Stanford Business School - Interview Tips

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How does the Stanford MBA interview process work? Can I interview on campus?

We offer evaluative interviews on an invitation-only basis.

Interviews are designed to provide useful information about you that may not be easily captured on paper. They are also a good way for you to learn more about the MBA Program. This does not mean a diminished emphasis on the application essays and letters of recommendation; they remain a critical part of the evaluation process, with interviews as a supplementary information source.

We expect to interview between 800 and 1,000 applicants this year.

What happens during the 45-minute interview? The primary questions revolve around behaviors, skills, and attitudes that we believe are key to good citizenship here at the Stanford Business School and high-impact leadership post-MBA. There are no trick questions, but rather ones that ask you to reflect on your professional and personal experiences, what you've learned about yourself, and how to best manage people and situations. The Stanford MBA interview is both evaluative and informative, as it is an opportunity for us to learn more about you, and for you to learn more about the Stanford Business School. It is designed to be a positive exchange of ideas and information. The only information about you that the interviewer will have is your resume, which you will send to him/ her. If you are invited to interview, the interview will occur during the application round in which you applied. You will be contacted by the MBA Admissions Office to schedule an interview and you and your interviewer will set up a mutually convenient date and time to meet. The admission interviews are conducted almost exclusively by Stanford MBA alumni. On occasion, you may be invited to interview with an MBA Admissions Officer.

Our goal is to interview everyone who will be offered admission. However, given the strong caliber of our applicant pool, the majority of those interviewed will not be offered admission.

• Please do not call or contact our office to request an interview.
• Almost all interviews are conducted by Stanford MBA alumni. On occasion, you may be invited to interview with an MBA Admissions Officer.
• We do not provide Stanford MBA interview feedback.
• After you receive an email invitation, you and your alumni interviewer will set up a mutually convenient date and time to meet.
• If you anticipate difficulty obtaining an official transcript from your undergraduate institution, we suggest that you request one when you are invited to interview. Do NOT send the transcript to the MBA Admissions Office until we request it.
• If you are waitlisted without an interview, you will be interviewed after you accept your place on the waitlist.