Ranking Masters in Finance Programs

How Business Schools Come Up With Their Questions

It’s never easy to get to know someone…really know someone, that is. That’s why companies have developed so many hurdles in their hiring process. You’ve probably heard of them all: Multiple Interviews, field projects, psychological tests, and even the dreaded dinner interview. They’re all designed to scratch away at that protective shell, to flush out how a guy will react when it’s all-hands-on-deck or an ego must be sublimated for the greater good.

It’s no different with business school applications. Some students parse every word, worried that the slightest misstep could torpedo their chances. Others rely on consultants to help them zero in on their schools’ cultural touchstones. Despite reading the right phrases and themes, many adcoms still wonder, “Is this person just telling us what we want to hear?” More important, “Will he revert to being who he really is once he’s accepted?”

That’s one reason why admissions essays are being cut down or changed dramatically. Adcoms are tinkering with the format, expectations, and even the medium to make candidates more uncomfortable. Take MIT’s Sloan School of Management. This year, students aren’t writing about defining moments or where they hope to be in ten years. Instead, they are answering this question: “Write a professional recommendation on behalf of yourself.” Inspired by Sloan’s tradition of having employer write self-reviews, the question is designed for students to assess themselves from the perspective of their boss. “Sometimes recommenders do a much better job selling candidates than candidates themselves,” says Rod Garcia, senior director of admissions at Sloan. “The candidates undersell themselves, so sometimes we’re not getting the information that we’re looking for.”

Another strategy? Use a medium other than an essay for candidates to sell themselves. And Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management has grown famous for requiring a video essay. Here, students answer two questions, each lasting a minute. Why? For starters, the process gauges preparation. Candidates can practice speaking to a camera in one minute increments before the interview. If they struggle, it could reflect poorly interpersonal communication skills…or show a lack of seriousness about the opportunity. As Kate Smith, Kellogg’s assistant dean for admissions and financial aid, tells Bloomberg Businessweek, MBAs need to become comfortable with a camera in the spotlight. A live video interview tests this (along with the ability to be succinct and engaging).

Of course, off-the-wall questions, video interviews, and PowerPoint presentations are just a means to get to the real person who’ll spend two years in the program (and ultimately represent it over their careers). Make no mistake: The old days of cookie cutter questions are over. In fact, expect plenty of experimentation over the coming years. As Liz Riley Hargrove, associate dean for admissions at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, notes: “People would be surprised how much admissions directors talk.”

And they may be even more surprised how quickly successful ideas travel between schools.

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek

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