UPDATE: This article was originally posted on February 17, 2020. It has been updated with 2024/25 information and tips below.
Located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, UNC Kenan-Flagler is a popular school for savvy professionals seeking a school with top-notch academics and recruiting and a ton of school spirit.
However, with a highly-regarded STEM-designated business analytics major, the competition to join Kenan-Flagler’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Kenan-Flagler 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 Kenan-Flagler interview your best shot.
How the Kenan-Flagler interview works
Making sure you shine during your Kenan-Flagler interview is no easy task.
UNC interviews, since they are conducted by the admissions committee, tend to be highly personalized and focused on getting to know you better. During the interview, the interviewer is also trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are, how interested you seem in the Kenan-Flagler program, and if you are truly a good fit for UNC’s tight-knit community.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test just how collaborative you really are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with Kenan-Flagler 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.
Who will interview you?
You will interview with a member of the admissions committee.
Will the interviewer have read your application?
The Kenan-Flagler 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 Kenan-Flagler interview last?
Approximately 30 minutes
Who is Kenan-Flagler looking for?
(Photo courtesy of @unckenanflagler on Instagram)
“At UNC Kenan-Flagler, you’ll learn and collaborate in a diverse, team-based culture built on our core values. When you graduate, you’ll join a powerful network of ambitious, successful Tar Heels who take initiative, lead teams, and make an impact for the companies they serve and the communities in which they live.” UNC Kenan-Flagler Admissions
Every year, UNC Kenan Flagler selects a group of outstanding professionals to join its annual class of around 250 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” UNC student, yet the average admitted student for the Class of 2026 does have a 707 GMAT score and 5 years of work experience.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, UNC is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers and be active contributors to the Tar Heel family. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT and university grades), Kenan-Flagler seeks candidates who possess the following qualities:
Trends in recent Kenan-Flager MBA interviews
Recent feedback from candidates interviewing at Kenan-Flagler highlights several notable trends that you should consider when preparing for your interview:
Leadership in Uncertain Times: Interviewers are increasingly interested in how candidates have demonstrated leadership and made decisions under pressure, particularly in the context of recent global challenges.
Diversity and Inclusion: There is a strong emphasis on candidates’ ability to work in diverse teams and their experiences in promoting inclusivity. Expect questions that ask you to reflect on your role in creating inclusive environments.
Cultural Fit and Contribution: Questions now often probe deeper into how candidates will contribute to the school’s culture and how they align with Kenan-Flagler’s values of collaboration, integrity, and impact on the community.
How can you prepare for your Kenan-Flagler interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, Kenan-Flagler 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 UNC interviews.
What questions are asked in the Kenan-Flagler 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 UNC 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 do in your free time?
- Can you tell me more about any international experience you have?
- What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
- What is your plan B in case these goals are not achievable?
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why UNC Kenan-Flagler?
- How do you see yourself engaging with Kenan-Flagler’s clubs and organizations, and what unique perspectives will you bring?
- What other schools have you applied to? If you get into all of them, how will you choose where to go?
- Have you visited campus? Spoken with alumni?
LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK
- Describe a time when you worked with someone whose background or perspective was very different from your own. How did you approach the collaboration?
- Tell me about one instance when you disagreed with your boss and how you handled the situation.
- For you, what is the difference between a manager and a leader?
- What is your leadership style? Can you give me an example?
- Can you share an example of how you adapted your leadership style to meet the needs of a rapidly changing environment?
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- How would your colleagues describe you?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- 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.
- Tell me about a time you failed.
- What is your greatest achievement so far?
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 Kenan-Flagler, 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 for interview success. Click to join!
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 Kenan Flagler 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.
Tell your story effectively in the Kenan-Flagler 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.
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
