A Chat with Olin's Admissions Director
An excerpt from the Q&A:

Q: What can an MBA candidate do to prepare for an Olin MBA interview?
A: Homework. Approach it as if it were a professional job interview. Be yourself. Don't just repeat our marketing materials. Every person you speak to at the school has the opportunity to provide feedback to the admissions committee. Be honest. My colleagues and I have been in this business for quite some time now and can usually tell when someone is putting on an act.

Q: Would you share an example of a terrible interview?
A: A candidate who is ill prepared, hasn't done their homework on the program, has no focus or clarity of goals for why they want the MBA. Some applicants take the interview too lightly, and others too seriously. Neither is a very good basis for a meaningful conversation.

For the full version of this Q&A

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Comments from Student 1:
In general, there is one quality – admittedly a hazy, fuzzy, highly subjective one – that seems to be the key to opening Olin's doors to those who apply: personality. Quality work experience, solid GMAT performance and a strong educational background go without saying and are undoubtedly important. But it is a desire to open oneself and share that "X-factor" that makes a person so unique, interesting and engaging that seems to make the difference in getting in – and fitting in – at Olin.

Everything about Olin is friendly. Yes. Friendly in the stereotypical "Midwestern" way (though you'll find that, thankfully, St. Louis is cow- and cornfield-free. It's a big city with big-time sports, big-time eats, big-time shopping and, of course, a big-time Arch.) The friendliness starts with the application process and extends, so I hear, far into the alumni years.

In tackling the application process, you'll do best if you recognize that you are not alone. The Olin admissions committee is extremely accessible and welcomes ongoing communication. They're not a "scary," untouchable clan that rules with an iron fist. They take the time to get to know each applicant that wants to get to know Olin.

In a crisis, the committee is there. Of course, errors and missed deadlines should be avoided as much as possible, but when accidents happen, the Olin admissions officers understand. Don't be afraid to contact them if you need an extension on some part of your materials or need to re-schedule an interview at the last minute. Everyone is willing to help. If you really want to apply to Olin, the committee really wants to help you get it done.

Olin does not require an interview, but I can't express how important it is to schedule one. It is the single best way to show how interested you are in Olin and "sell" yourself to the admissions committee. Because the Olin community is so tight-knit and interactive, the admissions committee really needs to see you – in person – to know that you would be a good fit. Especially if the committee is on the fence about offering you admission, a strong interview can make all the difference in tipping your application into the "admit" pile. In fact, Olin's statistics show that the overwhelming majority of those who are admitted did have an interview. Thus, your odds seem to be much better if you take the time to make an interview happen.

On the other side of the coin, the interview process is also extremely beneficial to you as an applicant, especially if you take a trip to campus to complete it, because it offers you a closer look at the type of people who make Olin tick.

Though Olin conducts interviews on the road during recruiting events and, when necessary, even uses alumni if it is not possible for you to connect with an admissions representative, nothing beats an on-campus interview. You won't fully understand or believe in the "Olin difference" unless you see it and feel it for yourself.

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