message you
are sending. We conduct blind interviews, meaning that your interview has not seen your application;
they have only seen your resume. So, they may ask you questions pertaining to anything you have
written in your resume.
On the questions of why IESE, Prayer talked about the diversity in the program, her personal
motivation to continue with her knowledge of Spanish and pursue a bilingual MBA, a couple of
professors she looked forward to taking classes with, the emphasis on ethics as stated in the school’s
mission statement and of course Barcelona.

To the "Tell me about yourself" question, Prayer talked about the different places she had lived and
grown up and her former life as a poetry major and advertising creative, and aligning that with reasons
for pursuing an MBA.

She wanted to move herself into decision-making roles on the business side that would be almost
impossible for a person of her educational and professional background to do without additional skills
and qualifications.
Dario Magniole recalls being asked why he wanted to join Lancaster, if he was aware of the live
projects, why he would make a good fit, what sort of experiences he could bring to the table, why he
deserved a scholarship from the school, and what he felt would be the likely business and economic
climate when he graduated in a year.

How to practice effectively

Prayer advises perfecting your narrative by practicing with many different people. She said, “The key
here is to make the interviewer remember you as a person, so you should prepare to convey positive
differentiating points that he or she can attach to your name.”

“Doing a mock interview with different people was also extremely helpful for me to get over nerves.
It is easier sometimes to make a 100-person presentation about a work topic than to tell your story to
one person.”

Joy’s tactic was to talk with her former bosses and people who knew her well. She discussed the
motivation for her application and found it useful to see how other people perceived her, especially
in terms of what they saw as her strengths and weaknesses.

“Turns out we had different opinions sometimes, who would have guessed?! That made me more
aware of what I needed to work on and where to challenge myself”, she said.
1) What are your short and long-term goals? How do you plan to use your MBA?

Your short-term goals should be concrete and achievable, and your long-term goals should fit well with
your passions and personality.

2) What are you most looking forward to in business school?

This is a great opportunity to show that you are ready for the challenges of business school and that
you have thought about how you can use your time wisely.

3) Describe a time where you had to adapt to a different culture.

MBA classes are typically very diverse – show that you’re comfortable working with many different
types of people and embracing unfamiliar cultures.

4) Why have you decided to apply to business school?

Be clear and concrete. You should be able to outline a practical career trajectory and articulate the
advancement you expect from your MBA.

5) Why does this MBA program appeal to you?

Show that you have done your research. Have three or four very specific reasons and highlight any
unique resources that you are particularly interested in.

6) How will you contribute to our campus?

Mention clubs and leaderships opportunities that you are interested in, and highlight any unique
passions that you would bring to the student body.

7) Tell me about a time where you overcame a particularly difficult challenge at work. How did you
add value?

Think of an unusual challenge, and be able to explain it concisely, without getting too lost in the details.

8) What kind of leader are you? Can you give me an example of a time when provided extraordinary
leadership?

Again, have several leadership examples ready to go. Ideally, these will be action-based, with tangible
results that you can easily prove.

9) What do you think about [national or international current event]?

It’s always a good idea to read up on current events before an interview, so that you can converse
fluently if called upon. Be careful not to get too political- just express an opinion politely and move on.
10) If you could change one thing about your professional life, what would it be and why?

Keep your changes within the business realm- perhaps a different industry or team within your firm.
You do not want your interviewer wondering why you even entered the business world at all.

Before concluding, adcoms and alums normally inquire if you have questions for them. Isiadinso points
out that this serves two purposes. First, it helps students get beyond the branding. “Their answers can
help you assess what it would really be like to be a student in the program,” she writes, “and if it is
truly the best fit for you.” Even more, it reinforces a strong impression. “Asking intelligent questions
shows interests and engagement,” Isiadinso adds.

Here are some questions to pose to interviewers, courtesy of Isiadinso:

1) What do you think sets this campus culture apart from others? See if their description of campus
life fits well with your impressions.

2) What major changes do you see on the horizon for this program? If the program is considering
changing its curriculum or teaching format, you should factor that into your decision.

3) Would you say that a large number of students enter [X field/industry that you are interested in]?
How does the program work to develop relationships with that field or industry? Look for concrete,
practical answers- your first-choice school should have an active alumni network in your field and be
a resource well beyond graduation.

4) If you were in my position, with my career goals, what would you say are your program’s biggest
advantages to me? Ideally, these answers will align with your own perceptions to confirm your
interests in the program. If they struggle to come up with practical answers, you might want to dig a
bit deeper.
Prodigy Finance - The questions YOU should ask at an MBA interview

Remember the elation you felt when you received an interview request? Surely that was followed
with a combination of anticipation and dread. This is the make-or-break moment for many
applicants. The last thing you want to do is put your foot in your mouth or stammer through
incoherent responses.

But, the questions you ask at the end of the interview are just as important as your responses to the
questions asked of you. They demonstrate your interest and motivation as much (if not more) than
any answer in the interview.

And, not asking questions subtlety tells your interviewers that you’re not all that interested in their
programme. Although you need to be prepared for anything in your interview, you shouldn’t plan to
go off the cuff when it comes to your questions. You want to prepare them carefully.

What NOT to ask during your MBA admissions interview

To begin with, there are plenty of questions that you need to avoid during your interview. These range
from personal to obscure and asking any of these questions could produce undesired results.

 General Questions: If you can find the answer to your question online or in a brochure, you’re
way off the mark with your question. Admission teams want to see that you’ve dug deeper.
 Personal Questions: You can ask your interviewer how she would define the school and some
of her opinions, but you can’t ask anything that crosses a personal line. You also can’t ask
what your chances are. If you do, your prospects are likely to plummet.
 Unrelated Questions: If you’re planning to pursue a finance specialisation and everything in
your application supports that, don’t ask questions regarding classes or professors outside
your focus.

The questions you SHOULD be asking

Remember that your interview is not really a test. The school is looking for reasons to accept you.

At this point, the admissions team wants to see that you are as vivacious and motivated as suspected
and that you’re still keen on their programme. The first part of your interview is about proving that
you’re genuine and that your papers accurately represent the person you are. Your questions are
meant to show your interviewer that you want to be a part of their programme. Here’s what you
should ask to demonstrate just that.

 School Assets: Feel free to ask what the interviewer thinks are the school’s greatest assets or
benefits. But, make sure you ask what the drawbacks are too – and what future students can
do to help transform challenges into programme strengths.
 Ask for Advice: You can ask for advice on making the most of your time at their school if you’re
accepted. This is always a good question because it gives you both something to think about.
 Campus Life: When you enquire about specific buildings, facilities or activities it shows that
not only are you picturing yourself on campus, but also being actively engaged in student life.
 Research and Faculty: Asking about specific initiatives in your field and how you can become
involved shows that you’re really excited about their educational content and faculty.
Finally, don’t forget to ask about the best person to speak to in the future if you have specific
questions if you are accepted into the programme. Remember too that you only have a limited
amount of time, so make sure you keep your questions succinct and pertinent.

And now? Off to the mirror for some practice.

US News: 5 Questions to Ask During MBA Admissions Interviews

When preparing for the MBA admissions interview, business school applicants often focus on
preparing responses to a list of questions they expect from the interviewer, including the unexpected
curve balls.

However, in many cases, the questions that the MBA candidate asks—typically toward the end of the
interview—are equally important and can often be the difference makers that lead to an acceptance
letter, according to Christine Sneva, director of admissions and financial aid at Cornell
University's Johnson School of Management.

"It's a chance for candidates to show they've made the effort to dig a little deeper, that they care and
have genuine interest in our program and faculty research," Sneva says.

Sneva explains that the Johnson School encourages students to develop a natural relationship with
faculty. Therefore, she finds it impressive when an interviewee identifies interest in a particular
professor's research or philosophies because it indicates that the candidate is likely to make an effort
to develop a relationship with that professor. However, even the simple questions can leave a good
impression, she says.

"I like it when a candidate asks about the facilities such as the library, student center, and academic
buildings," Sneva says. It seems simple, but it shows that the candidate is picturing his or herself here.
And that's important to us."

While an admissions dean, I looked for interviewer feedback about the types of questions the
applicant asked. It provided insight into what the candidate was thinking and what is important to him
or her about an MBA education. The key to the questions is quality, not quantity; here are five
questions that every candidate should ask:

1. Ask a question based on something you read in a brochure or on the school website: If there's
something of particular interest or information from the school's site or a brochure that doesn't quite
make sense, ask about it. This demonstrates due diligence and indicates time well spent researching
that MBA program.

2. Ask the interviewer why he or she decided to become part of the respective school: Whether it's a
student, alumnus, or admissions staff representative, this is a great way to engage your interviewer
and seek first-hand knowledge of what makes the school special. It's likely you'll pick up on something
you hadn't considered. A related question for a current student or alumnus could be if the school
would be his or her first choice if doing it again.

3. Ask the interviewer about the school or program's greatest asset: While the MBA admissions
interview is the perfect opportunity for candidates to show off what makes them special, it is perfectly
reasonable for the school to do the same. Make a point to ask the interviewer what he or she believes
is the program's greatest asset.

Follow up with a question about what he or she thinks is the greatest drawback, and let the interviewer
know that you are interested in a candid response. This shows you realize that no MBA program is
perfect, and indicates that you are a discerning and savvy consumer. If there is an unwillingness to
answer that question, it should raise concern that perhaps there's something to hide.
4. Ask how the interviewer would describe the school: If time permits, ask the interviewer what three
adjectives he or she would use to describe the school. This is a kind of question that gives the
interviewer a chance to do some free associating, and it gives you an inside view of what the
interviewer really feels and can provide clues as to whether those feeling are authentic. The timing of
a question like this is important, though, so hold this question until a

5. Ask the interviewer what advice he or she would offer: This may be the most important question to
ask. It's also a good closing one. Don't hesitate to ask the interviewer for the one piece of advice he or
she would give you as a student at that school. You are soliciting advice from someone who knows
this MBA program well. You are also demonstrating that you welcome feedback from others, possess
a degree of humility, and value team input.
 What to ask deans, board members, and other officials:
 In your opinion, what really sets this school apart?
Officials know this is an important inquiry, especially if you're choosing between multiple schools. To
win points, Sawyer suggests prefacing your question with some original thought (e.g., "I've read that
Professor X just received the Nobel prize" or "As an entrepreneur, I was impressed with your 'Fund
My StartUp Program"). Otherwise, you may get the retort: "Well, what do you think sets this school
apart?"
 Can you talk a little about the student job search?
When you're about to drop $100,000-plus on an MBA, you're entitled to ask about career prospects,
especially during the current financial crisis. But tread carefully, says Chioma Isiadinso, the CEO of
Expartus, an admissions consulting company. Putting an official on the spot ("Can your school find me
a job?") is awkward and offputting. Before you broach the subject, show enthusiasm ("I've heard great
things about your alumni network") and emphasize that you're willing to be proactive.
For students, current and former:
 How have you most benefited from attending this school?
This question is crucial, especially if the interviewer pursued your concentration. According to Sawyer,
it shows that you're "in the game, and interested in success." Be careful with phrasing, though: "How
have you most benefitted?" is much more engaging (and much less skeptical) than "Have you
benefitted?"
 What was your favorite class? Who were your favorite professors?
O.K., these two are pretty obvious. But they're still good bets, says Dawna Clark, director of admissions
at Tuck School of Business. Students (and former students) love to impart wisdom, especially with like-
minded interviewees. Give them time to shine, and everyone wins: They'll get to relive a positive
academic experience, and you'll pick up some inside information.
 What's a typical day like?
Beyond engaging your interviewer, this question shows you care about more than academic factoids,
says Linda Abraham, president of Accepted.com, an online hub for college counseling. After all, you're
applying for an experience. It's only human to care about the little things, like when and where you'll
eat, sleep, learn, and let loose.
Questions for Adcom (professional staff, either at an off-campus "hub" interview location or on-
campus)
1. Ask about trends that affect your goals. For example, a client recently asked adcoms to confirm a
rumor he heard that the school would open a new program on another continent. Since my client's
long-term goals involve expanding to that market, he could ask about while reinforcing his future
vision.
2. Ask questions about the school's plans/mission/direction (but be sure to ask in the context of your
goals).
3. Ask how the school is related to the alumni community in your city/country. Ask about ways the
want alumni to be more active (if you can show your potential contributions).
4. If you know your interviewer's name before meeting her, use Google, LinkedIn, etc. to find out if
the interviewer herself is an alumna of the school. If so, you can ask some "alumni-type" questions
since she has a dual perspective (former student; current staff member).
5. Ask if there are ways to contribute case studies or other curricula (based on your experience).

Questions for Current Student (adcom volunteer on campus)

1. In general, you want to know her advice (based on her current/recent experience as a student at
your "dream school).

2. What surprised you most after enrolling in School X? (In other words, how have your perceptions
changed as you moved from applicant to student?)

3. Why did you choose this school?

4. What has been your most valuable academic experience, and why?

5. What has been your most valuable non-academic (club, experiential learning) experience?

Questions for Alumni Interviewer (in your home country)

1. You want to ask alumni for advice based on their experience before, during, and after attending
your "dream school."

2. How did attending School X affect your career?

3. How have you leveraged School X' alumni network in your professional (and personal) life?

4. What surprised you most after enrolling at School X?

5. Where else did you apply? Why did you choose School X?