Source
r/MBA•
ryan774

How can I increase my odds of being accepted after interviewing?

I've completed interviews at 3 of the 5 schools I applied to in R2, with 1 more coming up next weekend and another that I haven't yet received an invite for. There's still 5 - 6 weeks until decisions are released for R2, and I feel like I could be doing something to increase my chances. I've registered for a few online chats that each of the schools host, and am trying to keep in contact with the current students I interacted with on campus. Any tips for how we can use the gap between interviewing and decision day to demonstrate interest or increase odds of acceptance? Thanks!

Posted Feb 11, 2019, 3:05 PM UTC

2219
HariPotter•

You have to take one for the team, to demonstrate your value to the admissions committee.

46
cargoman89•

You can’t really. Adcom has your file and they will make a decision based on what’s in it.

23
ryan774OP•

That's fine. Glad to know that it's just a waiting game at this point.

2
Dcamp•

Sacrifice a goat?

Idk. I would say that what you can do between now and decision day will have negligible effect at best. Crush your next two interviews and try to enjoy the free time.

16
sthlmsoul•

I hate to tell you this but aside from sending thank you notes to the people that interviewed you there is not much you can do once the interview is over.

12
MBAPrepCoachcom•

Not all schools accept this but most accept what is called a letter of support, which is an alumnus writing on your behalf.

If there are any significant updates your profile like a job change or you've obtained a community leadership board position or something like that then you are okay to contact admissions and let them know. INSEAD they will actually accept another letter of recommendation.

I would say that school communication is the main way that you can boost your profile, being assertive but not aggressive, keeping them posted but using good judgment. Not a bad idea for you to partake in admissions events, in person would be better than online but still a wise idea and it's building your repository is information if it when you have the chance to make decisions.

I would make sure that your LinkedIn profile statement is really on point and brands you sets you apart and makes you memorable. All together make sure your LinkedIn is tight, they will definitely Google you. I just saw a LinkedIn profile today of a guy with his shirt off. Avoid stuff like that LOL.

I imagine that obviously you sent out thank you letters that reinforce your strong points addressed any negatives, referred to things that would build rapport.

1
Scott_TargetTestPrep•

What was your GMAT score? Does your GMAT score beat the averages at the schools to which you applied?

1
ryan774OP•

GMAT score was 740, applying to a few M7 and other top 15 programs.

1
HeadOfSlytherin•

I will bless you with luck! Just send me $1000 for the blessing donation.

0
pawofdoomMBA Grad•

Hate to break it to you even further than the other comments, but your admit decision was largely made up even prior to your interview. At Stanford and Harvard, interviews are essentially for the Alumni (and to screen for extreme outliers either way) and not the candidates.

-1†
khurt007Admit•

Not sure about Stanford, but Harvard interviews are only held with adcoms, so saying the interviews are essentially for alumni is not a correct statement.

5
ReallyColdSheets•

Mind explaining what you mean by “for the alumni”? Most schools offer on campus interviews with adcoms or second year students so I’m a bit confused by this comment.

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pawofdoomMBA Grad•

I'm talking about admissions interviews. They're mainly to keep the alumni community engaged with the school and give them a way to feel valued. I'm not exaggerating, this is from the mouth of a senior dean.

-2†
[deleted]•

but your admit decision was largely made up even prior to your interview.

Not disagreeing but what evidence do you have?

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pawofdoomMBA Grad•

A senior dean at one of those schools.

-1
bluedeviled_eggM7 Student •

I think this is a bit extreme. Yes, all the pre-interview parts of your application are very important and will weigh a lot, but interviews do matter. It definitely would let in or keep out some outliers who were just horrible or amazing in person.

0
pawofdoomMBA Grad•

It depends on the candidate but in the vast majority of cases, you've already either been accepted or rejected unless something special happens at interview. If you're interviewing with adcom primarily (not due to circumstance), or Derrick (historically), then you were likely still a 'maybe'. Interviewing with alumni suggested your decision was largely made up already.

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SnapeProbDiedAVirgin•

Nowhere close to being true enough to state as a fact.

I didn’t apply to M7, but I do know at two of my interviews at top 25s, my final meeting was with an adcom director who was going in “blind” in terms of knowing my resume and grades, etc. I also recall the correlation between being accepted post interview was far less correlated either app stats than getting an interview in the first place.

Your application gets you the interview, and if good, helps. At the end of the day though, we all know schools would take the likable 700 GMAT kid over an annoying kid with a 730

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