Greetings! This is an exciting time in Tuck’s Admissions Office—after months of relative calm, it’s once again buzzing with prospective students. These future Tuckies have converged in Hanover to conduct their official admissions interview and to experience the community that they might one day be a part. At Tuck, we encourage all applicants to initiate their own interview (to be completed on-campus in Hanover) by scheduling one online. If you’re unable to come to Hanover, it’s possible that the Admissions Committee will invite you to interview after an initial review of your application.
For an MBA admissions committee, the interview can be one of the most insightful aspects of your application. At Tuck, we believe that strong interpersonal skills are essential for success as a leader and as a team member. Tuck’s small, personal scale and immersive atmosphere in Hanover, NH require students to play an active role in this transformational experience. Through the interview process, we try to get a sense of each candidate's fit, personality, and communication skills.
Here are a few tips to help you nail it:
Relax. Tuck interviews are meant to be a conversation. We look at them as an opportunity to not only get to know you better, but also for you to get to know us too. On the flip side, don’t relax too much. Most of our interviews are conducted by second year students. Accordingly, some applicants get too casual and assume since they are being interviewed by someone they see as a peer it is okay to slouch, slip into slang, or reveal information they probably shouldn’t. While we certainly want you to feel comfortable and be yourself, remember, no matter who conducts your interview, you should approach it in a completely professional manner.
Be Yourself. The Admissions Committee wants to know the real you, not who you think we want you to be. It’s hard to speak convincingly about your experiences and goals when you’re busy trying to get into the interviewer’s head. You’ll risk coming across as canned or insincere. We want to know who you are, what drives you every day in and out of work, and why the MBA program at Tuck is key to achieving your aspirations. For most questions, there is really no right or wrong answer. We are most interested in what you really think.
Know Yourself. In the interview, we hope to hear more examples of the types of experiences you have had in both your personal and professional life, and to get a sense of your demonstrated record of achievement, your interpersonal and communication skills, and your focus. Think about the types of questions you are likely going to get in advance, e.g. what your goals are, why you want to get an MBA, why you want to come to Tuck, leadership roles, your strengths and weaknesses, etc. Then think about specific anecdotes from your past experiences that illustrate these topics. In describing the anecdote, explain the situation, what actions you took, and the result. Keep in mind though that you don’t become so over-practiced that you sound like a recording.
Research. In addition to knowing yourself, know Tuck. Asking questions in the interview that could be easily answered by looking at the school’s marketing materials or website does not create a good impression. It could highlight that you're not ready or worse, you aren't interested, because you couldn't be bothered to check out our basic profile. Plus, this will leave more time for your more individual and complex questions.
Listen. Remember to listen carefully and answer the questions being asked. Some applicants are so excited to make particular points that they don’t offer them at the appropriate times. Further, your answers should be specific and include sufficient details to make your point, but remember to be concise. The interview is short, so make the most of it. Once you have made your point, stop. You don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to provide a complete picture of yourself. (On the contrary, be aware that your interviewer will know when you’re avoiding a question.)
Know Your Audience. Your interviewer may not have come from your industry, so don’t get overly technical in the details and don’t use too much jargon.
You can learn more about the logistics of Tuck's unique, combination interview policy here. Please note that applicant initiated interviews must be completed by the date that coincides with the deadline in which you're applying.
Good luck! We look forward to meeting you soon.