vikeshvamsee@gmail.

com
Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

Interview
Primer
Tuck School of Business

2019–2020
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Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

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What role does the interview

play in the admissions process?
MBA programs employ a holistic evaluation process, so the interview represents only one aspect of the ad-
missions decision. Still, it is a very important and influential element of the admissions process and should be
approached with the same level of attention as the other parts of your application.

The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College states on its website that admissions interviews “play
a critical role” in the school’s evaluation of candidates’ interpersonal skills. We believe that Tuck’s primary
goals in the interview are to gauge a candidate’s fit with the school’s values, approach, and atmosphere and
to assess how the individual might perform in a team-based environment. “Tuck students are smart, nice,
accomplished, and aware. Admissions interviews are a key way for us to understand how you, as a candidate,
demonstrate these qualities. Your interview gives us a more complete picture of who you are, how you’ll
enrich our community, and how our program will help you thrive,” the Tuck admissions committee explains on
the school’s website.

Tuck is one of the few top schools that follow an “open interview policy,” which enables any applicant to
schedule an on-campus interview early in the admissions season. By inviting and encouraging all applicants
to come to campus, Tuck uses the interview as an engagement tool. While on campus, applicants may have
the opportunity to sit in on a class, have lunch with current students, tour the campus, and engage in an infor-
mal Q&A with an admissions committee member. “While not required to apply, all applicants admitted to Tuck
will have had an interview prior to an admissions offer,” the school’s website states.

Our past clients describe Tuck’s interviews most often as “friendly,” “casual,” “polite,” and “conversational.”
Also, “Why Tuck?” is a common theme. Therefore, the admissions committee wants to not only learn why you
are right for Tuck, but also ensure you understand why the program is right for you.

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Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

What is the admissions

committee’s perspective on
interviews?
Tuck uses interviews primarily to get a feel for applicants’ personality and communication skills and to ensure
that they are well versed in what Tuck has to offer and why it is the right MBA program for them. Our past
clients report that the school’s interviews are largely conversational, stating that their interviewers were
“really trying to get to know [them]” and “very focused on fit.” We believe that Tuck is truly interested in hear-
ing what you have to say and wants applicants to take full advantage of this opportunity to explain their story
and qualifications beyond what is conveyed in the electronic application. Finally, Tuck is committed to giving
candidates a high level of access to all facets of the school and strongly encourages applicants to come
to campus to interview. Visiting campus will give you a more complete sense of the program, allow you to
interact with students and school representatives, and help you better understand whether Tuck’s tight-knit
community might just be a perfect fit for you.

In your interview, be prepared to tell your
interviewer stories not only about the
outcomes you have achieved, but also your
behaviors that drove those outcomes. It’s
wise to reflect and prepare for the interview,
and yet I encourage you to focus on knowing
yourself rather than memorizing your stories.
… Focus on the conversation, the questions
your interviewer is asking, and the cues
you get from your interviewer—rather than
predetermined narratives—and evidence of
your accomplishments will naturally emerge.
 Luke Anthony Peña, Executive Director of Admissions and
Financial Aid; Tuck MBA Blog, 3/19
In addition to knowing yourself, know Tuck.
Asking questions in the interview that could
be easily answered by looking at the school’s
marketing materials or website does not
create a good impression. It could highlight
that you’re not ready or worse, you aren’t
interested, because you couldn’t be bothered
to check out our basic profile. Plus, this will
leave more time for your more individual and
complex questions. Think about what it is
about Tuck that compels you to apply. Be sure
to articulate this in a way that clearly tells the
interviewer that you understand Tuck and
how you envision yourself being part of the
community.

 Tuck MBA Blog, 8/18

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Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran
Your interview is a conversation that surfaces
the thoughts, beliefs, and values that
influence and inform your decisions. … The
short answers [prompts] in the application
give you the opportunity to state your goals on
paper, and you can expect your interviewer to
ask you to articulate them out loud.
 Luke Anthony Peña, Executive Director of Admissions and
Financial Aid; Tuck MBA Blog, 4/19
The Admissions Committee wants to know
the real you, not who you think we want you
to be. It’s hard to speak convincingly about
your experiences and goals when you’re busy
trying to get into the interviewer’s head. You’ll
risk coming across as canned or insincere.
We want to know who you are, what drives
you every day in and out of work, and why
the MBA program at Tuck is key to achieving
your aspirations. For most questions, there is
really no right or wrong answer. We are most
interested in what you really think.
 Tuck MBA Blog, 9/16
Along with the opportunity to interview,
visiting Tuck’s campus (and those of other
schools of interest), is a great way to get a
feel for the culture. … Notice how people
interact with each other. Can you see yourself
as part of this community? We’ve heard many
students say that it was during their visit to
Tuck when they knew this was the place for
them—and also that it was during visits to
other schools that helped them rule out those
programs.
 Tuck MBA Blog, 7/18
In the interview, we hope to hear more
examples of the types of experiences
you have had in both your personal and
professional life, and to get a sense of your
demonstrated record of achievement, your
interpersonal and communication skills,
and your focus. Think about the types of
questions you are likely going to get in
advance, e.g. what your goals are, why you
want to get an MBA, why you want to come
to Tuck, leadership roles, your strengths and
weaknesses, etc. Then think about specific
anecdotes from your past experiences that
illustrate these topics. In describing the
anecdote, explain the situation, what actions
you took, and the result. Keep in mind though
that you don’t become so over-practiced that
you sound like a recording.
 Tuck MBA Blog, 9/16
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Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

What type of interview can

I expect?
Hybrid Process

Tuck uses a “hybrid” approach to interviews, wherein any applicant can freely request and schedule an inter-
view before a given deadline—but after that deadline, applicants can interview only if invited. Tuck offers all
candidates the opportunity to interview on campus, with interviews scheduled on a first-come, first-served
basis beginning in September.

The application process at Tuck is fairly unique in that candidates may actually complete a self-initiated
interview prior to submitting their application. Some applicants find this helpful, as they can incorporate
details from their interview day and campus visit into their application essays. Taking advantage of the open
interviews that Tuck offers is recommended and will enable you to showcase another element of your profile
and who you are as a candidate to the admissions committee. Be sure to check the dates and availability prior
to your admissions deadline, as the open interview slots fill up quickly. If you cannot travel to the school’s
campus for your interview, the admissions committee may invite you to interview at another location.

Blind Format

Tuck interviews are “blind,” which means that your interviewer will not have seen your entire application before
the interview—just your resume. Your interviewer will therefore not know your GMAT score or GPA (unless
this information is on your resume) or the content of your essays. This means that referencing anecdotes or
examples that you used in other parts of your application is completely acceptable. Many of our past clients
report that their Tuck interviewers limited the discussion primarily to topics pulled from their resume, with
some deviation to touch on other subjects. In some cases, however, your interviewer may not have taken time
to review your resume before your meeting, so be prepared to adjust accordingly and to provide a brief sum-
mary of your professional experience, in case they ask.

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Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran
Where will my interview
take place?
On Campus, In Person
At Tuck, all applicant-initiated interviews and most school-initiated
interviews are conducted face-to-face on the school’s campus. Al-
though the location of your interview has no influence on your chances
for admission, in-person interviews can sometimes feel more natural,
with you and your interviewer sitting down together in a quiet space at
the school to have a conversation about your candidacy. On-campus
interviews also allow you to interact with students and admissions
representatives during your visit. Visit days at Tuck include such
activities as student-led campus tours, class visits, Q&A sessions with
admissions officers, and lunches with current students.
Off Campus, In Person
For some school-initiated interviews, Tuck offers off-campus, face-
to-face interviews, either in hub city locations to which admissions
representatives travel or by engaging the school’s alumni network
around the world. Depending on the specific arrangements, these
interviews could be conducted in a more public place, like a coffee
shop, or at the interviewer’s place of business. The school notes on its
website that “very few” interviews take place off campus.
Remote
For some school-initiated interviews, typically for candidates from
outside the United States, Tuck offers Skype interviews. These inter-
views generally follow the same format and carry the same weight in
the evaluation process as the other types of interviews the school of-
fers, but some candidates may have difficulty establishing a connec-
tion with their interviewer when they are not physically face-to-face.
If you do a Skype interview, treat it exactly as you would an in-person
interview. Find a quiet place with a reliable connection, remove any
possible distractions, and dress the part!
How long will the
interview last?
According to Tuck’s website and our past ap-
plicants, the school’s interviews typically last
between 30 and 45 minutes.
30–45 minutes
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Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

Who will interview me?

The Tuck admissions committee weighs all applicant interviews the same, regardless of who conducts the
interview. The school states this plainly on its website: “All interviews carry equal importance in our evalua-
tion process, regardless of who conducts the interview, where it is held, or how it was initiated.” The person
with whom you interview often depends on the location of your interview.

Admissions Committee Members

Although at some schools, admissions officers are the only people who interview candidates (both on and off
campus), at Tuck, admissions officers share the job of conducting on- and off-campus interviews with other,
carefully selected individuals. You therefore may or may not interview directly with a member of the admis-
sions committee at Tuck.

Students

Tuck uses specially chosen second-year students, known as Tuck Admissions Associates (TAAs), for the
majority of on- and off-campus interviews. These students have been selected and trained by the school’s ad-
missions officers to interview candidates on the committee’s behalf. “TAAs go through a competitive selection
process and extensive training. While they won’t ask the exact same questions, they’re all looking for the same
characteristics. We take their comments very seriously, but their evaluation of candidates ends at the inter-
view. They don’t have a role in actual selection, nor do they read your application,” the Tuck website states.

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What do past mbaMission

applicants say about the
interview experience?
Our clients who interviewed with Tuck in the past few years consistently described their interview experience
with the school as “friendly,” “casual,” “polite,” and “conversational.” Tuck is not interested in putting candi-
dates on the spot or trying to stump them, but rather in making sure that applicants have a solid grasp of the
ways the MBA program would benefit them and how they would fit with the school’s community. Our clients
relayed that their interviewer displayed a genuine interest in getting to know them and hearing what they had
to say. Tuck’s interviewers are reportedly also very willing to answer questions about the school and share
their own experiences with the MBA program, so interviewing with the school is clearly a valuable opportunity
to gain insider information, in addition to showcasing your skills.

Here is a sample of what our past clients have told us about their interview experience at Tuck:

The general demeanor was friendly; Very casual. Conversational. In fact, [the
however, informal conversation was minimal. interviewer] seemed to just want to ask the
We jumped right into the interview. The questions, take the notes, and that’s it. I was
questioning style was assertive. [The expecting more follow-up to really dive in to
interviewer] asked for elaboration and pivoted certain answers or experiences.
to new topics at various times during the
conversation. The approach seemed to focus
on gathering as much info as possible.

[The] interview consisted of questions

you would expect and was generally
straightforward, moving from one question
My interviewer was very friendly before and to the next, rather than me answering one
after the direct questioning period, but she question and then being asked a series of
was quite businesslike and serious during the related follow-ups. [The] interviewer was
actual Q&A session. She took many notes, and taking lots of notes—about 20–25 minutes of
her line of questioning was direct and went interview questions followed by 5–10 minutes
directly from one question to the next (i.e., of me asking the interviewer questions.
there were very few follow-up questions to my
responses).

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Overall, the interview was conversational
and the interviewer seemed to have a set of
questions to cover. There was time at the end
for me to ask a few questions as well.
My interviewer was really friendly. He was
strict about the duration of the interview as
in he put a timer for 20 minutes, after which
he took five minutes to answer my questions.
Other than that, it was conversational.
The interview was very casual. It felt like my
interviewer was really trying to get to know me
and was focused on fit. In no way did I feel like
I was being interrogated.
Advice from Past Clients Who Have Interviewed at Tuck
Tuck will sell its interviews as a conversation
and a ‘get-to-know-you’ opportunity.
While that is true and the school is very
much looking for a good fit, be prepared to
answer some tough questions as well. Most
importantly, be prepared for questions that
probe into your understanding of the career
path in the industry you’re looking to get into,
as well as having a stance on current issues in
that industry.
It was friendly but definitely professional and
slightly intense. [The interviewer] wanted to
understand the basics about ‘Why Tuck?’ but
also how I would contribute to the class, study
groups, the legacy I would leave at Tuck, etc.
The interview was laid back and comfortable.
[My interviewer] emphasized that Tuck likes to
use second-year students as interviewers as
they are judging fit with the community.
The interview is mostly about fit, so be well
versed in why you want to go there, what you
will be involved in and contribute, with specific
examples.
Be prepared to just go with the flow of the
conversation. Have good examples ready to
go that can be used/modified to highlight
different areas (e.g., leadership, teamwork).
[You will likely] get asked the standard ‘Why
Tuck?/Why an MBA?’ questions, so prepare
your answers to those.
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Know Tuck really well. Understand details
about their core curriculum and electives.
Really have a few clubs in mind with specific
details on each that you can mention. Tuck
seems to be filled with students with a
calm, level-headed demeanor, well suited
for collaboration, as opposed to business
students with passionate and aggressive
fire, desire, and enthusiasm. This was my
impression after my class session, tour, and
meeting some of the students. Perhaps this is
what they look for in terms of fit as well.
Really know Tuck’s resources. Talk to as
many students as you [can] before going into
the interview. Refer [to] them during your
conversation, because the chances [are good]
the interviewer will know one or two of them.
While it is a relaxed setting, definitely think
through your answers before the interview.
There is a high probability that it will be a
second-year student, and they are really
gauging for cultural fit, so make sure you are
able to exhibit the qualities that are important
to Tuck.
Relax and REALLY prepare for the ‘Why Tuck?’
question with specific examples.
Study Tuck and connect with the people. Tuck
is a very small, tight-knit community, both
the current students and the alumni network,
so they want to know you really want to be
there. The main way you show that is that you
studied the program and its offerings.
Come prepared with good answers to ‘why
Tuck’ and ‘why an MBA.’ Tuck is an incredibly
unique, tight-knit community, so they are
really looking for students who know what
they are signing up for (living in Hanover, etc.).
Definitely understand why Tuck, short- and
long-term goals, but also dig deeper into the
legacy you will leave at Tuck and how you
will interact with others in your study group.
Also be prepared to answer more behavioral
questions about past experiences and your
decision making.
Expect a relaxed environment—the
interviewer is just looking to get to know you.
The other candidates with me noted similar
interview experiences. The school seems to
be most interested in fit with the community
and determining which applicants really want
to spend two years in Hanover.
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How can I prepare for the
interview?
Although the focus and style of Tuck’s admissions interviews can vary,
you should expect to be asked about your personal, professional, and
academic experiences and—in most cases—will receive questions
meant to reveal your knowledge about the school. Therefore, you must
be ready to share your most impressive and/or interesting stories
that demonstrate your proficiency in three areas: communications,
leadership, and interpersonal relations. As Tuck’s website states, the
school believes that interpersonal skills “are essential for success as a
leader and a team member.”
Tuck’s interviews typically start with an open-ended question. This
is your opportunity to offer a comprehensive overview of your profile
and to touch on—very briefly—some of your major accomplishments,
both professional and personal.
Our interview reports for Tuck indicate that “why you need an MBA” is a
topic that the school’s interviews almost always include, in addition to
other career goals questions.
Tuck’s interviews consistently include very school-specific ques-
tions. Almost all our past clients noted that they were asked some
variation of the question “Why Tuck?” and often other Tuck-related
queries as well. If you are not ready to answer these types of questions
in detail, you must invest the time necessary to get to know Tuck thor-
oughly and to identify the programs, centers, clubs, classes, profes-
sors, extracurricular opportunities, and other resources it offers that
relate directly to your plans and your personality.
Tuck wants to hear specifics about your professional accomplish-
ments and leadership potential, so be prepared to provide detailed in-
formation and stories in these subject areas beyond what is presented
in your resume.
Finally, because Tuck is trying to gauge candidates’ “fit” with its small,
close-knit community, the interview will often include personal ques-
tions to help the interviewer evaluate whether you would be a good
match.
We strongly recommend that you practice vocalizing your responses
rather than just writing them out on paper. Try using a timer to get
a sense of how long you typically take to answer each question, and
practice in front of a mirror to detect (and then practice minimizing)
any facial tics or distracting hand gestures. Mock interviews can be
particularly helpful and revealing; provide a friend or family mem-
ber with your resume and a list of possible questions (see the next
section), and then have them interview you for 30 minutes and give
you feedback on your performance. Guard against preparing your re-
sponses word for word and memorizing them, however, so that you do
not sound over-rehearsed and artificial. For more in-depth interview
preparation, consider scheduling a mock interview with an mbaMis-
sion consultant!
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Practice interview sequences

The following five lists present exact questions, in order, asked in actual Tuck interviews during the 2018–
2019 application season, as reported by our past clients. Although you can never be certain which questions
you will receive, and questions will undoubtedly vary to some degree, these samples serve to illustrate how a
Tuck interview is likely to progress.

Note: Identifying information about the applicants has been removed. Some questions have been edited for
clarity.

Sequence 1
1. Tell me about yourself and walk me through your resume.
2. Can you talk about your biggest accomplishment? It can be either personal or professional.
3. How would you describe your leadership style?
4. Can you talk about a time when you went out of your way to help someone struggling on your team?
5. What would former managers/colleagues/professors say are your strengths and weaknesses?
6. Talk about negative feedback you received and how you handled it or reacted to it.
7. Describe a time when you were out of your comfort zone.
8. What would be the most challenging thing about coming to Tuck?
9. Is there anything we have not covered that you would like to talk about?
10. Do you have any questions for me?

Sequence 2
1. Tell me about yourself and take me through your resume.
2. Why an MBA? Why now?
3. What are your short-term and long-term goals?
4. Can you tell me about a time when you experienced conflict at work and how you resolved it?
5. Can you tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss?
6. Can you tell me about a time when you failed and how you picked yourself back up?
7. If you could create a company, what would it be and why?
8. Tell me about a conversation you’ve had in the last week and why you found it interesting.
9. What’s something you regret?
10. Tell me about a time when you took a risk.
11. What have you gathered so far about Tuck?
12. How would you contribute to Tuck? What would be your legacy?
13. Tuck students are nice, smart, accomplished, and aware. Which resonates with you most?

Sequence 3
1. Walk me through your resume.
2. Why do you want an MBA, and why is now the right time for this?
3. Why Tuck?

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4. What will you get involved in outside of academics/professional clubs at Tuck?
5. Tell me about a time when you failed.
6. Can you discuss [a particular extra-curricular in your resume]?
7. What does Tuck’s motto mean to you?
8. Tell me about a positive team experience.
9. Tell me about a difficult team experience.
10. Tell me about a time when you led a team.
11. Is there anything you wish I would have asked you?
12. Do you have any questions for me?

Sequence 4
1. Walk me through your resume.
2. Why an MBA now?
3. Why Tuck?
4. What are some of your weaknesses?
5. What are your short-term and long-term goals?
6. Tell me about a time when you had to support a team member.
7. How would you contribute to Tuck’s community?
8. How would your team describe you?
9. What type of a leader are you?
10. What is the most important quality a leader must have?
11. Tell me about a time when there was friction in your team and how you handled it.
12. What is the strangest conversation you’ve had with your team?
13. Is there anything that I did not cover?
14. Do you have any questions for me?
15. How would you want your classmates to remember you?

Sequence 5
1. Walk me through your resume.
2. Describe a time when you had to deal with a conflict.
3. Describe a time when you received poor feedback.
4. Describe a time when you helped someone.
5. What would you want your legacy to be at Tuck?
6. How would you want to get involved at Tuck?
7. Tell me an interesting fact.
8. Are there any questions you thought I would ask but did not?

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Notoriously challenging
questions
Having performed thousands of mock interviews over the years and reviewed even more post-interview
reports, we believe these are the six questions that MBA applicants find most difficult to master. Note that
questions marked with an asterisk are particularly common at the school in question (in this case, Tuck).

Why should we take you?

Be ready to articulate your two or three greatest strengths and to support each one with a thoughtful anec-
dote that validates your claims. Research your target school so that you are able to relate each of your high-
lighted strengths to an aspect of the program in a meaningful way; this will simultaneously show that you have
done your homework on the school and that you are a serious and thoughtful applicant.

To which other schools are you applying?

List peer schools only. You do not want to give the impression that you consider the school at which you are
interviewing either a “safe” choice or a “reach.” Be prepared to discuss your target school relative to the peer
institutions you mention and to identify specific characteristics about the target school that you find more
appealing on the whole.

If you are not accepted to any business school this year, what will you do?

A large part of mastering this question lies in how you respond, rather than what you say. Project confidence
and show that your plans for the future involve a high level of intentionality. A suitable answer would be some-
thing like this: “I am hopeful that I will be accepted to your program this year, but if not, I will definitely reapply,
because I know an MBA is important for me as I seek to transition in my career. I know I need to develop my
skills in the areas of [areas of importance to you] to achieve my career goals.”

What are your weaknesses? or What have you learned from a failure?*

Be honest. Any attempt to disguise a weakness or shift responsibility away from yourself will actually be det-
rimental! Show that you are cognizant of areas or ways in which you can improve, and then express a sincere
interest in making a positive change. Reveal how and what you learned from a failure and, if possible, provide a
subsequent example in which you succeeded with your new approach.

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What have we not covered that you wish I had asked about?*

Have a mental list ready of your best attributes, most impressive accomplishments, and reasons for target-
ing the program. Then, if any remain that you have not broached by the time you are asked this question, this
is your opportunity to share them. If, on the other hand, you have truly exhausted all your material, you can
instead offer a quick overview that recaps your strongest points and stories: “We discussed my early promo-
tion at American Express, my reasons for wanting to attend this program specifically, my career goals, my
leadership experience with Friends of the New York Public Library, and my passion for photography. I think we
have everything covered.”

What other questions do you have for me?

Always have a few thoughtful questions prepared about your target program to show that you have researched
and are genuinely interested in the school. Keep in mind that questions vary depending on the person in-
terviewing you, so you should tailor your queries accordingly. For example, an alumnus may not know about
the latest on-campus news but can talk about his personal experience at the school and subsequent career
success; a student interviewer would be unable to discuss post-graduate topics but can provide insight into
courses, professors, and clubs. Avoid basic questions like “What makes this program special?” or “What cours-
es do you have for aspiring consultants?” You should already know the answers to such questions at this point.

Demonstrate that you have advanced knowledge of the school by including references to specific offerings
and resources in your queries: “I am interested in an individualized First-Year Project. How many students
pursue these relative to the more conventional option?” Such nuanced questions help prove your authentic
interest in the program.

mbaMission Interview Guide: Tuck School of Business 17

vikeshvamsee@gmail.com
Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran
What if I get stumped during
the interview?
Many applicants worry that during their interview, they will be asked
a challenging question that will leave them awkwardly silent and that
the moment will effectively put an end to their candidacy at the target
school. Although such an experience would certainly be uncomfort-
able—and we suggest, of course, that you definitely do your best to get
ready for your interview so as to avoid this kind of predicament—some-
times even well-prepared candidates find themselves “stumped.” We
can assure you, however, that an awkward pause in an interview will
not cancel out all the positive elements of your application. Still, being
ready for such a situation, should one occur, is important, so we offer
the following tips on how to mitigate an uncomfortable moment:
1. Resist the urge to launch into a story. Your instinct may be to
just start speaking, hoping that you will find the right story or
answer as you progress. This is a high-risk strategy, because if
it goes wrong, this can compound the problem. Instead, pause
for a moment to recall an appropriate story. To buy yourself a
little extra time, you can even say, “That is a good question. I am
going to have to think about it for a moment,” before answering.
2. Take a sip of water. Many interviewers will offer you a glass of
water at the beginning of your meeting. If your interviewer does
so, accept the offer, and then use the water throughout the
interview as a buffer to buy time or help yourself slow down.
If you get stumped, taking a sip of water can provide a brief
opportunity to pause naturally, alleviating any awkwardness
before you continue speaking.
3. Maintain your poise. If you absolutely cannot answer a ques-
tion, do not get overly apologetic or grovel. Simply acknowl-
edge that you are having trouble with the question and politely
ask if you might come back to it later in the conversation. This
is not a best-case scenario, but it is certainly far better than
rambling and apologizing. A confident approach during a tricky
moment may even impress!
4. Forget about it. If you simply cannot answer a question, accept
the fact and move on. Do not dwell on the situation. If you spend
the rest of the interview thinking about that moment, you will be
distracted and struggle with any subsequent questions.
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vikeshvamsee@gmail.com
Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

What should I wear to the

interview?
Tuck specifically states on its website: “Please wear business-appropriate attire for your interview.” If you
are scheduled to meet with a student admissions associate, do not interpret this to mean that you can get
away with being less official in your dress. In fact, a post on the Tuck admissions blog states: “No matter who
conducts your interview, you should approach it in a completely professional manner.”

Follow these rules to look the part for your MBA interview at any school:

1. Always follow any guidelines the school provides on dress code.

2. If the school does not specify a dress code, wear business attire for an on-campus interview as well as
for an off-campus interview with a member of the admissions staff.
3. Business casual attire is often best when meeting an alumnus/alumna off campus, though you may
consider politely asking your interviewer about proper attire in advance.
4. Jeans, T-shirts, and ripped, wrinkled, or unclean clothing are never appropriate.
5. Showing some creativity and style is okay, but do not go overboard.
6. Avoid wearing strong-smelling perfume or cologne.
7. Bring a copy of your resume printed on nice paper.
8. Make sure you turn your cell phone off.

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vikeshvamsee@gmail.com
Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

Should I send a thank you?

In short, you should always send a brief thank you email after your interview. Write and send the note as soon
as possible after your interview—the same day or the next is ideal. Interviewers usually need to submit their
feedback on candidates within 24–48 hours, so you want your message to be received quickly. Be sure to ask
for your interviewer’s business card or email address before you finish the interview, if it has not already been
provided.

Follow these tips to write an effective thank you note:

1. Be sure to mention specifics from your conversation or visit.

2. If you realized after the interview that you forgot to make an important point about your candidacy,
you can (succinctly!) include that point in your thank you email.
3. Always check to make sure you have spelled all names correctly in your email, including the name of
your interviewer, the school, any program or course you discussed, or any professor you met.
4. Limit your email to no longer than a few sentences. Keep it direct, clear, and to the point.

Here is a sample thank you message:

Dear Mr. Jones:

Thank you for meeting with me to discuss my interest in XYZ School’s MBA program. I appreciated your
valuable insight into the advanced finance classes, particularly Professor John Smith’s “Portfolio Invest-
ing” course. Should I be so lucky as to be accepted, I will definitely enroll in that class and know it would
be incredibly helpful in my future investment career. After speaking with you and several students, I am
confident that XYZ offers everything I am seeking, both personally and professionally. Thank you again
for your time, and I hope to see you on campus this fall.

Warm regards,

Jane Doe

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vikeshvamsee@gmail.com
Vikesh Vamsee Ravindran

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