From the Admissions Office: Inside the Interview Process
October 25, 2010

The first round admissions deadline has just passed and interviews have begun. For those interviewing this round or for hoping to interview in the near future, we would like to take this opportunity to provide further insight into the interview process.

The admissions interview serves as one component among many in the application. At Yale SOM, the purpose of an interview is two-fold. First, it is a valuable part of the admissions process, providing the Admissions Committee with an opportunity to gather more information about the candidate’s personal qualities, leadership potential, career direction, and motivations for pursuing an MBA from Yale. Secondly, it provides the candidate with the opportunity to tell his or her story and go beyond what can be set down on paper.

Interviews are by invitation only. We review applications at random; therefore, the timing of an interview invitation is not a reflection of the overall strength of a candidate’s profile. We make every effort to extend invitations as early in a round as possible. Given the nature of the review process, however, some invitations can go out later in a round. Right now, for example, we have extended roughly half of the invitations planned for the first round, so there are many still to come. Most interviews are conducted by second-year students who have gone through a rigorous training process; however some are conducted by admissions staff, alumni, and other members of the SOM community. Finally, do not assume the interviewer knows your background aside from what is outlined on your resumé, as that is the only element of your application the interviewer has seen.

The interview will focus on your educational and employment background from college to the present. Given the 30-minute interview time frame, you will likely not have the opportunity to cover all of the areas you wish. Therefore, preparation is key. Review your resume and essays. Be prepared to address questions as they relate to your leadership experiences and career direction, and tell us your story. Be honest with yourself. We are not looking for you to tell us what you think we want to hear; we want to hear your unique and personal story.

Best of luck with the MBA admissions process!

Admissions Office
Yale School of Management
135 Prospect Street
Box 208200
New Haven, CT 06520-8200
203.432.5635, Admissions Office
203.432.6380, Visitor Center
fax 203.432.7004
mba.admissions@yale.edu