With the interviewing season in full swing, I thought it would be valuable to share some of the questions that are being reported from among the most competitive programs.

Obviously, you have to be well prepared for the standard questions: Why an MBA? Why this school?

What are your short term/long term career goals? How cool is Ben?
(okay, scratch that last one). You get the idea.

Yes, you’ll be asked the questions above. But, there are scores of others you need to be ready for. These can be lumped roughly into five categories.

1. How much do you know about us.
2. “Tell me about a time when.”
3. How thoughtful/mature/self-aware you are.
4. How smart you are.
5. What are you like outside of work.

Here are some actual recent examples of each:

Category 1

·   What clubs would you be interested in joining here?
·   What are you interested being involved in while here?
·   What do you find appealing about our school?

Category 2

·   Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership.
·   Tell me about a team situation that did not work.
·   Tell me about a time you contributed to someone else’s success.
·   Tell me about a time when your expectations were not met.
·   Tell me about a time you failed at something and what you learned from it.

Category 3

·   Describe your leadership style.
·   What do your colleagues most admire about you?
·   What would your peers say about you?
·   How would the people you work for describe you as a manager?
·   What three words would you use to describe yourself?
·   What are your strengths and weaknesses?
·   What will you do if you don’t get into an MBA program?
·   How do you define success?

Category 4

·   If you were CEO of your company, what would you do?
·   How would you develop a marketing strategy for…?
·   Tell me about a challenge your company faces and how you’d address it.

Category 5

·   Tell me about a book you’ve read and what you learned from it.
·   What is something you’re interested in outside of work?
·   What do you do for fun?
·   If money were not an issue, what would you do with your time?

And finally, many interviewers will ask you what other schools you’re applying to. No need for strategizing here, and certainly no benefit in lying. Simply answer the question in a matter of fact way and move on. Just as I’m doing now.