All interviews are by invitation only and almost all are conducted by alumni around the world.
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Director's Corner
What is the purpose of the interviews?
by Derrick Bolton, MBA 1998
Assistant Dean for MBA Admissions
"In a Stanford MBA Program application, we ask you to provide two essays, two short-answer responses, three letters of reference, and extensive records regarding academic and professional performance. Collectively, that is an extensive amount of information about you.
So what, exactly, is the purpose of an interview—and how does it fit with everything else in your application?"
Interviews
Your admission interview is both evaluative and informative: it is not only an opportunity for us to learn more about you, but also for you to learn more about Stanford.
Our goal is for the interview to be a positive exchange of ideas and information.
We use the information derived from the interview in context, just as we use all other information in the application process.
The interview focuses on past actions rather than on hypothetical situations. The primary questions revolve around attitudes, behaviors, and skills that we believe are key to good citizenship in the Stanford community and vital to high-impact leadership post-MBA.
We ask you to reflect on your personal and professional experiences, what you've learned about yourself, and how best to lead people and manage situations.
You'll probably surprise even yourself with the many ways you've demonstrated leadership in your life; take advantage of this opportunity to think about the people, situations, and events that have shaped you.
If you are invited to interview, the MBA Admissions Office will contact you via email.
Approximate Interview Schedule |
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|---|---|---|
Round 1 |
Early September to late November |
If you are offered a place in the waitpool without an interview, you may be interviewed after you accept your spot in the waitpool. |
Round 2 |
Mid-December to mid- March |
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Round 3 |
Early April to mid-May |
Interview Process
All interviews are by invitation only and almost all are conducted by alumni near where you live or work. Candidates invited to interview have been reviewed by the Committee on Admissions and are considered competitive for admission.
We do not have resources to interview every applicant to the Stanford MBA Program, but we will interview every candidate who is offered admission to the class. We expect to interview between 800 and 1,000 applicants this year.
- We will contact you via email or phone.
- Do not call or contact our office to request an interview.
- After you receive an invitation, you and your interviewer will set up a mutually convenient date and time to meet.
- If you are offered a place in the waitpool without an interview, you may be interviewed after you accept your spot in the waitpool.
- We do not provide interview feedback.
