Across the Table: Advice from 9 Alumni Interviewers

You have a unique opportunity to meet with a member of the Booth community during your interview. Whether you come to campus and meet with a current student or interview with a Booth alumnus in your city, these are passionate individuals who volunteer their time and talent to truly get to know potential members of the future class.

At Booth, we view the interview as a two-way exchange and want this to be a conversation in which you gain as much as you give. “Think about it as a twofold dynamic,” says alumni interviewer José Pablo Gutierrez, ’16. “You are interviewing the program you are going to select as your business school, too.” 

To prepare for your interview, it is important to be confident with the basics: why do you want to pursue an MBA, why is now the optimal time in your career to do so, and how will Booth help you achieve that goal?

Beyond that, our alumni interviewers around the world share their sage advice on how to present your best self in your admissions interview:

1. The best candidates weave their story in such a way that it becomes easy for the interviewer to visualize how they will fit into the Booth class and use the business school experience, in all its many facets, to pursue their aspirations. - Chris Della Porta, ’16
2. Just know that you don’t have to be nervous. For any questions in the interview, there is no right answer. Just be genuine. - Cathy Hsu, ’16
3. I always tell candidates to practice their story, think deeply about why they want to go to business school, and why Booth in particular. Being able to explain that concisely is a critical piece of the interview. - Ankur Raniwala, ’14
4. Use the interview as a developmental opportunity. Preparation leads to a lot of reflection. - Eddie Kang, ’15
5. Be yourself. It's the only way to guarantee a great fit both for you and Chicago Booth! - Santiago Dawson, ’15
6. Don't try to mold yourself into what Booth thinks you should be. You're going to be a more compelling candidate if you speak with confidence about the things you know best. - Tatiana Hodapp, ’14
7. What will YOU add to the Booth experience? The MBA experience isn't a one way road. - Erik Underwood, ’17
8. Listen and interact. The interview should be a conversation, not a sales pitch. - Evan Coughenour, ’14
9. One of the coolest aspects about being an interviewer, aside from a chance to play a role in the admissions process, is to hear about all the great work applicants are doing. So be sure to share with us what you’re passionate about. - Nithin Kuchibhotla, ’17

Nithin is also a former Admissions Fellow, a second-year student selected to work with the Office of Admissions to conduct admissions interviews on campus and assist with other recruiting activities. Read more about Nithin’s experience as a student interviewer here.

Wherever you are in the admissions process, we wish you the best of luck. View Booth's online application »