I scheduled the interview with an alum in my hometown. It was held in his home at the dining room table, which created a very relaxed atmosphere. He started the interview itself by saying that the format was very informal. He took notes while we talked but maintained good eye contact.
Questions:
- Tell me a bit about what you do and how you ended up at your current job? (i.e. walk me through your resume)
- Why the MBA? Why do you want to leave your current job? (he previously worked for the same consulting firm as I do)
- Why Columbia?
He then asked me two behavioral questions:
- Tell me about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma, in your personal or professional life.
- Tell me about a challenging team environment that you were a part of and how did you navigate it.
He then asked me if I had any questions for him. We then went into a longer conversation about his Columbia experience and post-Columbia career transition.
Status – Admitted, January 9, 2011.
