With the current economic environment it is no surprise that business schools report significant increases in inquiries, higher attendance to on and off-site information sessions, and an increased volume of applications for attendance in 2009. But this rosy picture does not necessarily transfer toward the executive MBA, which may prove to be advantageous if you are planning to attend in the upcoming year.
The executive MBA is highly selective and lesser known than the traditional MBA. The EMBA’s 210 plus programs in the United States and around the world attract an older and more professional student body. The average age is 33 to 35 and typically seven years of work experience. Many students receive some level of financial assistance although this appears to wane during troubled economies. With less corporate financial support enrollment may not look as strong as in the past. For instance, EMBA enrollment is approximately 10% down from last year, due to the economy, reports Joan C. Coonrod, Director, EMBA Admissions, Goizueta Business School, Emory University. Wharton reports little to no growth in applications for similar reasons.
At the same time schools are seeing more self-financed students. Enrollees accept the higher cost education of the EMBA to a traditional MBA with the understanding of a richer and more rewarding real-world, practical business education. No matter how many slots will be competed for in the upcoming years, one of the most important parts of the application process is the graduate business school interview.
The interview is one of several components to the career record as we discuss at length in our book The Executive MBA: An Insider’s Guide for Working Professionals in Pursuit of Graduate Business Education. The career record is an aggregation of professional and personal history summarized in a series of steps that include the essays, interview, evaluation, and the business school application. The career record best represents a total picture of a working professional applying to the EMBA. Each component of the career record deserves careful attention and no part should be treated less than the next, although admissions officers agree that certain aspects of the career record receive more weight than others.
An interview is essential and strongly encouraged to take place face-to-face rather than by phone, although phone interviews are available for the international and cross continent applicant. “At Fordham University we do require an interview for admissions. For foreign students this interview is done via phone,” says Francis Petit, assistant dean and EMBA program director at Fordham’s Graduate School of Business Administration.
Schools vary on the formality of the actual interview, but do not underestimate the importance of the interview in the evaluation process. If an interview is scheduled then you have passed a round of internal reviews and now it is time to meet. Some important considerations for preparation include wearing professional attire, understanding the audience, having some working knowledge about what the interviewers want from their applicants, and being able to clearly articulate personal and professional achievements.
Bring a few copies of your resume and note taking during the interview is acceptable. Treat the interview as if it were a high profile meeting. Interviews are generally conducted by faculty who will be teaching the course and it takes about 30 minutes. “It’s a formal interview, the candidate should expect a similar format to a job interview,” says Josie Powell, PR Coordinator, Saïd Business School of Oxford University.
The actual interview will typically last for up to an hour. Expect a lot of open-ended questions as they will want to get to know more about you as a person. In your explanations they will evaluate you on attitude, communication skills, general intellect and, most of all, the ability to fit with fellow classmates and contribute to the cohesion of the group. As Diane A. Sharp, Associate Director, Marketing and Admissions, MBA Program for Executives, The Wharton School at UPenn, describes, “Interviews are one-on-one and with a member of the Admissions Committee. They last approximately 45 minutes. We focus mostly on job history and why an MBA is necessary. We are looking to see if the individual haspositive interpersonal skills and has examples of leadership in his/her past.”
Since the whole person is the objective even traditionally taboo subjects may have a place here. For example, if you volunteer, belong to a political group, are active in a religious group, or even play an instrument, all help to color the picture of who you are and what separates you from the next candidate to walk through the door to be interviewed.
Since business is a global discipline it is advisable to discuss your international experience including business overseas, family that may live in another country, a foreign language you may speak, and ability to work with people in other cultures. Admissions directors value international experience.
Before we look more closely at the actual types of questions asked, the applicant will want to ask questions as well, and it is ok to be inquisitive. But avoid asking questions that can be answered in the school’s literature like, emphasis or strength of the program, size of class etc. Asking for tips or insights on juggling work with school is reasonable and might reveal some interesting tricks of the trade. Try to get a feel if your career and background is the right fit for the school. If the prospective EMBA has a pharmaceutical tract then inquire how this would work for someone not in the same field.
Have you ever considered why bus doors are always opposite to the driver’s seat? Or why manhole covers are round? These classic interview questions by top consulting firms are meant purely to judge your intellect and reasoning process. They want to see how you think and draw conclusions in a cogent and meaningful way. The same is true of the sample questions in this article. Do not take them lightly, but also, do not sound scripted. Instead, carefully prepare your responses. If you have not given the consideration as to why you want to go back to school or fully understand the responsibilities and demands of the education on work life and personal life then trying to figure this out in the interview will sink your objective of getting accepted. To get you started and determine if the EMBA is right for you try the Executive MBA Self-Assessment Form on the EMBA World website (www.EMBAWorld.com).
Here are samples of basic questions you can expect to be asked:
Tell me about yourself, or, how would you describe yourself?
Why have you chosen this particular program?
What are your interests outside of work?
What are your plans after graduation?
Where do you see yourself in five, ten years?
What are you looking for in the Executive MBA?
What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
Who recommended our program to you?
What would you do next year if you did not get accepted into business school?
Why should I choose you over another applicant?
What questions do you have for me about the program?
What do you do in your spare time? Hobbies? Last book read for pleasure?
Tell me about your most challenging experience at your company and what did you learn from it?
Tell me about a stressful experience and how you coped with it?
How would you describe your personal philosophy?
What is the biggest failure you’ve had to deal with?
What have your supervisors criticized most about your performance?
If you could change one thing about your personality with a snap of your fingers, what would it be?
Tell me about your most satisfying experience at your company?
Tell me about an experience working with a difficult colleague?
Tell us about an ethical business situation you faced?
Sample questions to the interviewer
Are there any major changes anticipated at the school for the upcoming year?
What industries do graduates come from?
What do you consider the greatest strengths and weaknesses of the program?
How would you describe the EMBA teaching methods?
What is the percentage of students who change careers after graduation?
(It never hurts: Send a note of thanks to the people you met, especially to programs under serious consideration.)
Interview Discussion Points:
Work experience
Conflict resolution and problem solving
Relationship with peers and superiors
Personal successes and failures
Professional successes and failures
Ability to manage change
Extracurricular activities: volunteer work, hobbies, and other personal and professional accomplishments
Taking the lead from comments made by the interviewer, you can feel free to continue discussion on a given topic. Keep the conversation interesting and on a professional level. ■
Biography: Jason Price is the Director of EMBA World.
