When preparing for theMBA admissions interview,business school applicants often focus on preparing responses to a list of questions they expect from the interviewer, including the unexpected curve balls.
However, in many cases, the questions that the MBA candidate asks—typically toward the end of the interview—are equally important and can often be the difference makers that lead to an acceptance letter, according to Christine Sneva, director of admissions and financial aid at Cornell University's Johnson School of Management. "It's a chance for candidates to show they've made the effort to dig a little deeper, that they care and have genuine interest in our program and faculty research," Sneva says.
Sneva explains that the Johnson School encourages students to develop a natural relationship with faculty. Therefore, she finds it impressive when an interviewee identifies interest in a particular professor's research or philosophies because it indicates that the candidate is likely to make an effort to develop a relationship with that professor. However, even the simple questions can leave a good impression, she says. "I like it when a candidate asks about the facilities such as the library, student center, and academic buildings," Sneva says. It seems simple, but it shows that the candidate is picturing his or herself here. And that's important to us." While an admissions dean, I looked for interviewer feedback about the types of questions the applicant asked. It provided insight into what the candidate was thinking and what is important to him or her about an MBA education. The key to the questions is quality, not quantity; here are five questions that every candidate should ask: 1. Ask a question based on something you read in a brochure or on the school website: If there's something of particular interest or information from the school's site or a brochure that doesn't quite make sense, ask about it. This demonstrates due diligence and indicates time well spent researching that MBA program. | 
