A Chat with Carnegie Mellon's Admissions Director

An excerpt from the Q&A:

Q: We last spoke in 2001. How has admissions policy changed since then?
A: At that time, we had just made the transition to using a new interview policy -- interviewing students byinvitation only [after Dec. 12]. We've been fine-tuning that process.

One of my messages to candidates is that we issue interview invitations at any time in the review process, from the timethey submit [an application] to the time they receive a decision from us. That's because we hear from candidates who aren't contacted immediately and who are concerned that their application isn't being considered.

Q: However, before Dec. 12, the GSIA allows people to interview without an invitation. Does visiting campus early andcompleting an interview bode well for a candidate?
A: When applicants come to campus, we try to accommodate as many people as possible. Our admissions team interviewedapproximately 1,000 MBA candidates last year, and a quarter of those interviews were conducted in the early part of theadmissions season, from late August to mid-December.

For the full version of this Q&A

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Comments from Student 1:
Scheduling the Interview: By phone

Location of Interview: On campus

Preparedness of Interviewer: He had thorough knowledge of my resume. I had not yet completed my application.

Name of Interviewer: James Frick, Associate Director of Masters Admission

Atmosphere: Very friendly and relaxed interview. Took place during a minority-focused event, so the welcoming mood was somewhat expected (think of a friendly discussion with a headhunter interested in bringing you to another firm).

Questions asked: Talk about your history. How will an MBA help further your career goals? Do you prefer to work collaboratively or alone?

Lenght of Interview: Twenty minutes.

Any Additional Comments: I was admitted.

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Comments from Student 2:
CMU called me to request an interview about two weeks after my application was sent. We played phone tag and finally agreed on a time for a phone interview. My interviewer was Laurie Stewart, the Executive Director of MBA Admissions. [Stewart] was great - very kind and sweet, a pleasure to talk to. I had prepared a bunch of thoughts ahead of time, on paper, using questions that were given in The ABC's of getting the MBA Admissions Edge. Incidentally, this book was a great resource, and I wish that it had been the FIRST book I bought on applying to business school.

As an aside, I'm used to bringing notes with me to interviews - it's a habit that I formed during internship interviews in undergrad, and although I don't know if it's always a good idea, I know that it makes me feel much more comfortable to have a few key talking points handy, as well as my resume. I don't remember any particularly difficult questions [from this interview] - just the typical questions on why I had chosen to apply to CMU, my career plans, etc.