Acing the MBA Admissions Interview

You’ve worked hard on your MBA application, aced the GMAT, told a great story through your CV and essays, had your application package reviewed by a professional MBA Admissions consultant, obtained glowing references, and submitted your application on time. Now what?

The next crucial step in your application is an interview. If you were invited for one – congratulations! This means that the Admissions Committee at your dream business school considers you an interesting candidate and would like to meet you to further assess your qualifications and your personality.

Some candidates believe, mistakenly, that the interview is just a formality. If you were applying for a job, would you think that an interview was only a formality? Getting an interview simply means you’re still “in the game”, so take the interview seriously!

Remember, there are many applicants vying for limited seats in the MBA program, and your job is to “sell” yourself to the Admissions Committee. Be sure to know what the school is looking for in candidates and highlight your achievements that are most relevant to that particular business school.

A common question that many candidates ask is: How do I know what the school is looking for? Chances are, this is the first time you’ll be applying to an MBA program, and you may simply not know what you don’t know. The easiest and most straightforward approach is to hire an MBA Admissions consultant with lots of experience in the industry. After all, you can only do your MBA once, so getting into the best possible school that fits your profile and your career aspirations may mean the difference between living your dream career or getting stuck in the jobs you don’t like for another 30-40 years of your professional life.

How do I prepare?

Remember that the interview is a culmination of your entire application. It is a chance to clarify and elaborate on the “story” you told through your application, and make a good impression that will likely result in an offer of admission.

For this reason, your interview prep should begin well before you’re invited for one! When you’re putting together your “story”, be sure to highlight 3 main areas:

1. Where you came from: your background, education, work experience, and community involvement.

2. Where you’re going: your career objectives, your dream job after the MBA, where do you see yourself in the next 2, 5 and 10 years.

3. How this business school can help you get there: why the school is the perfect fit for you, how you would benefit from the MBA, and how you would contribute to the success of others.

If getting professional help with your MBA Applications is not practical, be sure to do extensive research on your own: read com-ments and profiles of other candidates who were successfully admitted to the same school; visit the school campus and talk with cur-rent students; search your LinkedIn network and connect with students and alumni from that school; ask for advice; and definitely have someone, ideally a friend or a colleague who successfully applied to the same or a similar business school, run mock interviews with you and give you honest feedback.

How should I present myself at the interview?

Make a good first impression from the moment you walk into the reception area. Shake hands, maintain a good eye contact and keep a positive attitude. Be humble but confident. Be well rested and well dressed. Be prepared, but don’t sound like you’re reading from a prompter. Most importantly, relax and be yourself. After all, you want the business school to admit you for who you really are!

Should I simply answer questions?

While it’s important to answer your interviewer’s questions, your job is to tell your “story” and further strengthen your application. Be sure to tailor your answers and highlight unique personal stories that make you different.

Let the interviewer guide you through the first steps, but then gently take control of the conversation. Be polite; never cut off the interviewer when he or she asks questions or makes comments. Start your answer by repeating the question; this will help you stay focused. Avoid one-word answers.

Most importantly, prepare 2-3 compelling questions, answers to which you can’t easily find on the Internet. Asking interesting and unique questions will make you more memorable and could tip the scales in your favour even more!
Finally, remember to follow up no later than 1 day after the interview, and ideally the same day if your interview is in the morning. Thank the interviewer(s) for their time and reiterate your interest in the program. Good luck!

Have personal questions related to MBA Admissions or GMAT preparation, or would like to receive a free professional evaluation of your profile?

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This article was originally published in the Access MBA Guide, 2016-2017 Edition.

Smaller classes, more opportunities: true of MBA programs, true of GMAT courses

Bigger doesn’t always mean better. A small class size often provides a much more personalized learning experience. Here are some things to consider in your search of a perfect MBA program or a GMAT prep course.

1. A good fit

MBA is not simply an academic program where you learn the basics of business. It is a professional degree designed to help you boost your career. A smaller program will often give you more opportunities for closer interaction with your peers, faculty, the career centre, and with the school’s industry contacts at networking events.

Be sure to visit the school’s campus and attend classes and information sessions to get a feel of the school’s culture and understand if a smaller class environment is the right fit for you.

When it comes to selecting an ideal GMAT prep course, you need to look for a personal fit as well. GMAT is unlike most other tests, because it measures not your knowledge of specific rules or formulas, but the skills that will make you a successful MBA student and a successful future manager: skills such as analytical abilities, critical thinking, and decision making.

A good GMAT course will provide not just the knowledge, but the right training environment to help you develop these skills. In a large GMAT class, your instructor won’t get to know you and won’t be able to offer any personalized feedback – the feedback that will be crucial to help you develop the right skills to succeed on the test.

Be sure to contact the GMAT prep centre, ask about the class size, and attend a free sample class, if one is available. Find out if there are is a money back guarantee if you are promised a small class and end up in a class of 25+ people – because you can’t learn effectively in a class this large, you might be better off taking a class at a different prep centre that guarantees small classes.

2. More specialized

Many smaller MBA programs are highly specialized and are designed to meet the needs of specific industries. For example, some world-class MBA programs such as Luxury Brand Management MBA at ESSEC, Hospitality Management MBA at EHL and Wine Marketing and Management MBA at INSEEC may not be as well known as Harvard or Insead, but are much more focused, practice-oriented, and have excellent reputation in their field – many graduates from these smaller specialized programs have multiple job offers from the best companies in their industries before graduation.

Many GMAT courses offer cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all courses. You might be in class for many hours, listening to things you already know, because in a larger class an instructor must progress slowly and can’t afford to lead the class efficiently based on your individual needs.

Admit Master GMAT courses are smaller, more personalized, and are designed for MBA candidates who are targeting 650-700+ scores on the GMAT. Before taking classes, you will take a full-length diagnostic GMAT test, will meet 1-on-1 with an expert instructor to discuss your study plan, and will work on refreshing your basic knowledge of theory by completing practical Math & Verbal exercises online.

Because every candidate coming to the Admit Master GMAT course is well prepared, and because in a small class of 12-15 people your instructor will know you personally, the course will progress much more efficiently, saving you time and letting you focus on harder topics that will make a real difference in your GMAT score results.

3. Marketing

Large business schools can afford to spend more money on advertising, yet schools with smaller enrollments could still be among the best in the world (take Stanford GSB, for example).

The same pattern could be seen in the GMAT prep industry. Prep centres with larger classes spend a lot of money on advertising to fill these classes, yet don’t necessarily offer the best classroom experience, because a large part of your tuition is spent on marketing. These programs tend to be very generic and mass-oriented, where you become just a number. Remember your undergraduate class of 100-500 students? 🙂

Smaller programs, such as Admit Master’s GMAT Mastery program, tend to attract many students through word of mouth and can focus on providing quality training and personal support instead of expensive advertising.

Be sure to read reviews from real past students on Google or Facebook, and don’t hesitate to ask the GMAT prep company to put you in touch with candidates who took the course before you – this will help you not only learn from experiences of others, but also understand if the company indeed cares about each student and keeps in touch with them after the course is over.

4. Cost

An MBA is a major investment. While cost of the program is important, you need to look at the value the MBA will provide to your future career. Don’t choose a program just because it’s cheap – you can only do one MBA, and a cheap program from a less reputable business school may prove to be a poor investment. At the same time, a more expensive program doesn’t always mean a better value – you need to see whether your tuition goes to providing a high-quality, personalized education, or on other things that don’t add value to you.

We recommend picking a program that’s the best fit for your career and that offers the best long-term value, and then maximizing the value of your investment by securing an entrance scholarship based on your competitive GMAT score and your attractive overall MBA application package.

GMAT courses cost a lot less than MBA programs, but an opportunity cost of taking a poor course could be significant: many larger courses are designed for average candidates and won’t help you get a high score within a short time. Thus, you may need to spend more money on additional resources and private tutoring, and may need to delay your MBA application – a decision that may cost you $30,000-$50,000 or more in foregone salary because you will graduate a year later.

Admit Master’s GMAT courses include everything you need to succeed on the GMAT – small classes, personalized attention, online resources and practice tests, free course retakes for 1 full year, and even 1-on-1 tutoring. To maximize the value of your investment in the GMAT course, be sure to register early to take advantage of early-bird discounts, and set aside 8-10 hours per week to do your homework, so that you can get to your dream score faster.

5. Strong network

Smaller, more exclusive MBA programs often have stronger alumni networks. Smaller classes not only facilitate opportunities to get to know your classmates on a more personal level, forging quality lasting relationships and helping you build a stronger professional network, but also allow for greater opportunities to tap into more tight-knit alumni networks that could be invaluable in your post-MBA job search.

For example, two world-class MBA programs – Queen’s & Ivey – have smaller class sizes and are located outside of the Greater Toronto Area, yet many of our students who went on to study at these schools praise excellent recruiting opportunities with the best companies in Toronto – a testament to the strength of the alumni networks at these business schools.

A GMAT course is often your first opportunity to develop lasting relationships with future MBA students at different business schools. This is your perfect chance to expand your network beyond your chosen business school, so don’t take it lightly!

Most GMAT courses offered at University campuses serve almost exclusively applicants to these Universities. Even if you’re planning to apply to these Universities, you’ll be better off taking a GMAT course outside of the campus and expanding your network beyond that one University.

Because Admit Master’s GMAT Mastery program is designed for candidates targeting high GMAT scores of 650-700+, most of your peers in the GMAT course will be successfully admitted to the best MBA programs in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Take full advantage of the opportunity to get to know your classmates in the GMAT course, and you’ll be well on your way to building awesome professional relationships for years to come!

Choose wisely

One of the greatest benefits of smaller programs is the feeling of community. During your program, you will get to know everyone in class. Your trainers, professors, and the staff will be there to support you on a more personal level. When you graduate, you will feel part of a stronger alumni family.

Choose your MBA program and your GMAT course wisely. Do your research, visit the school, and don’t fall for empty promises and one-size-fits-all marketing messages. Find the right learning environment and look for a good fit with your personal and professional goals. Don’t underestimate small programs, because small is indeed beautiful and small can be your perfect match!

Learn more about Admit Master’s GMAT course in Toronto, Chicago, Montreal and Online.

Need help choosing the best GMAT prep option or the best MBA program for you?

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GMAT is the key to open doors to many business schools

The GMAT exam is the first step towards achieving your dream career! As the gold standard for admission to the world’s top ranked business and management programs, the GMAT exam will help turn your life’s passion into profitable and successful career.

Today the GMAT exam is the most widely used test for graduate management admissions and the most reliable predictor of academic success in graduate business and management studies. The exam measures your verbal, quantitative, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing skills. The GMAT exam is the key to quality MBA programs that attract the best candidates and bring the best professional opportunities in the future.

More than 5, 400 graduate-level business and management programs around the world use the GMAT exam to help identify students who can succeed in their programs. Rather that testing your knowledge of business or any other subject matter, the GMAT exam measures higher-order reasoning skills – skills that matter in management environment and global workplace. You will need basic knowledge of geometry, algebra, statistics, and the English language to demonstrate different types of reasoning skills.

1. Analytical Writing Assessment measures your ability to evaluate the reasoning behind an argument and convey your position in writing.
2. Integrated Reasoning section measures your ability to synthesize and analyze data from multiple sources and different formats to solve complex problems.
3. Quantitative section measures your ability to solve quantitative problems, interpret graphic data, and know what data you need to solve a problem.
4. Verbal section measures your ability to read and analyze text, reason and evaluate arguments, and convey ideas effectively in English.

[styledtable]

GMAT Section # of Questions Time Score Scale
Analytical Writing Assessment 1 essay 30 min 0 – 6, in 0.5 intervals
Integrated Reasoning 12 questions 30 min 1 – 8, in single digit intervals
Quantitative 37 questions 75 min 0 – 60, in single digit intervals
Verbal 41 questions 75 min 0 – 60, in single digit intervals
Total score is based on performance on the Quantitative and Verbal sections, reported on a 200 – 800 scale.

[/styledtable]

Take the GMAT exam seriously, start preparing in advance, as you already know – a good GMAT score is the best way to get the world’s top business schools to notice You!

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Best strategies for attending an MBA fair

February is a busy time for MBA candidates. You may be still trying to put together applications for September, or are beginning to explore your options for the following academic year. The best way to meet different business schools in one day is to visit an MBA Fair. For the past couple of weeks, cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Boston, and New York hosted multiple events: QS World Grad Grad Tour and MBA conferences organized by QS and The MBA Tour.

If you haven’t had a chance to join MBA fairs in your city this time, we would like to share some tips on how to make the most of your time at the next MBA event you’ll be attending.

Do your homework

Create a list of programs you believe will suit your individual goals, abilities and circumstances. Check the list of the schools that are coming to the fair, visit their websites and at least read some information on their home pages and in program guides. Showing that you know a bit, or a lot, about a specific school indicates that you’re serious about doing your MBA.

Ask the right questions

At the fair, focus on the schools you already know are likely to be a good match, and come prepared with a list of questions to ask, such as teaching style, mix of students, academics, areas of specialization, future career options and the cost of living. Do not ask questions, answers to which could be easily found on the business school’s website. Be interesting, ask challenging and creative questions.

Make a good impression

You won’t have much time with each prospective school, so you’ll want to make the most of it. Take a few moments to introduce yourself and be memorable. Tell the Admissions representative about your background, career goals and how you’ll be able to contribute to your future MBA class. In addition to an engaging and a meaningful conversation, you’ll want to make an impression by establishing great eye contact, having a firm handshake, and telling a memorable story. Bring a hard copy of your resume and don’t forget to exchange business cards!

Make connections

An increasing number of schools now bring alumni to fairs alongside their admissions personnel. Probe them for insights about the pros and cons of their MBA experience. Attend different seminars and panels, ask the right questions, talk to business school representatives and alumni to get more useful and unique information.

Dress for success

While it’s certainly not mandatory to wear a black suit, remember this is your first opportunity to make a good impression. It only makes sense to look and act in a professional manner.

Impress the business schools by knowing the GMAT

At the fair, talk to representatives from Admit Master to get more insights into the strategies for acing the GMAT and for preparing an application that will help you stand out. Come to a free GMAT class before going to the fair, or better yet, begin preparing for the GMAT by joining the GMAT Mastery program designed for 700+ scores.

Not only will you get a head start on the admissions process compared to other applicants, but you’ll also show to the business schools that you’re taking this process very seriously.

Can’t visit us at the fair or can’t wait to get tips on how to ace the GMAT? Sign up for a Free 1 on 1 Consultation with one of our expert GMAT & MBA Application Advisers.

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