Stanford /Off-campus / Alumni / MBA（2009.1）
Applicant DataAge / Gender: 25-29 / Female
Area of Study: Entrepreneurship
How long were the interviews?: 45 minutes
Were you given options for the date of the interview?: Yes, but we only had a week to schedule so our options were limited.
Could you choose the interview's location?: No - We interviewed at her office.
What was the most difficult question?: Describe a time when a leader failed and ou had to pick up the slack to help lead a group? (Hard because I've never been in a situation where I'm not already the leader--she rephrased.)
What was the most interesting question?: When were your values challenged and you had to check your moral compass?
Did you receive any feedback at the end?: Yes - She mostly gave me feedback during the interview. She kept saying things like "that's a great example" or "that's a really good point." When I explained my reasons for applying to Stanford, she said "it sounds like you're a really good fit!" She said she was very pleased to get to meet me, and gave me her information so I could stay in touch with her
Any other questions you remember?: I was surprised that there weren't that many questions asked, but they were almost all ones where you had to give specific examples.
Below are ALL the questions I was asked:
-What brought you here? (applying for business school)
-Why stanford?
-Talk about a time you encountered a problem you had to overcome.
-Time when a leader fell short and you had to step up and lead.
-Time when you've been challenged as a leader and what you learned from it.
-Talk about a time when your values were challenged and you had to consult your moral compass.
-Time when you wanted to give up and how you motivated yourself to keep going.
-A book I'd recommend that I've read recently.
-What questions do you have for me?
How did you prepare?: I looked at this site, asked help from current student, reviewed essays, and did a mock interview with an admissions consultant.
Wrote out all the possible questions, bullet points for answers, and questions that I'd assembled from other school's interviews as well.
What was your opinion of the Alumni?: The couple I know are GREAT!
What was your opinion of the Students?: Very unique, everyone is there for a reason--small school so each student is handpicked.
Did anything change your opinion of the school?: Yes –
When the interviewer is nice, my opinion of the school always improves.
This alumni definitely made me even more excited about the school.
Was there something you wish you had known ahead of time?: No - I felt very prepared.
What other advice can you offer future interviewees?: Have a lot of leadership examples and challenge examples ready.
Be humble, and secure in your sense of values.