UCSD Rady Business School Interview (cont'd)
How important is an applicant's GMAT score and what advice do you have
for applicants who struggled with this exam?
The GMAT is a good predictor of applicants' ability to be academically
successful in the core curriculum of an MBA program. It doesn't tell us
whether you will be successful in business, or that you're good at teamwork,
but it does provide an important baseline in terms of your academic
potential. We encourage applicants to really prepare to take the test.
Standardized test-taking is a skill, and if it has been a while since you
last took such a test, you are doing yourself a disservice if you take the
test cold – no matter how smart you are.
We look at each of the component scores of the GMAT, not just the overall
score – and we look at these components in conjunction with your transcripts
from earlier academic work. In some cases, grades in relevant coursework
will balance a GMAT score. And we always encourage applicants to provide us
with any other information that would help us evaluate their academic
preparedness for MBA study.
What is Rady's policy regarding applicants who take the GMAT multiple
times?
We always look at your best score.
How important is an applicant's GMAT score and what advice do you have
for applicants who struggled with this exam?
The GMAT is a good predictor of applicants' ability to be academically
successful in the core curriculum of an MBA program. It doesn't tell us
whether you will be successful in business, or that you're good at teamwork,
but it does provide an important baseline in terms of your academic
potential. We encourage applicants to really prepare to take the test.
Standardized test-taking is a skill, and if it has been a while since you
last took such a test, you are doing yourself a disservice if you take the
test cold – no matter how smart you are.
We look at each of the component scores of the GMAT, not just the overall
score – and we look at these components in conjunction with your transcripts
from earlier academic work. In some cases, grades in relevant coursework
will balance a GMAT score. And we always encourage applicants to provide us
with any other information that would help us evaluate their academic
preparedness for MBA study.
What is Rady's policy regarding applicants who take the GMAT multiple
times?
We always look at your best score.
How important is the interview in the admissions process?
The
admissions interview is an excellent opportunity for you to communicate the
things you think are important and distinctive about yourself.
Are these interviews conducted blind or is the applicant's file reviewed
beforehand?
Admissions interviewers review the applicant’s resume and essays before
the interview.
Is there any advantage or disadvantage to interviewing with an admissions
officer versus an alumnus? All interviews are conducted by admissions
officers.
Let's talk about waitlists. How does the Rady School use waitlists? Any
advice you'd like to share with any waitlisted applicant who happens to come
across this interview transcript?
We work hard to make timely decisions and inform applicants quickly – and
we want to leave as few applicants as possible hanging, waiting for
decisions. We maintain very small waitlists and revisit those applications
often to be sure that we are making decisions as soon as we can. We
encourage applicants on our waitlist to communicate with us regularly.
How are re-applicants viewed by Rady and what do they need to do to be
successful the second time around?
Re-applicants are always reviewed fully – there is no disadvantage to
reapplying. For some applicants, the additional work experience or academic
work completed can make a significant difference in their overall readiness
for the MBA program.
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