A Talk with University of Georgia's Admissions Director
An excerpt from the Q&A:

Q: What can hurt applicants during an interview?
A: Interviewees need to come in having some focus and some idea as to what an MBA entails and how an MBA really is going to be critical in their careers.

The interview should not be looked at as a step the candidate has to take before the next step. It really is a chance to sell themselves. They need to take the interview as seriously as they would an interview for a full-time position.

Q: What kind of questions should applicants expect to hear?
A: I look at the resume and usually break the ice by finding out about their background: Where are they from? How did they make the decision to attend the [undergraduate] institution they did? How did they make their career choices? And the interview flows. In other instances, I'm try to assess different skill sets, strengths, weaknesses, or computer skills.

I also try to determine life experiences that they have had. That might be travel, or unique hobbies and interests. If there has been a family crisis, how has that been a building block for them? Is there another life experience that may differentiate them from other candidates?

For the full version of this Q&A

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Comments from Student 1:
Most of my student interviews were with associate or assistant program directors. NC State: Rhyanne Douberly, Assistant Director
Wake Forest: Stacy Poindexter, Associate Director
Georgia Tech: Paula Wilson, Assistant Director
University of Georgia: Ann Cooper, Director of MBA Admissions

The general interview process for all four schools was almost completely identical: First you need to schedule your interview over the phone. Contact information is located in the application form. The only exception to the four schools mentioned above is NC State, which is selective in their interview process and will contact students to schedule interviews.

On the day of your interview, you will begin by meeting with the MBA program director or assistant director in the MBA program office. Then, you are allowed to visit a class with a student. The student will allow you to sit through class with them and try not to get too embarrased if the professor introduces you to the rest of the class. At the end of class, you are usually given a couple of minutes to talk to the professor or can go directly to lunch or dinner and hang out with the student. (In my opinion, meeting with students was the best part of the process because students can answer questions about student life and what to expect from the program.)

Commonly asked admissions questions:
-Can you tell me about this experience noted on your resume? (Be prepared to go through your resume in the interview)
-Why do you want to attend this program?
-What are your career goals?
-What activities do you enjoy outside of work?
-Are you interested in pursuing a career in high technology? This is key at NC State--Your answer to this question should be yes, and it helps if you have a background in technology. [The school's program is totally unique in that it has a heavy focus on technology. Many schools offer general MBAs, but more and more programs are considering to offer more specialized degrees like this one because the market is beginning to demand it. To use an analogy, it is kind of like what physicians do to get their degress. Physicians can choose to be a general practioner (i.e., a Harvard MBA) or become more specialized like a Neurosurgeon (i.e., NC State).]