The following USC / Marshall interview report was submitted to Clear Admit by a Round 3 applicant who was admitted. Congratulations to them!
Had my interview in May 2015as a Round 3 applicant. Interview actually was with two Adcoms (seemed like one was relatively new) and was fairly straightforward. Worth noting that I have a relatively unconventional background, so a lot of the questions were rather pointed in what I perceived as an attempt to explain my path to and out of Marshall.
Why do you want to pursue your MBA right now?
Why Marshall?
Can you explain the reasons for your poor undergraduate GPA? (Also asked a follow-up on this)
Who is an effective leader you know and what makes them so effective?
What clubs/activities would you become involved in at Marshall?
What are your hobbies?
How will Marshall help you achieve your stated career goal of X?
Like I said in the top, there were also a few questions that asked me to explain my past professional life, but I hesitate to expect future applicants to face as many (or necessarily any) questions about this. My background all but demands they ask these questions (all fair).
Overall, I thought the interview went well and I felt like they asked the right questions. They pushed at the right points and made me deliver honest answers, but it was also friendly and informational. After the Adcoms had exhausted their set of questions, I asked them 5-6 questions about the program; it was at this point that the interaction became very comfortable and conversational.
I left the interview liking Marshall even more than I had when I arrived. I was a little disappointed there was no campus tour/info session available to me, but so is life as a Round 3 applicant. I ended up gaining admission a few weeks later, but unforseen circumstances with my professional engagement at that time prevented me from being ready by July (when the Marshall program started). Without those circumstances, I would have enrolled – my trip to campus was impressive.
After your interview, be sure to add your first-hand interview report to the Clear Admit Interview Archive.
