UPDATE: This article was originally posted on October 6, 2023. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
As one of a handful of STEM-designated MBA programs, Vanderbilt is at the top of the list for an increasing number of applicants who seek to pursue a career in the US.
With this increased interest, however, it is more difficult than ever to find a place at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Owen interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample mock interview sequences to ensure you give your Vanderbilt interview your best shot.
How the Vanderbilt interview works
Making sure you shine during your Vanderbilt interview is no easy task.
Vanderbilt interviews, since they are conducted by the admissions committee, tend to be highly personalized and based on your whole application. During the interview, the interviewer is also trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are and how interested you seem in the Vanderbilt program.
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 Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt’s admissions committee. If you are unable to travel to campus or a hub city, you may request a virtual interview. Completing your interview online will in no way negatively impact your application.
Will the interviewer have read your application?
Yes. The interviewer will have read your entire application. Past reports indicate that interviewers develop specific questions based on your application, so make sure to take the time to review what you presented.
How long will the Vanderbilt interview last?
30-45 minutes.
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Who is Vanderbilt looking for?
“Our size and focus allows us to interact with students, alumni and recruiters as individuals so that we can better understand and help each achieve their goals. We are intensely and proudly competitive with the best. But we also shape leaders who understand that collaboration is essential in today’s connected economy. We develop businesspeople who can lead and manage change, drawing not only on what they learn here about business but also what they learn about themselves.” Vanderbilt Owen Admissions
Every year, Vanderbilt’s admissions team has the difficult task of selecting a small number of outstanding professionals for its class of around 175 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” Owen student, yet the average admitted student for the Class of 2027 has a GMAT Focus score of 660 and a GRE score of 160V, 159Q.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Owen is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers.
How can you prepare for your interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt interviews.
What questions are asked in the Vanderbilt 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 Vanderbilt 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 current job?
- Why did you choose your university?
- What was your undergraduate experience like?
- What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
- Name three firms you would like to work at after your MBA.
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why Vanderbilt?
- What contribution will you bring to the classroom?
- What excites you the most about Vanderbilt?
- What do you hope to gain from our community?
- What other schools have you applied for? 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?
- How would you handle a situation where a teammate of yours wasn’t pulling their own weight?
- Give me an example of a time you worked on a diverse team.
- Tell me a leader you admire.
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- How would your friends 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.
- Describe a situation where you used your network to achieve something.
- How do you handle feedback? Can you give me an example?
- How do you deal with diversity?
- Can you describe a recent challenge at work and how you overcame it?
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 highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview.
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 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 Vanderbilt Owen interview
Interview prep is one of those things where targeted practice with the right person makes all the difference. Leland connects you with vetted coaches who specialize in interview preparation, from current MBA students who just went through interviews at your target programs to former admissions officers who’ve conducted hundreds of interviews to professionals working at top MBA consulting firms who know exactly what post-MBA recruiting looks like.
You can book anything from a single mock interview session to a comprehensive interview prep package.
Their matching support helps you find coaches based on your schools, background, and the specific aspects of interviewing you want to work on, whether that’s storytelling, handling behavioral questions, or preparing for school-specific formats. Leland is the easiest way to find quality interview coaching at whatever scope and price point works for you.
Check out Leland and find the support you need to take your interview skills from good to great.
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