How should I prepare for the Stanford MBA interview?

Question

J Bajwa · Accepted Answer

Stanford MBA interviews are invitation-only and highly selective. Just getting invited means you're a serious contender, but the interview digs deeper into who you are.

Expect behavioural questions like:
Tell me about a time you led under pressure.
Describe a failure and what you learned.
Share a time you resolved a conflict.
What&rsquo;s a piece of feedback you received?

Don&rsquo;t overlook the &ldquo;Why Stanford?&rdquo; question. It may seem standard, but it&rsquo;s key. Go beyond &ldquo;top school&rdquo; lines&mdash;talk about values, courses, or communities that match your goals.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Have 5&ndash;6 stories ready that show leadership, growth, and decision-making.
Practice aloud, but keep it natural. Be ready for follow-up questions&mdash;they often go deep into each answer.
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Radhika Mathur · Answer

Here&rsquo;s a quick checklist to help prepare effectively for the Stanford MBA interview

The interview isn&rsquo;t a test of memorization&mdash;it&rsquo;s a test of self-awareness. They want to know how you think, not just what you&rsquo;ve done. Keep it real, thoughtful, and focused.

Hema A · Answer

Stanford MBA interviews are behavioral and pretty focused. They&rsquo;re usually done by alumni, and the format is structured but feels more like a conversation. It&rsquo;s not blind&mdash;they&rsquo;ve read your full application, so prep needs to go beyond the basics.
Start with the usual&mdash;be clear on your goals, why MBA, and why Stanford. But most of the interview will be around real examples from your past. You&rsquo;ll get questions like &ldquo;Tell me about a time you made a tough decision&rdquo; or &ldquo;Describe a time you had an impact on someone.&rdquo; Use the STAR method to structure your answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result), but keep it natural&mdash;not robotic.
Go back through your resume and essays and pull out 4&ndash;5 stories that show leadership, teamwork, resilience, or values in action. They might dig into something specific you wrote in your application, so know your own content inside-out.
Also, don&rsquo;t just prep answers&mdash;practice follow-ups. Stanford interviewers often ask &ldquo;why?&rdquo; or &ldquo;how did that shape you?&rdquo; right after your first response. The more honest and reflective you are, the better it lands.