Cornell Admissions Q&A

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Throughout the interview process we ask a cornucopia of questions and we assess probably 10 or 11 different skill sets or characteristics that the student possesses. The MBA is an analytical degree, so we look at analytical thinking or decision-making. You want to be dressed appropriately. I had an applicant come in this year in a polo shirt and a blazer. That is not exactly business attire. We have students who travel internationally—last year one student got in without his bags. He had on jeans and T-shirt and he was very upset about it. He went to a local store and bought a pair of slacks and shirt and tie and blazer that didn't quite fit him right. We were all quite impressed with the effort. It is important to think about strengths and weaknesses of your candidacy, and how you are going to grow. For the most part, interviews at the Johnson School are more conversational than at arm's length.

Can you describe someone you admitted recently who is a surprising fit? Someone who doesn't fit the "profile."

We have a student coming in this year who started her own fashion business. We don't see that a lot. She is really impressive, and she will be a great entrepreneur. I think you find more diversity from that sector of students who are coming in. We do have a lot of career changers, who come in and are immersed in this great vehicle for them to change careers. We have people from 26 different countries coming in this year. Each year the Japanese students do a rice-pounding ceremony, we have international week, we have an Indian celebration called Diwali. We don't want everyone to look the same, talk the same. We want a heterogeneous population.

Are there any stereotypes about the Johnson School or Cornell that you'd like to disprove?

People say we're the "friendly school." I think it's true, as a whole we are friendly and outgoing. But some people misinterpret the word friendly for lacking academic rigor. And so I don't want them to make that mistake. We are a great academic school, we are a challenging academic school, and when our students go to their internships as a result of that academic rigor and the immersion program, they are ready on Day One. We can still be friendly, though, and I think it is an interesting dynamic.

People also say that Cornell is in Ithaca, which is supposedly out in the middle of nowhere, so good luck finding a job. However, all of the major recruiters come to the Johnson School. Certainly, our students spend time in New York City—that is predominantly where our investment bankers end up. Even though we are in the small town of Ithaca, N.Y., the recruiters get here. We do not have a problem with students getting job offers. We have been well into the 90 percentiles for students that have been employed. We are proud of that, and we think we are headed in the right direction.