Before he enrolled in the online MBA program at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler School of Business, Brett Hedin completed what is, to some, a daunting task: an admissions interview.
In a videoconferencing session, an interviewer touched on Hedin’s work experience and career goals, along with his reasons for choosing an online program rather than one on campus. The answer: Hedin travels regularly for his sales director job, and none of the local in-person options fit into his chaotic schedule.
“The interviewer just kind of wanted to make sure that this was the right reason for choosing this route, that all the motives were aligned correctly,” says the 33-year-old Seattle resident, who recently finished his last course.
For online MBA applicants like Hedin, whether an admissions interview is required for admittance varies depending on the program. But those who will be interviewed need to ensure that they’re prepared, experts say, because it can play a considerable role in the admissions decision.
[Discover tips for applying for online MBA programs.]
“They have an opportunity to share with us things that they believe are important to know about them as a potential student,” says Kelly R. Wilson, executive director of master’s admissions for the Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, which offers a hybrid MBA. “We get a sense of who they are and how they fit within our culture.”
Though many online MBA admissions interviews are similar to those for on-campus applicants, there are a few things prospective online students in particular need to keep in mind, experts say. Here are three tips for applicants to ace the online MBA admissions interview.
1. Be prepared to discuss work experience and career goals: Many online MBA applicants have several years of work experience under their belts. That experience is important to emphasize when sharing examples of their skills, especially if they excluded details in their essays.
Eric Rivera, senior associate director of graduate enrollment management at the Temple University Fox School of Business, says interviewers might ask applicants where they are in their current career and what they want to achieve through the program. That answer will likely vary, experts say, due to the wide range of professions online MBA students work in.
[Explore what to expect from your online MBA classmates.]
Amy McHale, assistant dean for master’s programs at the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management, says the school mainly just interviews applicants who struggled with quantitative courses in their prior education to see if they’ve developed the skills since then at work.
“We’re trying to look at, OK, they got a C in algebra, but now how are they using math in their job? So, ‘Tell me more about your job,'” she says.
2. Prove you can communicate well virtually: Demonstrating a comfort level and an ability to interact with others in a virtual setting — whether on the phone or via videoconferencing — is important for online MBA applicants, school officials say. McHale says that’s one reason why she uses Skype.
When interviewing students via phone, “We often can extrapolate how they will interact with peers or professors also in an audio-only or technology-mediated fashion,” says Adam Herman, director of admissions and student services for online programs at the Indiana University–Bloomington Kelley School of Business.
Part of that, McHale says, is asking many questions. If videoconferencing, she suggests dressing as you would for an in-person interview and using a professional-looking background.
Hedin, the UNC graduate, says it’s also a matter of acting confident and treating the interview like a conversation.
3. Highlight your time management skills as they relate to the program’s structure: The online MBA program format isn’t for everybody. Admissions officials for several programs say they hope to see evidence that applicants have researched the program’s structure and are prepared for the time management and self-discipline required of online learning.
[Know your time management limits as an online student.]
At both Fox and Kelley, for example, there are mandatory on-campus residencies. Rivera, from Fox, says interviewers at the school will also gauge an applicant’s readiness for that and the program’s scheduling structure, including the four-week-long class format.
Herman, from Kelley, says time management could be a good subject to bring up when asking the interviewer questions.
“Doing research ahead of time and understanding the structure and format of the program helps demonstrate to your interviewer that you are fully aware of what you’re getting into,” he says.
4. Ask questions: Experts say to ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate knowledge of and interest in the program, just as a candidate would for a job interview. Having questions prepared shows interviewers that applicants have thoroughly researched the school in comparison with other options nationwide.
“Often, I can learn more or as much about the fit of an applicant for our program based on the kinds questions they ask,” Herman says.
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Ace an Online MBA Program Admissions Interview originally appeared on usnews.com
