UPDATE: This article was originally posted on March 6, 2020. It has been updated with 2024/25 information and tips below.
With one of the world’s most personalized MBA programs (students receive individual career coaching and personalized leadership training), Kelley is increasing at the top of the list for professionals who seek MBAs that truly meet their needs.
However, with the 3rd best career services center (according to the Financial Times), the competition to join the Kelley MBA is more difficult than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Kelley admissions interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample interview mocks to ensure you give your Kelley interview your best shot.
How the Kelley interview works
Making sure you shine during your Kelley interview is no easy task.
Kelley interviews tend to be fairly straightforward. During the interview, the interviewer is trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are and how interested you seem in the Kelley program.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test your problem-solving skills (this is especially common for those planning to enter the consulting field). You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with Kelley in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. Though questions do tend to focus on standard MBA interview questions, be ready for anything.
Kelley allows applicant-initiated interviews, but they must be scheduled before submitting your application. Once your application has been submitted, interviews are by invitation only.
Who will interview you?
They will be conducted by a member of the admissions committee or an alumnus and will take place either on campus or over the phone (the latter option is recommended only for international students).
Will the interviewer have read your application?
The Kelley interview is blind, meaning the interviewer will only have access to your CV. This means that you can repeat examples from your essays if you choose to.
How long will the Kelley interview last?
30-45 minutes
Who is Kelley looking for?
(Photo courtesy of @iukelleymba on Instagram)
“Beyond [GMAT and GPA], we are looking at [applicants’] reasons for pursuing an MBA—the degree to which they have given their goals some thought and how Kelley can help them achieve them. We’re also interested in what their recommender has to say about them. And then, of course, we want to know about their work experience. We have a very collaborative environment here, so we want to see a track record that suggests they will be successful in a team environment and that they have something valuable to bring.” Kelley Admissions
Every year, Kelley spends a significant amount of time getting to know applicants in order to select members for its class of around 100 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” Kelley student, yet the average admitted student for the Class of 2026 has a 683 GMAT score and 6.3 years of work experience.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Kelley is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT and university grades), Kelley seeks candidates who also demonstrate a genuine excitement to participate in the university’s personalized development program.
Trends in recent Kelley MBA interviews
Recent feedback from candidates interviewing at Kelley highlights several notable trends that you should consider when preparing for your interview:
Diversity and Inclusivity: Many MBA programs, including Kelley, have been emphasizing the importance of diversity in their student body. Interview questions might focus on how candidates will contribute to an inclusive culture or their experiences with diverse teams.
Ethical Leadership and Impact: With the rise of social impact and ethical business practices, Kelley may increasingly focus on questions about candidates’ values, ethical decision-making, and how they intend to make a positive impact through their careers.
Adaptability and Resilience: The post-pandemic landscape has placed a premium on adaptability. Interviewers might probe candidates on how they’ve handled unexpected challenges or pivoted strategies in uncertain times.
How can you prepare for your interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, Kelley interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past Kelley interviews.
What questions are asked in the Kelley MBA 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 Kelley 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. (Expect follow-up questions)
- What do you like to do outside of work?
- What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
- Name three firms you would like to work at after your MBA.
- What is your backup plan in case you aren’t hired by your target companies?
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why Kelley?
- How will you contribute to your team at Kelley?
- What will you learn from your team?
- What other schools have you applied to? If you get into all of them, how will you choose where to go?
LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK
- Tell me about a time when you didn’t get along with your team. What did you do?
- Tell me about one instance when you disagreed with your boss and how you handled the situation.
- What is your leadership style? Can you give me an example?
- Tell me a leader you admire.
- Describe a time you influenced a team without direct/formal authority.
- Tell us about an experience you have working with a diverse team.
- How would you handle a situation where you discovered that a colleague was behaving unethically?
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- How would your friends describe you?
- What is something your colleagues would say you do well? Something you need to work on?
- Tell me an example of when things didn’t work out as you planned.
- Tell me about a time when you were pushed to your limits at work.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses? Can you give me examples?
- What is your greatest achievement so far?
- Give me an example of a time when you disappointed a client. How did you fix it? What did you learn?
- Tell me about a time when you had to balance competing interests or priorities. How did you ensure that your decision was both effective and ethical?
- How do you handle ambiguity or uncertainty in a project?
CLOSING
- Is there anything else you would like us to know about you? / Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
- Questions for me?
We have found that answering real interview questions on the spot is a much better means of preparation than reading lists of interview questions for most candidates.
We highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview.
Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of real interview mocks from Kelley, as well as detailed guides to help you prepare for questions ranging from “Why our MBA program?” to “Tell us about a time you failed.”
The Ellin Lolis Consulting MBA Resource Center is your one-stop shop to interview success.
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 Vanderbilt Owen interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile.
What to do if you get a question you haven’t prepared an answer 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 respond to show you can handle any question they throw at you.
Effectively tell your story during your Kelley interview
One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA interviews is that candidates fail to tell compelling, well-constructed stories about their profiles while also nailing the basics.
Striking this balance between sharing STAR-format examples that show off your background while also presenting strong answers to questions like “Why do you want an MBA?” is a challenging task that requires significant thought and preparation.
Because of this, it’s no surprise that, on average, 50% of interviewed applicants walk away without an offer.
This is why our interview preparation process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting is known as the best in the industry. We offer customized 1:1 support that ensures you’re able to turn your application’s strengths into compelling answers that show fit and sell your profile in any type of interview. That’s why 98.9% of our complete consulting clients get into at least one of their target schools.
Our individual approach is why 98.9% of our clients secure admissions to at least one of their target schools.
Forget simulation platforms or long lists of tips – our 1:1 preparation focuses on playing to your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses to turn you into an interview expert. Our interview packages sell out quickly, so make sure you sign up today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
