MIT Sloan: Interview Transcripts & Notes
My Sloan Interview lasted 30 minutes.
["try not to repeat any examples from what you presented in the application materials," added the interviewer]
Questions asked:
- Any updates?
- Tell me more about the Mosaic Developer Meet up - she dug into me with questions about this for a while
- A time I questioned the status quo
- A time I dealt with conflict in a team
- Work achievement I am most proud of
- Anything else I wanted to discuss
- Questions for them
Sloan Interview Report:
- What has changed since your application?
- Tell me about your role at X company, right now or the project you just mentioned
- What drew you to X company?
- What's a proud accomplishment at work? F/U: How did you go about making this accomplishment happen despite the challenges happening?
- Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult person at work? F/U: How did your team react? What was the end result?
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with your team about something? F/U: How did you get your team to change their minds?
- Can you tell me about a team you had to lead that was unmotivated?
- Can you tell me about a time when you challenged the status quo?
- Tell me about a time when you received feedback and how it impacted you professionally. F/U: How did your boss respond?
- Why MBA?
- Why now?
- Why Sloan?
- Questions
Interview with an admissions officer on campus:
- Describe a time that you had a difficult interaction with others.
- Describe a situation where a team or a team member did not meet your expectations.
- Describe a time that you challenged the status quo.
- Describe a goal that you set and achieved.
- Describe a time that you had a difference of opinion with others.
- Describe how you have inspired others.
- Why get an MBA and why now?
- Do you want to start your venture immediately after graduation?
- Why Sloan?
- What clubs or classes do you plan to join or take?
- Any questions for me?
Sloan Interview Report:
1. Any updates on resume?
2. Describe an accomplishment that I am proud of.
3. Describe a time in which I wished I had more information but needed to make a decision.
4. Describe a time when I was not meeting an expectation and how I reacted to it.
5. Why MBA and why Sloan?
6. Any questions for the interviewer?
Sloan Interview Report:
- How I do my work; individually or in a team.
- Describe a time when I had a difficult interaction with someone at work.
- Describe a time when you convinced a person or group to change their plans.
- Describe a time at work when someone on my team did not perform up to standards.
- She asked why I left XX for XX.
- She asked why I wanted an MBA instead of a PhD.
- She then asked if anything had changed that I wanted to update the admissions committee on since my application.
- She asked if there was anything else I wanted to add or anything I wish she had asked about.
- She then asked if my interest in Health Care was in biotech or what specifically interested me in Health Care.
- She then asked if I had any questions for her.
Sloan Interview Report:
- Walk me through your resume.
- Describe a time when you resolved conflict on a team
- Describe a time when someone asked you for help
- Describe a time when something was not working the way you expected
- Describe a time when someone convinced you to change your opinion
- Describe a time you took initiative
- Describe your team structure at work. How many people are on your team?
- What is your boss' opinion of you? What about those of your peers?
- What is your opinion of your boss?
- Do you have any questions for me?
I repeat, lots of follow up questions for each example. I honestly walked out of there not knowing how I did. Usually for my past interviews, I know if I felt good or not coming out of it, but after this interview, I just felt neutral. I just have no idea. I have to wait until February for decisions to come out. On the plus side, MIT fed all the interviewees lunch afterwards in a conference room in the admissions office with current Sloan students. That was quite informative.
Sloan Interview Report:
My interviewer mentioned that I should try to use examples which I have not used in my essays.
She asked me about 4-5 questions and it lasted for 30-35 minutes. The overall interview was cordial and friendly. I smiled quite a bit. We joked about the weather as she mentioned that how people in California talk about 40's as being cold.
1. Describe a goal you set and achieved it.
2. Describe a project you worked on where you contributed to the team?
3. Describe a time when you resolve a conflict or faced an unsatisfied colleague or customer?
4. Talk about a time when you took initiatives?
5. Why do you want an MBA from Sloan?
6. Do I have any questions for her?
Sloan Interview Report:
1. Tell me about a recent accomplishment (We then spent the next 20 minutes discussing the situation I described. We talked about why I made the decisions I did, the impact of these decisions, alternatives I could have made)
2. Describe to me why you want to pursue an MBA?
3. What do you wish I would have asked you?
4. Do you have any questions for me?