Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions 2024-25
The Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University is globally ranked #9 in the Financial Times, #15 in US News, and #33 in QS for 2024. It is located in Ithaca, New York, giving its students many industry advantages, an expansive student and alumni network, and excellent recruitment opportunities given the school’s location in one of the world’s key economic hubs. Johnson is especially known for its ties to the consulting, investment banking/asset management, entrepreneurship, and technology sectors.
Cornell Johnson’s full-time, 2-year MBA’s class size is just over 280 students. They stand at an average of 28 years of age, with an average of 5.3 years of full-time professional work experience. 41% of the class are women, and 35% are of international origin. Cornell Johnson's median GMAT score is 710.
If you’re applying to Cornell Johnson, you need to learn about a key step of its MBA application process: the interview. Read on to learn about how Cornell Johnson structures its interview, who conducts Cornell Johnson interviews, what Cornell Johnson is looking for in its MBA cohort, and the Cornell-specific interview tips that will help you get admitted.
The Cornell Johnson Interview Process
Candidates who are invited to interview with Cornell Johnson can select whether they would like to interview on-campus or virtually. An online interview does not affect your assessment negatively, but consider taking a trip to New York if you are able to. It could help show the interviewer that you are willing to put in extra effort for their school. Cornell also encourages applicants to visit them in Ithaca if possible, but stresses that the AdCom does not have a preference for either format. Applicants are encouraged to schedule their interview within 7 days of receiving their interview invite.
The Cornell Johnson MBA interview will be conducted by Admissions Committee members, MBA program staff members, or trained second-year MBA students who are members of the Johnson Admissions Group (JAG). Interviews are blind: your interviewer will have access to your resume but none of your other application materials.
Cornell Johnson MBA interviews last for approximately 30 minutes. Applicants have reported interview times being both over and under this limit.
Who is Cornell Johnson Looking For?
Cornell Johnson prefers applicants from a variety of backgrounds who have strong academic and professional track records. Given the Cornell MBA is focused on immersive and collaborative learning (they have a dedicated immersion semester for second-year MBA students to provide real-world learning experiences), the school looks for applicants who are introspective and intentional about how they can fit into this format.
The school also values students who can thrive in a deeply collaborative and diverse environment. Applicants will certainly be asked about their teamwork experiences in their application or their interview, including the unique strengths they bring to the table. But these relationships extend beyond the core MBA classroom “team”; the school looks for applicants who plan to contribute meaningfully to the larger "Big Red" Cornell community and student and alumni network.
Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Schedule
Cornell Johnson Interview Schedule | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
Application Deadline: | 18 September 2024 | 09 January 2025 | 10 April 2025 |
Decisions Released: | 06 December 2024 | 04 April 2025 | 30 May 2025 |
Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Questions
About You
Tell me about yourself / Walk me through your resume.
What are your key strengths? Can you give some examples?
What are your key weaknesses? Can you give some examples?
Tell me about why you chose your school, major, and your job.
What are your interests – why do you do it, and what have you achieved/learned?
Career
What is your biggest achievement to date?
Why did you make a career switch?
What are your career goals and what have you done so far to prepare for them?
What is your backup plan if you don’t get an MBA?
What are your short- and long-term career goals?
What is your Plan B in case your primary goal does not happen?
Which companies are you planning to join after your MBA?
What is your target industry after the MBA? Why this industry? What subset of this industry are you targeting?
Have you done any prep work for the above?
How do you plan on getting an internship and job post-MBA?
What are your summer internship plans?
Cornell Johnson/Motivation
Why an MBA? Why Cornell?
Have you spoken with any current students or alumni?
How will the Cornell network help you? How will you contribute to it?
Tell me more about how Cornell Johnson will help you achieve your career goals.
How will you contribute to your cohort?
Why Cornell instead of other top ranked schools?
Did you connect with any current students? How has that reaffirmed why you want to come to Cornell?
What interests you about Ithaca?
What can you bring to Cornell?
What can you gain from Cornell?
Teamwork/Leadership
Tell me about your leadership experience at work.
Tell me about a time when you ran into trouble at work.
Tell me about a time you worked in a diverse environment.
Have you worked with a diverse/international team? Describe your experience.
Tell me about a strength of yours and how that helped your team in achieving their goals.
Tell me about a time when you handled conflict in a team and how you resolved it.
How do you keep the team motivated?
Behavioral
Tell me a time when you were good at something you never want to do again.
Tell me about a time you have managed differences at work.
Give me an example of a time you failed after many attempts.
Tell me about a time when you were challenged at work.
Describe an experience or project where you had the opportunity to showcase your technical or analytical skills.
Tell me about a time you managed differences at work. How did you feel about this experience?
How have you previously dealt with a difficult colleague at work?
Closing
What else would you like Anderson to know about you?
What would you have liked me to ask you?
Do you have any questions for me?
Anything you want to tell Adcom that we haven’t touched on?
Tips to Ace the Cornell Johnson Interview
Here are our top tips for the Cornell Johnson MBA interview:
Note that many applicants are asked about their summer internship plans and how they have prepared for the recruitment process. Research this thoroughly, and make sure that your goals are clear and consistent with your core narrative.
Cornell’s MBA essays broadly target 2 themes: the impact you make on the Johnson community, and your strengths. You may choose to answer either question. In your Cornell interview, you have the opportunity to expand upon these themes and discuss what is most impactful about your candidacy. Again, ensure that you stick to your core narrative and keep your answers brief and concise.
If your target post-MBA industry is linked to one of Cornell’s four main industries of consulting, entrepreneurship, investment banking, or tech, make sure you thoroughly research the opportunities available at the school. They have a wealth of information about the resources, research centers, and programs that students can benefit from, and a wide network with strong industry partnerships. .
Cornell Johnson focuses deeply on teamwork and diversity. Consider how you can contribute to diversity even if you’re an overrepresented demographic.
USe the SCAR method to construct your stories and anecdotes. This will help you share information while assuring that your stories are logical, concise, and clear.
For more interview advice and practice, including video interview simulations, head to the Interview Guide course on MBAConsultant.com.
Want personalized support for your Cornell Johnson MBA Interview? Book a chat with us today!
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