Stanford Interview

Below are interview reports from those who have interviewed with Stanford.

Please add your interview report directly below this paragraph and above all other reports. Please also include the date you are publishing your report; the type of interview (adcom / alumni / student) and the admissions round for which you interviewed (R1 / R2 / R3). You will need an account to submit your report. Please see the instructions in the lefthand column for details on how to sign up for an account.

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11. R2, Alumni Interview

My interviewer was a banker. Very friendly and personable. He stuck to the clock, asked me questions for 30 mins and gave me 15 mins to ask him Qs. For the most part, I spent the first 30 minutes explaining my reasoning behind every transition, educational and professional on my resume.

Why did you do a Master’s degree (non-MBA)?

Why MBA, you already have a Master’s? Why now?

Why Stanford?

What other schools did you apply to? Why?

What has been your most significant accomplishment and why?

Explain to me how you lead in your work or in some other context?
Tell me about a time when you failed within a team. 

What was your favorite class in college?

Questions I asked the interviewer:

How has the MBA influenced your career and life?

What has the GSB done for you that no other b-school could?

What was your fondest memory at the GSB?

Given my background, how can I make the most of the Stanford MBA?

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10. R2: Alumni interview – March 2006 – Admitted Student

The interview lasted 45 minutes. It took places at the interviewer’s office. She explained me that she was going to ask me questions for about 45 minutes and then leave time for me to ask any questions that I had about the program.  The interviewer was very friendly and enthusiastic about Stanford.

She asked the following questions:

1. Tell me why do you want to pursue an MBA now
2. Why Stanford? How does Stanford fit into your short-term and long-term goals?
3. Tell me about a recent criticism you have received and what have you done to improve? Tell me a situation when you had the chance to apply your improvements.
4. What has been your most significant accomplishment and why?
5. Tell me a situation when you had to deal with a difficult manager / boss.
6. Describe a situation when your values were challenged.
7. What book have you read recently? What was it about and do you recommend it?
8. What do you like to do outside of work?

Then she asked if I had any questions about Stanford and I asked her a couple of questions regarding her personal experience and the most valuable things she learned at Stanford. I also asked about her decision making process when she had to chose among schools.  She then told me that the 45 minutes were up and she told that she would love to continue the conversation but wanted to stick to the format.

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 9. R2: Alumni Interview

• Tell me about yourself
• Why MBA?
• What are long term and short term goals?
• Why Stanford?
• Tell me about a time when you led a team towards a goal.
• Tell me about a time when you failed.  Have you learned from this failure (give example)?
• What’s the best piece of criticism you’ve received? 
• What has been your most significant accomplishment and why?
• Tell me about a time when you worked under bad leadership. 
• Tell me about a time when your values were challenged. 

The alum was very likeable and down-to-earth.  The interview seemed to go well, but who knows how it'll end up- fingers crossed.  Good luck to everyone – the best advice really is to relax and be yourself. 

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 7. Alum Interview in the Bay Area; Round 2 - Interviewed: February 21, 2006 (Publish: Feb. 24)

Met with the alumni at her company in a meeting room. The interview lasted 45 minutes. This was definitely a very conversational interview which allowed me to speak to my experiences in my professional, academic, extracurricular, and especially my personal life. I can only describe this as one of the most enlightening and down-to-earth interviews I've had thus far.

We went through her list of "Stanford recommended" questions:

1) What was the point/situation that made you realize you wanted an MBA?
2) Why Stanford?
3) Tell me about a challenging time for you.
4) Tell me a time where you failed as a leader. What was the reaction of those under you?
5) What do you believe to be your greatest achievement?
6) Tell me about a great leader you had and what you learned from this person.
7) What was the best college course you took?
8) Why aren't you applying to schools X and Y?
9) What is the best constructive criticism you've received?
10) What is a non-business book you've read and what did you learn from it?

Then, I was given 5 minutes to ask her questions. During the interview we conversed on women in business, swapped book recommendations and community service orgs to look into, and both spoke about our passion for "why Stanford." We discussed Stanford's culture, class dynamics, location, which classes to take, professors and their research, and hands-down, how the GSB offers the best leadership development and growth through its general management program. We also discussed opportunities in the social sector - though I had clearly emphasized my interest in marketing. Since I had been to campus several times for the 1) Info Session, 2) GSB Tour, 3) Lunch w/ Student, and 4) In-Class Visit, I was also able to speak about the GSB on a personal level to reinforce the "why Stanford" for me. 

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6. Publish Date: 2/10/06, Stanford R2 Interview with alum, Philadelphia

This was by far the most conversational interview I have had.  It was conducted on February 8 in his office.  He said it would last approximately 45 minutes to an hour, and it lasted exactly one hour.  He started by introducing himself and explaining how the interview fit into the application process, then he complimented me on my resume and my accomplishments.

I don't remember him asking very many explicit questions other than:

-What prompted you to apply to Stanford?

-Describe a time when you have proposed an idea that was not initially well-received.  How did you handle it?

-What has been your most significant accomplishment and why?

-What do you like to do outside of work?

-What book are you reading right now and what have you learned from it?

IHe also indicated that he had visited my company's website and asked me to comment on the organization's current leadership transition (from a management perspective). Inbetween asking these questions we went off on tangents about travel, visiting the Stanford campus, and various books we'd read.  He then asked me if I had any questions for him. Leaving the interview, I was worried that he had not asked me why I wanted an MBA and what my career goals were.  The following morning I received a phone call from him and he apologized for not having asked those questions during the interview and then posed them to me.  I was glad that he followed up rather than submitting his review to Stanford without that key info! 

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5. Publish Date: 03 Feb 2006, Stanford R2 Interview with alum, coffe shop in East Asia

After having several interviews with alum, students and adcom, I found this one unique. Although I had previously had an alum interview, I did not find it to be as comfortable/casual as this one. Having said that, the interviewer still managed to maintain a respectable level of formality, seriousness, etc. I.e. the tone was relaxed but the context what quite serious and he nonverbally made it clear that "we are here to do business." I was thus very impressed with the ability of the interviewer to make me feel so comforable while at the same time sticking to the agenda. The interview was scheduled for 45 minutes and he explicitly stated before the interview that we would keep to that schedule (he actually set his stopwatch!).

The interviewer first asked me to explain how I ended up in my current job. I took this as a cue to give him a quick rundown of my background (education, etc.) and gave a brief walkthrough of my resume up to the point of joining my current employer.

He then asked me directly why I want an MBA and why now and WHY STANFORD. I think I told him more than he needed to hear about Stanford, so after a while he broke off into new topics: leadership and management.

My interviewer said he wanted to know some things about my leadership, teamwork, management experience and said that he would ask me some questions. Here they are:

- What has been one of your greatest management challenges at work (that has resulted in a less than favorable outcome) and how did you handle it, learn from it, etc.

- Tell me about your leadership experiences/accomplishments/challenges/outside of work and what you learned from them.

My responses to these questions evolved into a discussion about management and the importance of finding a balance between "hard" and "soft" management skills. He then mention that Stanford does a good job in teaching this balance.

Here are some of the questions that came next:

- What book are you reading/what kind of books do you read?

-What do you do in your free time?

A this point we were at about the 40-minute mark (5 minutes to go) and he asked me if I had questions for him. I said that I really didn't have specific questions about the Stanford program but that I am interested to learn about his personal experiece, how Stanford helped boost him to his current position in Asia, and his management experiences in Asia. For the next ten minutes, he happily shared his experiences and I was happy to listen. We shook hands and wished each other the best.

Summary: fabulous experience. I was most impressed with the personality of the interviewer - extremely humble and down-to-earth while at the same time a very powerful and successful business person. The interview was about 50 minutes.

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4. Round 1 Interview

The interview started on-time and lasted for about an hour. The estimated interview time is 45 min. My interviewer worked in my target industry, so we had quite a bit in common. It started out as a general conversation re: each of our backgrounds, and I had 2 minutes to talk about myself. The interviewer was fair and didn't ask any underhanded questions. It was very straight forward. I discussed where I came from, where I'm at, and where I see myself going (and why). Besides the typical career questions, I was asked what I enjoy doing outside of work, to describe a leadership challenge at work and how I addressed it, describe a good vs. bad manager, what I do our of intellectual curiosity, ethical dilemma and how I resolved it, and some other general interview questions. After about 45 minutes of discussion and his asking me questions, I was given the opportunity to ask him some questions.

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3. Stanford Interview Experience (Alumni, Chicago, Late November)

Well, I suppose I'll also share my interview experience although there's not a tremendous amount to say that hasn't already been said. I had my interview today, we decided to interview at his office and my interviewer had a conference room ready.

The first thing I'll say is that the Stanford interviewer is very conversational. It's certainly a two-way street and the interviewer is interviewing you as much as you're interviewing Stanford. My interviewer made this very clear in the beginning.

The interview was supposed to run 45 minutes, but we ended up going a little over an hour. No trick questions in the interview. See below for the list of questions I was asked:

Questions:

• Give me the 60 second rundown on yourself.
• Why do you want an MBA? Why Now? Why Stanford in particular?
• Tell me about a time you overcame a problem or took initiative to solve something.
• What was the last non-business book you read? What did you learn from it? Why did you like it?
• Tell me about a time when you led a team and failed.
• Tell me about a time when you personally failed. How did you handle it?
• Tell me about a time when you received criticism? How did you handle it?
• How do you find the time to do all of these things given your life as a consultant?
• Have you visited Stanford?
• Why would you want to be in the college bubble that is Stanford?
• What would you view as your most significant accomplishment? Why?

Like I said, there really weren't any tricky questions. I was a little surprised by the "how do you find the time to do all of the things you do...?" question, but I took it as a compliment that he was impressed with my accomplishments.

Regarding overall feedback, my interviewer gave me lots of advice around what I "shouldn't miss while at Stanford" and things that he regrets not doing so that I wouldn't make the same mistakes (as if I were already accepted)...I also took this as a good sign, but I'm assuming almost everyone's interview goes well so I won't read too much into it lest I'm one of the 60%+ that's rejected after interview.

The one thing that was solidified was how great the alumni are. I really feel like Stanford values character before accomplishments, while I think HBS may be a bit the other way around (though I'm sure character is also high on their list). My interviewer was certainly accomplished (McKinsey, etc.) but he reminded me to pursue my dreams no matter where I go in life. Certainly much more inspirational than any other business school interview I've had thus far and far less accomplishments-focused.

So just be yourself and let your personality shine through...I'm fairly sure you have one if you've made it to the interview. I felt I was being treated like I was a friend-of-a-friend at first and less as an interviewee. Overall, it seemed like much more of a fit interview than evaluative. Hope this helps. Best of luck to all future interviewees and to those of you anxiously awaiting an invite!

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2. Alumnus / Off-campus

I had some questions about how my Stanford interview went, so I'll give a bit of an overview about how it went.

I did the interview with a local alumi. He chose to do it at a local steak-house at 4pm since it would be fairly quiet and we wouldn't be disturbed. I suppose ppl think it is a bit unorthodox, but I knew many people that had an interview at a Starbucks or whatnot, and it was loud, smelly, unpleasant, etc. It usually isn't up to you to pick the place, but I would try to steer clear of such noisy places.

The interview started well. We exchanged business cards. He explained when he went to the GSB, what he did before, and what he is doing now. I'll leave out the details because they dont' really matter.

So he had my resume in front of him and asked me to go through my career progress. Remember for this part, don't take up too much time, only hit the important parts, since any wasted time will take away from other other important topics.

After going through the resume he started hitting the harder questions. I do remember answering them, and I must have answered them ok. I'll go over some of the questions I do remember, and I remember the general tone was much harder than any of my other interviews. Here's some questions I remember:

What are you good at?
How did you handle bad feedback from a boss?
What book are you reading and what meaning/lessons do you get out of it? (That one really threw me)
Surprisingly the why mba, etc questions. He only had my resume, no essays, which in someways makes it easier.
Explain a time when one of my leaders was performing poorly.

That's about it. I remember going in, coming out, and various flashes in the middle.

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1. Official Email

Here is a copy of the email that invited applicants receive:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stanford MBA Admissions Office" <interview@gsb.stanford.edu>
Subject: Stanford MBA Program Interview


Hello APPLICANT NAME,

The Stanford MBA Admissions Office has reviewed your application to the
Stanford MBA Program. We would like to invite you to meet with one of our
alumni for a 45-minute interview. The purpose of this meeting is both
evaluative and informational, with an emphasis on creating a positive and
enjoyable experience.

Your alumni interviewer is:
Name:
E-mail:
Cell Phone:

If you have a pre-existing relationship with your alumni interviewer, please
immediately contact Judy Low, Interview Coordinator, at +1 (650) 736-2034 or
interview@gsb.stanford.edu so that we can reassign you.

To move forward, it is imperative that you follow the instructions below:

1. We ask that you contact your alumni interviewer - contact information is
provided above - to schedule a mutually convenient time and location to
meet. We suggest business attire, but ask that you contact your alumni
interviewer to confirm specifics of the meeting.

2. Please send your alumni interviewer a copy of your resume via email or
fax. Please do NOT send other information (your essays, transcripts, etc.).

3. If at all possible, please schedule and complete the interview within
three weeks. If it is not feasible to complete the interview in that time
period, please contact Judy Low, Interview Coordinator, at +1(650) 736-2034
or interview@gsb.stanford.edu.

4. As soon as you have confirmed the date of your meeting, please send a
reply email to interview@gsb.stanford.edu with that information. If you
reschedule the meeting, please send another email to
interview@gsb.stanford.edu so that we are aware of the change.

5. Please send your official (hardcopy) transcript(s) to me within the next
three weeks. DO NOT give your transcripts to your interviewer. The mailing
address is:

Attention: JUDY LOW
MBA Admissions Office
Stanford Graduate School of Business
518 Memorial Way
Stanford, CA 94305
USA

PLEASE NOTE: an official transcript must come in a sealed envelope, and the
envelope should be stamped with the university's seal. It should not be
opened by anyone before being sent to Stanford. If your transcripts are in a
language other than English you must also provide an English translation,
that is sealed and stamped by the translator. Transcripts that do not arrive
in envelopes that are sealed and stamped are not considered official. If
your transcripts are not received in a timely manner, we cannot guarantee
your decision will be released on decision day.

6. Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm receipt of individual
transcripts. However, please be assured that we will contact you if your
official (hardcopy) transcript is not received.

We hope you will find the meeting stimulating and informative. Thank you
again for your continued interest in the Stanford Graduate School of
Business.

Best regards,

Judy Low
Interview Coordinator
Stanford MBA Admissions Office
interview@gsb.stanford.edu

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT STANFORD MBA PROGRAM INTERVIEWS
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Answers to FAQs from Candidates Invited to Interview


1. Is it a positive sign to be invited to interview?

Since this process has discrete outcomes - admission or non-admission - we
worry that it can be misleading to discuss probabilities or chances. Please
keep this in mind throughout the admission process.

Our intention is to interview 100% of the students who enroll in the
Stanford MBA Program. Candidates invited to interview have been reviewed by
the Admissions Committee and are considered competitive for admission.
However, given the overall strength of the applicant pool, we expect that
the majority of candidates interviewed will not be offered admission. We
say this not to be discouraging or mean-spirited, but to highlight the
reality of a highly-selective admission process.

2. What is the weight of the interview?

There is no specific weight assigned to the interview; the interview is only
one part of a comprehensive process. Therefore, a positive interview does
not guarantee admission, and a poor interview does not, by itself, preclude
admission. The written application, including the essays and letters of
reference, is a critical part of the evaluation process. The interview is a
key source of supplemental information.

3. May I interview with an Admissions Officer?

Only Stanford MBA alumni conduct interviews. We feel the interview offers a
unique opportunity for applicants to learn more about the Stanford MBA
Program in a personal setting. Having been through the MBA Program, our
alumni are our best resource in sharing their academic and extracurricular
experiences with you.

4. May I have background information on my Alumni Interviewer? What
information will my Alumni Interviewer have about me?

When you contact your Alumni Interviewer, feel free to ask her/him any
appropriate questions regarding her/his background. The only information
that your Alumni Interviewer will have about you is your resume, which you
will send directly to her/him. All interviews address behaviors, skills, and
attitudes that demonstrate your potential to grow in the Stanford GSB
community as a student and to lead in the world after graduation. We do not
direct your Alumni Interviewer to probe specific areas based on your
application; we believe the bias that could result from such guidance would
outweigh any potential evaluative benefit.

5. What should I wear to the interview?

You may wear either business casual or professional attire. At the time that
you set up your interview, please ask your Alumni Interviewer which is
preferable.

6. Is there any significance to when I received my interview invitation?

No, the timing of your interview invitation reflects only the order in which
your application was reviewed in the Admissions Committee. Interview
invitations are extended from about a week after the round's deadline until
about a week before the round's notification date, because it takes the
Admissions Committee that entire period to review all applications
thoroughly.

7. How can I prepare for the interview?

Our best advice is simply to be yourself. We suggest that you review your
resume and your essays prior to the interview. The primary questions will
revolve around behaviors, skills, and attitudes that we believe are key to
good citizenship here in the Stanford community and vital to high-impact
leadership post-MBA. There are no trick questions. We will 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.

Remember, the 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 the School. It is designed to be a positive exchange of ideas
and information.

8. If I have a problem contacting my Alumni Interviewer, what should I do?

If your Alumni Interviewer has not returned your call or answered your email
within 2 - 3 days, please contact Judy Low, Interview Coordinator, at +1
(650) 736-2034 or email her at interview@gsb.stanford.edu.

9. What should I do if I will be traveling over the next several weeks or
if I am not near the location of my assigned interview?

Please contact Judy Low, Interview Coordinator, at +1 (650) 736-2034 or
email her at interview@gsb.stanford.edu immediately so that we can assign
you another Alumni Interviewer. If you are in an area in which we have no
interviewers, we can schedule an interview by telephone.

10. Why are you requesting my official (hardcopy) transcript(s) now?
Should I bring my official (hardcopy) transcript to the interview?

We give applicants the option of submitting self-reported (online)
transcripts(s) with the online application since that version is
satisfactory for purposes of preliminary reviews. However, for purposes of
making admission decisions, we require the official (hardcopy)
transcript(s).

Please do not bring your official (hardcopy) transcript(s) to the interview.
Instead, send your official (hardcopy) transcript(s) to:

Attention: Transcripts
MBA Admissions Office
Stanford Graduate School of Business
518 Memorial Way
Stanford, CA 94305
USA

11. If I have any questions or issues related to the interview, what should
I do?

Please contact Judy Low, Interview Coordinator, at +1 (650) 736-2034 or
email her at interview@gsb.stanford.edu. We will address your concern as
soon as possible.

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