How AdComs Really Judge Your MBA Interview ft. former Columbia Interviewer

In this episode of the GMAT Club MBA Podcast, we take you inside the interview room. Our guest, Kelsey Kephart, former Columbia Admission Director and interviewer with the experience of conducting hundreds of interviews, reveals what really happens when admissions committees evaluate your MBA interview. Whether you’re facing an AdCom member or an alum, this conversation breaks down what interviewers look for, how they assess your performance, and what separates strong applicants from the rest. What We Cover in This Episode: Is an MBA interview like a job interview — or something completely different? Can you (and should you) script your answers? Does a tough interview mean bad news? What a great MBA interview feels like The real traits AdComs are evaluating Differences between AdCom-led and alumni interviews Practical prep advice and post-interview etiquette Tips to stay calm, confident, and authentic 👉 Need help with your applications and/or interviews, reach out to Kelsey at https://www.embarkmba.com/ 👉 Most Important MBA Interview Questions and How to Answer them with Confidence (20K Views)    • Video   👉 HBS Alum Interviews a Ross MBA Applicant (84K Views)    • Live MBA Mock Interview with Maria (HBS Al...   🚀 Watch all Episodes of GMAT Club Podcasts Here    • GMAT Club Podcast (Season 1) - Admissions,...   🚀 MBA Interview Prep 2025 - Top Questions, Mock Interviews, & Tips    • MBA Interview Prep 2025 - Top Questions, M...   👉 Want to get your profile assessed in upcoming podcasts? Submit your profile here https://forms.gle/QpKNdThsBh21Vdes7 👉 Let us know what all you want to watch in the upcoming podcasts https://forms.gle/Zxj5md3BtXBwexNL9 🎓 If you got that coveted interview invitation, this episode will help you prepare for your interview with confidence — and insight straight from the people who’ve sat in the decision room. Video Chapters: 00:00 Key Moments 01:40 Podcast Begins 03:05 Is It Similar to Job Interview? 04:00 Can I Script My Interview Answers? 07:41 Does the Interviewer Have All the Power? 08:15 Inside the Evaluation Room: How AdComs Review Your Interview 09:28 Does a Tough Interview Mean I Blew It? 13:28 What a Great Interview Feels Like? 17:49 What AdComs Really Look For? 19:43 AdCom vs Alumni Interview: Does It Change My Odds? 23:10 How Different Schools Structure Their Interviews? 24:35 How to Prepare for Interview? 26:10 Post-Interview Étiquettes 26:55 When If My Career Goals Aren’t Perfectly Polished 29:32 Cultural Communication Gaps: How AdComs Really View Them? 31:41 How to Stay Calm and Confident Before the Interview 34:29 The 3 Purposes of MBA Interview 35:32 School-Specific Interview Styles: What You Should Know 38:04 Profile Roast Segment 38:15 Applicant #1, Indian Engineer Male 44:26 Applicant #2, African American, Male 👉 Subscribe for upcoming episodes on essays, school-specific strategies, and expert MBA insights every applicant needs    / @mba_club