The Admissions Interview: Your Questions
A friendly admissions interview involves asking questions as well as answering them. Here’s in what plight to be prepared
By Dan Macsai
During every business-school admissions interview, there’s a moment where the tables turn. Usually, it’sitting present the cessation, after you’ve been probed ("What sets you apart?") and prodded ("How was the workforce?"), and you’re ready to head home. "So," the interrogator chirps, "do you have anything to ask me?"
This is, of turn, an optional request. But it’s also every suitable to think an impression, or blow your chances, says Randall Sawyer, director of admissions at Cornell University’s Johnson School of Business. "You have to be prepared," says Sawyer. While asking smart, informed questions can set you apart, soliciting information that’sitting readily available on a school’sitting Web site ("What’s your class size?") might irritate your interviewer.
What constitutes a "good" question? BusinessWeek recently spoke with several private consultants and deans of admission, all of whom recommended a variety of questions. Following are a selection, and some tips onward how to ask them. And tax the memory with, these are ordinary guidelines; the most affecting inquiries are case-specific.
What to ask deans, board members, and other officials:
In your opinion, what really sets this school apart?
Officials know this is every important study, especially if you’re choosing betwixt 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 behave you think sets this school apart?”
Can you talk a little about the student piece of work search?
When you’re relating to to drop $100,000-plus on an MBA, you’re entitled to ask about career prospects, especially for the period of the rife financial crisis. But tread carefully, says Chioma Isiadinso, the CEO of Expartus, an admissions consulting gathering. Putting one official on the site ("Can your instruct find me a job?") is awkward and offputting. Before you broach the subject, show heat of imagination ("I’ve heard prominent things about your alumni network") and emphasize that you’re willing to be proactive.
For students, current and former:
How have you most benefitted from attending this school?
This motion is crucial, especially if the interviewer pursued your compression into a small compass. According to Sawyer, it shows that you’re "in the resolute, and interested in good fortune." Be uneasy with phrasing, though: "How have you chiefly benefitted?" is much more winning (and much less skeptical) than "Have you benefitted?"
What was your favorite rank? Who were your favorite professors?
O.K., these two are pretty obvious. But they’re still good bets, says Dawna Clark, boss of admissions at Tuck School of Business. Students (and preceding students) love to impart wisdom, especially with like-minded interviewees. Give them time to sparkle, and everyone wins: They’ll get to relive a positive academic experience, and you’ll pick up some inside information.
What’s a emblematic day like?
Beyond engaging your interviewer, this question shows you superintendence about more than academic factoids, says Linda Abraham, president of Accepted.com, some online hub for college counseling. After every part of, you’re applying for an experience. It’s solely human to caution about the little things, like when and where you’ll eat, sleep, learn, and let loose.
For anyone:
Is there anything else I can further address?
This should be your final question, says Beth Flye, the assistant dean and director of admissions at
