Mission Admission is a series of MBA admission tips; a new one is posted each Tuesday.
With MBA admissions offices about to release second-round interview invitations, we thought we should explore an issue that brings endless paranoia to MBA candidates: scheduling interviews. Many schools will give applicants a significant window in which to schedule their interview. So, does scheduling an interview early convey that the candidate is being too aggressive and does not have any other irons in the fire or instead that he/she is eager to act and impress the admissions committee? Does scheduling an interview later give the impression that the candidate is less interested in the program or instead that he/she is highly sought after and is interviewing at multiple schools?
The reality is that there is really no difference between scheduling your interview early on during the time window offered and scheduling it near the end of this time frame. The MBA admissions committees recognize that candidates are busy and that their schedules are in flux as a result of work, community and personal commitments. The committees are focused on the interviews themselves, not on when they are scheduled. So pick a date that works for you, when you know that you can be comfortable and relaxed, not distracted, and start preparing!
