Date: February 2025
Interviewer: Second-Year Student
Format: Virtual (Zoom)
Duration: ~45 minutes
Interview Experience:
My Booth interview was conducted by a second-year student and was overall a structured, but somewhat frustrating experience. The interviewer did not have a background in my field, which led to several moments of disconnect during our conversation.
Throughout the interview, I noticed that she zoned out multiple times and even yawned on a few occasions, which made the interaction feel disengaged. Additionally, she frequently interrupted my responses and asked me to repeat answers, even for relatively simple concepts. This made it difficult to build a natural flow in the conversation.
What stood out the most was that instead of focusing on my MBA goals and candidacy, the interviewer seemed more interested in extracting solutions for my startup idea. I felt like I was being asked for insights rather than being assessed for my fit with Booth, which left me feeling uneasy.
Overall, the interview was not a positive experience—it felt more like an obligation for the interviewer rather than an opportunity to truly assess my fit for Booth. I was expecting a more engaging and structured conversation based on other Booth interview reports, but unfortunately, that was not the case for me.
Questions Asked:
Tell me about yourself.
Why MBA? Why Booth?
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Tell me about a challenge you faced at work.
How do you work with people from diverse backgrounds?
What happens if you don’t get into any business school? (This question felt unnecessary and condescending.)
What is your startup idea, and what solutions have you considered? (This line of questioning seemed more for her personal curiosity rather than for assessing my MBA candidacy.)
Final Thoughts:
While I tried to keep my energy and focus up, the interviewer’s lack of engagement and technical understanding made it difficult to have a meaningful conversation. Unlike other Booth interview experiences I’ve read about, mine did not feel warm or conversational.
That said, I understand that Booth evaluates candidates holistically, and a single interviewer’s feedback is only one component of the decision process. I appreciate the opportunity to interview, but I wish the experience had been more aligned with the school’s otherwise strong reputation for thoughtful interactions.
