One way of improving your chances is studying and answering as many sample interview questions as you can.
Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, helps clients earn admission to top MBA programs. She has an undergraduate degree from Wharton and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Over the past decade, Blackman has studied successful Wharton interview transcripts and put together an interview guide featuring sample questions. The questions are broken into three categories: teamwork, leadership, and communication.
Teamwork questions cover how well you work in team settings and how you handle conflict. Sample questions include:
Successful answers will reflect “an ability to empathize with others and understand both the practical skills and the emotional needs of others on the team,” Blackman writes. Its also important to recall your own thoughts and feelings when describing your actions.
The key here is to provide proof that youve stepped up and made an impact in your personal leadership experiences. Sample questions include:
“When choosing examples to discuss, youll want to tell stories that truly define your attributes as a leader,” Blackman writes. “You may have had a number of leadership experiences, but which one had the greatest influence on your leadership development or highlights significant aspects of your leadership style?”
Your communication skills will be examined in two ways: how you persuade others and defend your ideas. Sample questions include:
“Outside of all of the modern tools and technologies at our disposal, a person who makes an impact must communicate in a way that impacts others, earning their respect and encouraging them to follow the lead,” Blackman writes.
At the tail-end of the interview process, it is common for Wharton to give you the opportunity to take the lead with questions like:
This can be an opportunity for you “to highlight any strengths you werent given an adequate occasion to discuss,” Blackman writes.
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10 Tips for MBA Interviews from Wharton/MIT/Northwestern Admit
Many West Coast students know Bernie Birt as the executive director of the MBA Program for Executives in San Francisco. This isn’t surprising, as she interviewed many of them during the admissions process. However, in addition to being an admissions committee member, she’s also the COO of Wharton San Francisco. We asked her to tell us more about both roles, and share some admissions tips for applicants. Here is what she said:
Q. You are on the executive board for the EMBA Council. Can you tell us about this group?
We have a director of entrepreneurship and a director of career management. They work closely together to reach out to companies and get inside access for our students to understand the startup market and see what it’s like to work in that environment. Our students also organize their own Entrepreneurship Conference every year.
Another aspect of the interview is that it can be the foundation for a future relationship. You always remember who you interview (and who interviewed you) so this is often the beginning of an ongoing connection with the student. I want them to feel like they can come back and talk to me throughout the program.
I try to put people at ease right away. This is a big decision and something they will only do once in their life. I want to make sure they do it at the right place for them. I’m honored that these wonderful, smart, and ambitious people are interested in being part of our program so I have great respect when I talk to them.
Barbara Craft, Director of Admissions
Campus: San Francisco
Don’t come to the interview with basic questions that can be answered easily on our website. This is not the place to be asking about how long the program is or where students stay. You should have thoughtful questions that pertain to your situation or about the Wharton experience as it relates specifically to you.
The interview is a two-way conversation. It’s a time for you to ask questions, but also for us to find out more about you as a person. We ask questions that help us understand your journey and how you got to where you are and where you see yourself going forward.
Students learn as much from each other as they do from professors in this program so we want people here who like to learn and want to help others learn too. We’re trying to determine if someone is a good fit for this program and if the program is a good fit for them.
One way of improving your chances is studying and answering as many sample interview questions as you can.
At the tail-end of the interview process, it is common for Wharton to give you the opportunity to take the lead with questions like:
Successful answers will reflect “an ability to empathize with others and understand both the practical skills and the emotional needs of others on the team,” Blackman writes. Its also important to recall your own thoughts and feelings when describing your actions.
The key here is to provide proof that youve stepped up and made an impact in your personal leadership experiences. Sample questions include:
“Outside of all of the modern tools and technologies at our disposal, a person who makes an impact must communicate in a way that impacts others, earning their respect and encouraging them to follow the lead,” Blackman writes.
– You can ask questions about the program as well as address any specific issues you might have.
[vc_row martech_row_background_position=”None”][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you are considering applying to Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives, call us soon to schedule an interview. You don’t need to wait until you’ve finished – or even started – your application. Make the interview part of your research on our program to see if we’re a good fit for you.
Since interviews are scheduled on days when Executive MBA classes are in session, you also can sit in on a class, meet current students, and even join them for a meal.
– You’ll discuss how your career has evolved, with examples of leadership within or outside of your work, and why getting an MBA is important to you.
– You get one-on-one time with a member of the Admissions Committee so that you can present yourself in “3D.”
FAQ
How do I prepare for an EMBA interview?
- Have a good understanding of the program. …
- Expect questions. …
- It’s about fit. …
- Schedule an interview as soon as you can. …
- Treat it like a job interview. …
- Observe a class. …
- Talk to students. …
- Enjoy the interview.
What questions are asked in an executive MBA interview?
- Tell me about yourself. …
- Why do you want to receive an MBA? …
- Why are you interested in this school or program? …
- What has been your most challenging or rewarding academic experience so far? …
- Discuss a time when you were a leader. …
- What do you like most about your current work?
How hard is it to get into Wharton EMBA?
The Wharton EMBA has a 44% acceptance rate, which makes it the most selective executive program.
Is EMBA from Wharton worth it?
