MBA Programs: Early Action, Open & Guaranteed Interviews
Generally, business schools interview MBA applicants after they have had a chance to review their applications. After each round is over and all application are submitted, several MBA candidates receive interview invitations.
There are however some exceptions to this rule, in other words: business schools that require for applicants to schedule an interview before they apply, or offer open MBA interviews/applicant-initiated interviews to all candidates. The interview can be scheduled by the candidate from within the online application, and sometimes there is a specific period for asking for an open interview, so it’s important to pay attention to the instructions on schools websites.
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
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What is the MBA Interview Format?
Interviews play a critical role in our assessment of candidates and are required prior to acceptance into the program. Our interviews are up to 45 minutes in length and your interviewer will not have read or reviewed your application or resume. It is our policy to conduct anonymous interviews. Applicants do not need to send in their resume for the interview. In our Full-Time MBA application process, interviews are conducted by either Admissions Committee members or Second Year students. Interviews are given equal weight for any interviewer type. Darden interviews may be offered on-Grounds, virtually via Zoom and in some select cases, off-Grounds.
Open Interviews (Early Action Round)
The MBA interview format typically involves a 45-minute anonymous interview conducted by Admissions Committee members or Second Year students, where the interviewer has not reviewed your application or resume. These interviews are critical for candidate assessment and are required prior to acceptance. Darden interviews, for example, may be offered on-Grounds, virtually via Zoom, or off-Grounds, and all interviewer types are given equal weight.
Interview times are limited. We kindly ask that you schedule your interview only if you intend to submit a completed application by the Early Action deadline. There are steps required to schedule an interview. In order to be considered for admission, your application must be submitted and the application fee paid by the deadline.
Invitation-Only Interviews
For those who apply in Rounds 1, 2 or 3, an invitation-only interview is conducted after your application has been submitted and reviewed by the admissions committee. Invitations to interview are sent on a rolling basis up to and including the decision release date for each round. There is no significance as to when an interview invitation is sent; an invitation to interview should be seen as positive indicator no matter when it is received.
Interviews are scheduled via two paths: Guaranteed interviews for applicants who submit their complete application by specific early deadlines (e.g., September 2, 2025, for Round 1 / Consortium 1 or December 1, 2025, for Round 2 / Consortium 2), and Invitational interviews for all other applicants, offered by invitation only after application review. All applicants admitted to Tuck will interview prior to an admissions offer, and all interviews are valued equally, whether guaranteed or invitational, in-person or virtual. Admissions interviews serve as an opportunity to demonstrate your qualities and provide additional information about your profile.
Admissions interviews are an opportunity for you to further demonstrate that you are smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. They provide additional information on who you are, what you have done, where you are going, and how you will get there. All applicants admitted to Tuck will interview prior to an admissions offer.
HOW ARE INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED?
There are two paths to an interview:
- Guaranteed interviews — All applicants who submit their complete application, including test scores and Letters of Reference, by 5:00pm ET on:
- September 2, 2025, for Round 1 / Consortium 1 or
- December 1, 2025, for Round 2 / Consortium 2
Interviews are scheduled via two paths: Guaranteed interviews for applicants who submit their complete application by specific early deadlines (e.g., September 2, 2025, for Round 1 / Consortium 1 or December 1, 2025, for Round 2 / Consortium 2), and Invitational interviews for all other applicants, offered by invitation only after application review. All applicants admitted to Tuck will interview prior to an admissions offer, and all interviews are valued equally, whether guaranteed or invitational, in-person or virtual. Admissions interviews serve as an opportunity to demonstrate your qualities and provide additional information about your profile.
- Invitational interviews — For all other applicants, interviews are offered by invitation only. We will review your application and invite you to interview if we believe it will help us learn more about how you demonstrate our admissions criteria.
We understand that not everyone can submit their complete application by the early deadlines. Don’t worry if this is true for you. We value all interviews equally in our evaluation process, whether guaranteed or invitational, in-person or virtual.
WHEN ARE INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED?
| Application Round | Interview notifications sent on a rolling basis beginning |
Interview notifications sent on a rolling basis until |
| Round 1 | Late August, 2025 | Early December, 2025 |
| Round 2 | Early December, 2025 | Mid-March, 2026 |
| Round 3 | Mid-March, 2026 | Late April, 2026 |
| Consortium 1 | Mid-October, 2025 | Early December, 2025 |
| Consortium 2 | Early January, 2026 | Mid-March, 2026 |
We release invitations to interview on a rolling basis throughout the round. It is possible to receive an invitation to interview in the days prior to the decision notification date. The timing of your interview invitation does not reflect the committee’s level of interest in your application.
HOW ARE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED?
Most interviews are conducted by a select group of trained second-year students, Tuck Admissions Associates (TAAs). Interviews last 30-45 minutes. Using only your resume, your interviewer will ask you behavioral questions aimed to draw out evidence that you are smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. At the end of the interview, you will have an opportunity to ask questions of your interviewer to learn more about their experience and Tuck.
We will offer both virtual and a limited number of on-campus interviews for the 2025–2026 admissions cycle. Remember, we value all interviews equally in our evaluation process, whether guaranteed or invitational, in-person or virtual.
Questions? Visit Admissions FAQs and Tuck Admissions Insights: Your Admissions Interview for more information about interviews and how to prepare.
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