OT - Ross interview advice plz

Submitted by MaizeAndBlueWahoo on
So I'm slowly working toward the shedding of my Walmart Wolverine badge (proud though I may be of it) and just scheduled my interview at the Ross School of Business for early November. So I'm asking YOU, Mr. or Ms. Current Student or Proud Graduate, what should I prepare for? I figure all the standard job interview stuff applies (wear a tie, be early but not too early, turn your GODDAM CELL PHONE OFF DUMMY) but what kind of questions should I prepare for? Should I expect a long, involved conversation or is this a short and sweet kind of thing? Anything that someone familiar with the process can offer to help a U-M hopeful become a U-M student is ever so greatly appreciated!
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October 26th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^

I went into the MBA application/interview process completely unprepared thinking GMAT and grades were all that mattered.  I thought I was a shoe-in based on the quantitative items plus being a legacy of two Michigan MBA parents.  At the time I was applying, the only reason I wanted an MBA was so I could get a good job at the back end.  I wanted to go to Michigan because I loved visiting Ann Arbor growing up, loved Michigan sports and knew the school was a top program.  In my interview, I was caught off guard by the depth of the questions around why an MBA and why Michigan. Looking back on it now, I was a moron.  My only excuse is it was 1999 and there was still asymmetry of information in the world and I was on the side that didn't have all the info. 

I ended up getting turned down the first year I applied and was crushed.  The following year, I reapplied with a few new essays and no new interview and was waitlisted.  It wasn't until I rewrote one of my essays that created a compelling and detailed argument as to why an MBA would help me achieve my goals and why Michigan was the right place.  That finally got me in.  My 2 years in b-school were far and away the most fun 2 years of my life.

The point being, show the interviewer a path that you'd like to take and be sure to include why a Michigan MBA will help you reach your goal.   Good luck.

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