Tuck interview

This week I had Tuck's interview. It was OK. I believe better than Wharton's but worse than Kellogg's (the Kellogg interview was stellar!). I met with an person from admissions who was definitely very nice and committed in depth with Tuck's community.

The questions were:

• Why MBA and why Tuck
• What are your passions
• Tell me about a mistake you made and what did you learn about it? 
• If I sit with your siblings, what would they tell about you? (she kind of got me on this one, however i kind of address it with some leadership)
• What can you add to tuck inside classroom and outside?

So now I am again just waiting without any other MBA related activities! I think I will write some more about my thoughts of the different business schools, and maybe some insights of my process.

Kellogg interview

Yesterday I have had the best interview till now, and it was Kellogg's. I believe it went so well because the interviewer, an alumnus, made me feel very comfortable. I didn't get nervous at all and everything I had prepared flowed smoothly. The guy was a very down-to-earth and humble Kellogg Graduate. I really saw myself reflected on this guy. In certain way, Kellogg has raised some points with me in this interview, because I kind of sensed its community. I felt so comfortable, that I saw myself much more enthusiastic to attend Kellogg than before! (And I have always been enthusiastic about Kellogg!).

Well, for what matter to you guys, here are the interview questions:

• Tell me about your current project.
• Tell me a time you had to build a team.
• Tell me about your experience in Spain.
• Tell me a time your had to be a leader.
• Tell me a challenging interaction you had with someone.
• Why MBA
• Why Kellogg

Now I have to prepare to Tuck's interview!

Wharton interview

Sorry I haven't been posting that much! I was very busy at work and preparing interviews!

Well, I just had my Wharton interview. Again, it didn't go amazingly. I am sure that I am better in interviews than what I showed today. I got nervous in the Why Wharton question, and I think I screwed up there. I didn't mention a couple of things I had prepared. Then, it was very difficult for me to go back to the cool-calmed-easy-going guy I was during the first part of the interview. I ended up with a headache. In the end, it wasn't that bad. I just believe it could had been much better!

I met the alumnus at the airport of my city as he came for business for the day. He was very friendly and conversational. The interview lasted a little less than an hour.

The questions he asked were:

• Tell me about your professional experience 
• Tell me about your experience in Spain / why didn't you stay there. 
• Tell me about you undergraduate experience.
• Why Wharton 
• Why MBA and not any other masters degree 
• Do you need an MBA to become a manager at ? 
• Strengths and weaknesses 

Then we talked about Wharton and the life in Philly. He was very nice and gave me lots of advice.

So, I believe it was not a bad interview, but again, I don't know if it will be enough. (I kind of believe it won't :( )

Now, I have Kellogg's interview tomorrow, and I have also been invited to interview by Tuck! So preparation continues...

Wharton invite!!! and other updates

I got the mail from Wharton!!! wow, what a feeling... I couldn't share it with anyone because I was about to enter a meeting! Anyway, this morning I was writing this: "Wharton: Hopes are lost. We are one day to the deadline of the mid decision, and no invite came. I really liked Wharton. Anyway... I'm sure the experience will be great in whatever school takes me in!" But it seems I'm still in the game!

Here comes the updates part.

Tuck: Well, after working hard all weekend, I submitted Tuck on Monday. I prepared those essays in only a week! I was able to use a lot of ideas of my previous essays. People say you shouldn't, however, it worked for me at leat for essay writing. Let's see if it works for getting in! As I am international student, I couldn't go to Tuck to interview, so, if my profile interests them, I will be called for an interview. Otherwise, people will prove right for that thing of not using the others school essays!

Kellogg: I did receive an invite! I thought they were forgetting about me. I hope to schedule it for next week and prepare it well!

MIT & Chicago Booth: In the not-sweet wait. I have a wait of more than a month for both. For Chicago Booth, I'll be waiting for the final decision, and for MIT, I'll be waiting for an interview invite!

So, I will have to prepare two interviews (K and W) kind of in a rush. I don't know if I should split them in the time that is left, so as to be totally focused in one at a time. The thing is I've already written to my Kellogg alumnus proposing him a day and time. If he says yes, then I have to try with the W alumnus to stretch things a little. I don't know... I will see in the next couple of days.

I'll keep you guys informed!

Some application strategy

Given that neither Kellogg nor Wharton sent me an invite yet (ok, now i'm worried!) and that my Chicago interview didn't go spectacularly, I will give it a shot to Tuck. I have been intensively working on the Tuck's essays I once began writing. I know I have a good fit with Tuck's close-knit community!

I believe that Tuck having the 1st round the same day that Wharton's mid decision and very close to chicago´s is not a mere coincidence... And it worked for me!!

I am surprised at Kellogg as I have not received any news. Not even the mandatory invitation to interview!

Anyway... I still have some hope that at least one of these schools will admit me!

Interviewed by Chicago!

Well, i have had my first interview!!
It went pretty well. It was with an alumn in a city outside the US (I am an international applicant). The guy was very straight forward and nice. He introduced himself, told me his career pre-mba and post-mba.

Then we started with the questions:

- walk me through resume


- why so much community work? (i did a lot of community activities!)

- tell me the course you like the most during undergrad

- when did you have a chance to apply that knowledge

- some accomplishment at work

- tell me atime you were frustrated at work

- tell me a time you had to accept someones decision (like loosing a discussion)
- tell me something that impressed you about spain.
- Are you aware of chicago's line of thought?

- why mba, why chicago, why now?

- what do you think about the MBA and the financial crisis? do you think MBAs need a more human side?

- he asked me to recommend him a book
 
I think it went quite well. It was no stellar, but it was more than OK.
So, I am very happy!
 
Good luck to everyone!