What questions are asked in the Yale MBA interview?

Question

Mohit C · Accepted Answer

Yale MBA interviews are blind, meaning the interviewer has only seen your resume&mdash;not your full application. They usually last around 30 minutes and are conducted by admissions committee members, not alumni.
A few standard questions are almost always asked:

Why an MBA, and why now?
Why Yale SOM?
Walk me through your resume.

Beyond these, you can expect behavioral questions focused on leadership, teamwork, and values. Yale puts a strong emphasis on purpose-driven leadership, so questions like Tell me about a time you made a positive impact or Describe a challenging situation and how you handled it are common.
You may also be asked how you&rsquo;ve demonstrated Yale&rsquo;s mission of &ldquo;educating leaders for business and society.&rdquo; It helps to reference specific clubs, courses, or initiatives tied to your goals.
The final portion usually includes: Do you have any questions for me? Be sure to ask thoughtful, program-specific questions&mdash;it&rsquo;s part of how they assess your fit.
You can read this blog on Yale MBA Interview  for Essential Questions and Answers

Chanchar R. · Answer

Yale SOM interviews are resume-based and blind, meaning the interviewer only sees your resume, not your full application. They focus on your professional background, leadership, and teamwork. Here are some common questions you may face:

Walk me through your resume.
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Why Yale SOM?
Tell me about a time you led a team.
How do you define leadership?
Expect questions about how you&rsquo;ve made an impact and how your values align with Yale&rsquo;s mission, like:
How have you made an impact in your community or workplace?

At the end, you'll likely be asked "Do you have any questions for me?"Yale&rsquo;s interview is structured but conversational, focusing on how your experiences align with their emphasis on purposeful leadership. Be authentic and prepared to discuss your leadership and impact.

Hema A · Answer

Yale SOM interviews are resume-based and conducted by a member of the admissions committee. Since it's a blind interview, the interviewer only sees your resume&mdash;so your answers need to clearly explain your career decisions, impact, and goals.
The tone is conversational but focused. You&rsquo;ll still get expected questions like &ldquo;Why MBA now?&rdquo; and &ldquo;Why Yale?&rdquo; but what sets the Yale interview apart is its emphasis on values and purpose. Be prepared for behavioral questions that explore how you've handled real-life situations, especially those involving collaboration or ethical choices. For example, you might be asked about a time you took a stand on something important or influenced a team without formal authority.
A key question that often comes up is: &ldquo;What does Yale&rsquo;s mission of &lsquo;leaders for business and society&rsquo; mean to you in the context of your goals?&rdquo; It helps the interviewer assess how your values align with the school.
Strong responses are specific, reflective, and tied to action. Focus on how you think, lead, and grow&mdash;more than just having a polished story.