University of Chicago MBA Admission Interview
(continued)
What should applicants most heavily
emphasize in their work experience?
It would be
helpful for us to know the following:
- What they
have done
- Why they
chose the path they did
- What they
believe they have learned from their work experiences
- How they
believe their professional background will allow them to
contribute as members of the GSB community
How important is an applicant's GMAT
score and what advice do you have for applicants who
struggled with this exam?
The GMAT is
one part of the evaluation process, but by no means is it
the sole determinant of admission. If someone has taken the
test and gotten a score he/she thinks could improve, it
would probably be a good idea to re-take the test.
What is GSB's policy regarding
applicants who take the GMAT multiple times?
We have no
requirement about how many test scores we will accept from
one applicant. However, studies have shown that after three
times, the scores usually does not change all that much. From our vantage point,
taking the test two or three times
certainly demonstrates that someone is trying to do their
best in this part of the application.
What was the GMAT score range for
admitted applicants this past year?
While we
don’t provide applicant data of this kind, we do provide
information for our enrolling class. The GMAT average for
the Class of 2005, who started last September, was 690.
Your second essay question
states, "You find
yourself on an elevator with the Dean of Chicago GSB. Please
tell him why this is the right school for you, and what you
hope to contribute if admitted."
What advice do you have for
applicants in terms of general content you are seeking with
this question?
Perhaps
this will sound simplistic, but our honest advice is to
answer the question in the way you see fit. This is not a
trick question, but rather, is asked in an effort to get to
know our applicants a bit better. There is no right or
wrong answer.
How important is the interview in the
admissions process and what specific applicant traits are
you using the interview to gauge? What types of questions
should applicants expect to be asked?
We see the
interview as extremely important in the application process
for two primary reasons:
- It allows us
to meet the applicant "off of the page" – in other words,
it allows for the applicant to come to life for us.
- It also
provides a two-way communication opportunity: The
applicant has an opportunity to sell herself/himself, and
the interviewer has an opportunity to sell the GSB.
While we
don't provide an exact list of questions, let us say that
the interview is a conversation aimed at getting to know the
applicant and the GSB better, so both parties can decide if
there is a good match between applicant and school.
Are these interviews conducted blind or
is the applicant's file reviewed beforehand?
Interviews
are deliberately conducted blind, so as not to bias the
interviewer in any way. We do ask that the interviewee
bring a resume with her/him to the interview.
Is there any advantage or disadvantage
to interviewing with an admissions officer versus an
alumnus?
Good
question. There is absolutely NO advantage/disadvantage
whatsoever. Interviews are weighted equally in the
evaluation process, irrespective of who it is that conducted
the interview.
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