UPDATE: This article was originally posted on October 16, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
With a strong focus on social impact and flexibility that allows students to take classes across Yale’s many faculties (not just the business school!), Yale SOM is a top choice for engaged, globally-minded leaders who seek to make a meaningful difference in the world, all while benefiting from an Ivy League education.
However, getting admitted to Yale’s’ small MBA class is harder than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Yale SOM admissions interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips, but have also included sample interview questions to ensure you give your Yale application your best shot.
How the Yale SOM interview works
As one of the most elite business schools in the world, landing an interview with Yale SOM is no easy task.
Thus, if you have passed to the interview phase of the Yale application process, congratulations! This is already an exceptional achievement.
Yale interviews have typically been conducted by the admissions committee on campus or online.
During the interview, the admissions committee member is actively trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are, how interested you seem in the Yale SOM program, and if you fit well with the program’s focus on diversity and its raw case method. Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to gauge your self-awareness and ability to be part of a team. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with Yale in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and prepared questions specifically tailored to his or her profile. As such, some clients received questions that were far more personal in nature, while others focused strictly on their academic and professional achievements.
Who will interview you?
You will interview with a member of Yale SOM’s admissions committee or with a second-year student who has been trained by the admissions committee.
Interviews are now available both online, on campus, and at select off-campus locations around the world.
Though your application will not be “hurt” by conducting your interview online, the interview does offer a great chance for you to visit campus if you haven’t already done so.
Will the interviewer have read your application?
No. The Yale SOM interview is blind, meaning the interviewer will only have access to your CV.
How long will the Yale interview last?
Around 30 minutes.
Who is Yale SOM looking for?
Source: @yalesom on Instagram
“At Yale SOM, we are motivated by the school’s mission to educate leaders for business and society. The community is united by the belief that acting on our mission requires us to address the biggest and most pressing challenges in the world today. Such problems can’t be solved through solitary gestures—it takes teamwork, an ability to leverage human capital, and the building of active connections between people, ideas, and resources.” Yale SOM Admissions
Every year, Yale reads through thousands of applications to hand-pick slightly less than 350 students to take part in their prestigious MBA program.
With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “standard” student at Yale, yet Yale students do tend to have high GMAT/GRE scores.
Find the full class profile, including GMAT and demographic stats, here.
How can you prepare for your interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, Yale interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions, with a few personalized questions added as well. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past Yale interviews.
What questions are asked in the Yale SOM interview?
The questions below are drawn from our clients’ interview reports, as well as from sites like clearadmit.com. Though these are not all the potential questions you could possibly receive during your Yale interview, preparing for these (and any follow-up questions you think you might be asked) should give you a very solid foundation for your interview.
STARTING UP QUESTIONS
- Tell me about yourself. / Walk me through your resume. (Expect follow-up questions)
- What do you do outside of work?
- What have you been doing in your position recently?
- What’s a personal goal that you’ve set for yourself recently?
- Why MBA?
- Why did you decide to apply to Yale? Tell me your thought process.
- Why do you think now is the right time to apply?
- Where else did you apply?
- How will you contribute to the diversity of the Yale community?
- What will you get involved in outside of class?
LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK
- Tell me about when you faced a challenge in your job.
- Tell me about a time you resolved a conflict within a team and moved the team forward.
- Tell me about a difficult conversation/challenging interaction you had to have with someone.
- Tell me a time when you influenced someone.
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with someone who wasn’t pulling his/her weight.
- What does leadership mean to you, and how do you demonstrate it?
- Tell me about a time when you had to persuade/convince others.
- Can you give an example of a time you led a team with members from diverse backgrounds? How did you ensure that everyone’s perspective was valued and included?
- Tell me about a time when you mentored someone.
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- Tell me a time when you thought outside the box/were innovative.
- Tell me of a time when you took a risk and the outcome. What did you learn from it?
- How would a friend describe you? A client?
- Tell me about a time when you had to step outside of your comfort zone.
- Tell me about a time you had to ask for help
- Tell me about a time you failed.
- Tell me about a time your idea was rejected or you faced a roadblock.
- Tell me about a recent achievement that you’re proud of.
- Tell me about a time you received feedback and how you handled it.
- How do you approach working with people from diverse backgrounds?
CLOSING
- I’m meeting a lot of people today. What is going to make me remember you?
- Any questions for me?
- Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
We have found that, for most candidates, answering real interview questions on the spot is a much better means of preparation than reading a list of potential interview questions. As such, we highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview.
Master Every Stage of the MBA Interview
Interview questions are largely predictable. What sets you apart is how you answer them.
With My Admit Coach, you can practice using real questions from top schools, get instant feedback from Coach Ellin (Ellin Lolis’ AI clone), and refine your delivery until it feels natural and confident.
You’ll learn how to structure your answers, highlight your strengths, and connect your story across every question.
Start your free trial today and walk into your interview ready to impress.
If you’re still not quite confident with your interview skills, our interview experts can help you craft your answers or prepare you for the Yale SOM interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile.
What to do if you get a question you weren’t prepared for
Despite your most diligent preparation, you will almost always receive a question you had not prepared.
First, stay calm and take a deep breath. You have already made it this far in the process, and one question will not trip you up!
Second, make sure you directly answer the question the interviewer asked you. For example, if the interviewer asks you about a time you had to deal with a difficult manager, make sure to tell a story about a difficult manager and how you handled the situation.
If you’re having trouble thinking of an answer or an example to support your answer, however, take a drink of water to give yourself a few more minutes to think. If you really can’t think of an example from your personal or professional experience, you can use a hypothetical answer about how you would act in a certain situation.
Finally, assume that the interviewer is testing how you think on your feet and respond to questions you didn’t prepare in advance. Though your answer might not be as polished as if you’d had weeks to rehearse it, smile and confidently give your answer to show you can respond to any question they throw at you.
Effectively Tell your Story During your Yale Interview
Most applicants walk into their MBA interview hoping for the best. You’ll walk in knowing exactly what to say.
My Admit Coach helps you prepare smarter with instant AI-powered feedback, proven frameworks, and practice questions from the world’s top programs.
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