SDA Bocconi

What are the most important aspects of the Bocconi MBA application process besides GMAT score, prior GPA, and current job position?

The interview plays quite an important role. We look at prior experience mainly; we don’t take students fresh from their studies, and look for at least a couple of years, preferably three, of experience. Average experience is five years. We look for a strong academic background with an emphasis on experience in order to grasp what is being taught. A letter of recommendation and international experience are also important, although international experience is not mandatory. Willingness to take on challenges and the ability to work under pressure are important. We would prefer an applicant with a lower GPA who completed their program on time over a perfectionist who took longer.  

What is one mistake you see applicants make? What is something you would like to see applicants do more often?

Applicants can be superficial in deciding what schools to apply to and do not take the time to go into detail and really assess the school. Whether or not students have really researched the school comes through in the essay. SDA Bocconi is keener to have prospective students sit for an interview when it is evident that they have invested their energies in applying to the school. We like to see applicants that have done their research.  

1. Introduce yourself
2. Tel us 3 key learnings from your work experience.
3. Why MBA
4. Why do you want to do MBA at this stage in your life/ career
5. One reason that we should not select you?
6. What are your short- and long-term career goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
7. Tell us about a challenging situation that you faced? How did you resolve it?
8. What are your greatest strengths? Give examples
9. What are your weaknesses? Give examples
10. What would you describe are your greatest achievement to date?
11. Interests and Hobbies – Be prepared!.. questions as basic as “Why do youdo poetry (or any other activity” may be asked.
12. Do you have any questions for us?

I had my interview yesterday. The lady I talked to has not seen my application, only had my resume with her. I guess they wanted to see some purely human traits there. That also means, that she asked me basically all the same questions that were covered in my application:

Why an MBA now?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
If you don’t mind me asking did you apply to other programs? Were you accepted and which ones? I was honest there and said that I applied and already been accepted, but definitely was willing to change my mind towards SDA. I guess I could have refused, seemed like she was just interested herself.

Also, it was pretty chill, we laughed a lot, but I guess it’s just my charm 😀

Cheers and good luck

Nothing very special in the video pre interview. You will be asked 4 questions for which you will be given 15 seconds to think of your answer and then 1 minute to answer the question.

I was asked questions like : what after mba ? What characteristics should a leader have? What are you long term goals after the mba? Etc…

They basically want to make sure you speak good English and whether it is actually you who has written the essays. (Read your essays before you appear for the preinterview)

Hope that helps , good luck !

In my case I did the interview locally in Colombia with a Bocconi alumni. He basically covered the questions on the admission but in a conversation format. At the end he did 1 small case regarding the 5 P’s (product, price, people…) when building a business, and a math question.