A Talk with UCLA's Admissions Director
An Excerpt from the Q&A:

Q: Eighty-five percent of students accepted to the program complete an interview. What is Anderson's interview policy, and what can applicants expect from an Anderson interview? Any tips?
A: An interview is a dialogue, where you have the opportunity to share things about yourself and in turn have the opportunity to learn what we have to offer. Your questions to us are very important. Individuals often see it as a performance. But there is some give and take. It also takes down the tension level if you look at it as a dialogue. We want to hear about your accomplishments, aspirations, and distinctive qualities, and the unique situations you've faced.

If a school offers you an opportunity to visit campus, visit first. Sit down with students at lunch and interview in the afternoon. It will take away some of the stress, and you will have knowledge [for your interview], which will help you drill down deeper in those 30 minutes.

For the full verion of this Q&A

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Comments from Student 1:
It was a sunny Saturday morning and I was just about 40 minutes away from my favorite beach on the Brazilian Coast. While my girlfriend was driving us to one of my first weekends after the demanding and time consuming application process, I was reviewing my UCLA Anderson application to prepare for my Monday afternoon interview. It was my first invitation, I was excited about it and I was following the whole "how-to-prepare for a Top-school interview" guideline. I had already reviewed the school's web site, visited their alumni's and students' clubs' web pages. I had reviewed the notes I had taken from conversations I had had with current students as well as with the alumni network. The whole homework was done. The school was one of my top priorities and I wanted them not only to be sure that I knew the reasons I was pursing an MBA, an answer you got to have during the interview, but also that I was the perfect school fit.

Reviewing your essays is mandatory, but it can freak you out. Have you ever heard of a pleasant dream turning into a nightmare? In the blink of an eye my pleasant weekend turned into a frightening nightmare. The reason? While reading it, I found out that I had submitted to the school a draft of my official essay. In one of the answers I had properly used bad language to emphasize a fact but later, thinking that the "f" word could be too strong I decided I should soften it and changed for a softer "damn". What a surprise! The "f" word magically re-appeared on my essay! My heart started beating fast and my blood chilled even though it was almost noon and the sun was hitting strong on my head. I tried to relax saying to myself: "Well, if they have already invited me to the interview I supposed they accepted the bad language. After all Anderson is not a conservative school and maybe they found it cool and courageous that an applicant had the guts to shoot a "f" in the middle of his essay.

But my emotions would not stop there. My weekend was just about to be completely ruined. I proceeded with the review and a few lines after that I found, written in clear, big and good wording - "I am sure that HAAS is a great option for me!" No need to say that I called myself some bad names. "How could I have done that?" – I thought. Now you, reader, must be thinking that I am a pathetic idiot and questioning – "Didn't this guy proofread his essays?". But that's not it, folks. During the application process I had been very, very careful but unfortunately I missed just this important point. So be overcautious. When you think you have your texts reviewed, review it again, do so twice.

There was no reference to orient me in a situation like that. I thought of calling the school and explaining that I had submitted an application draft. Then I thought of mentioning my mistake to the interviewer. But in the end I decided to try to cool down and remain silent and just see what happened. What had been done had been done. There was nothing I could to at this point of time. I went to my interview with an alumnus in Brazil and although I was feeling naturally insecure because of the two mistakes I had made, this extra pressure helped me prepare much better for the event. I went through the small details. I dedicated so many efforts to go through this event that I even studied the dean's philosophy of life, I knew the names of each and every professor of every course that interested me the most, I was aware of the best housing options and the parking difficulties within the campus and finally I had prepared a whole set of questions about the school to the interviewer.

The interview ended up being great. And, believe me, I got an offer from UCLA. But mistakes do not happen without a reason and after considering my options I enrolled at HAAS due to personal reasons. If I could offer you one tip of advice this would be: do not lose your hair because of an essay mistake, nor lose your weekend or your humor. Instead, use the mistake as a stimulus to prepare yourself better for the interview. Being invited to an interview is already a great step in the whole process. So, get ready and enjoy the moment.

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Comments from Student 2:
Scheduling the Interview: In person during an Embracing Diversity event.

Location of Interview: On campus.

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

Interviewer: Wes Hawk, Associate Director of Admissions, MBA Program

Atmosphere: Very staid and businesslike, which was surprising given the fact that the interview took place during a minority-focused event. I was somewhat offended by some of his questions regarding my academic history.

Questions asked: Your GMAT scores may indicate some potential quantitative deficiencies. Traditionally, how well do you perform in math related courses? (For the record, I was a Dean's List student as a Marketing major at Notre Dame. I was extremely put off by the question and the fact that the interviewer had the arrogance to ask it.) Do you work well in groups? What are your post-MBA career plans?

Length of Interview: Twenty Minutes

Additional Comments: I was rejected.

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Comments from Student 3:
Scheduling the Interview: I scheduled the interview online through their website to locate someone in my are. We then emailed and decided to meet at a nearby coffee shop.

Location of Interview: Local bakery/coffee shop

Preparedness of Interviewer: Interview was blind so I handed the woman my resume and we then chatted about her background and then mine and why I felt UCLA was the best decision.

Interviewer University affiliation: Alumni

Atmosphere: We sat in comfortable couch chairs in a coffee shop type establishment where people were coming in and out and it was a bit loud – there was music playing from speakers so I had to really focus on keeping my energy up as it was a little difficult to be zeroed in on our conversation.

Questions asked: Why UCLA vs other schools, where else did I apply, walk her through my resume, why an MBA now

Length of interview: approximately one and half hours

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