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UCD Smurfit MBA Interview

How UCD Smurfit MBA Interview Works

Applications that are complete in all aspects and qualify in terms of the minimum academic and other criteria specified above are evaluated for being progressed to the next stage in the admission process. Shortlisted candidates will be called for the UCD Smurfit interview process.

The UCD Smurfit Interview panel will evaluate each candidate’s performance in terms of quality of work experience, diversity, leadership qualities, social sensitivity, and multifacetedness.

As a general approach to selecting a candidate for the program, a multi-factor model is used. These factors include academic track record, GMAT/GRE scores, quality of work experience, performance in the interview, and writing ability test. A composite total score will be calculated for each applicant using the multi-factor model. A merit list is prepared based on the composite total score. The offer of admission will be made to a certain percentage of applicants on the merit list. The number of offers made will depend on the availability of seats. The number of offers will be further subject to the candidate meeting a minimum cutoff in terms of the composite score and/or for any other factor score that the admissions committee may decide on

Who will interview you, and how long will the interview last?

Like most B-schools, the UCD Smurfit interview is taken by a Panel. The Panel usually consists of 2-3 professors. The interview typically lasts for 25-30 minutes or may extend to 35-40 minutes in some instances.

Will the interviewer have read my application?

It is always safer to assume that the Panel members have access to your complete application. In most instances, they would have read it completely. Unless the school specifically says that it will be an blind interview. Mostly North American Business schools in US and Canada have an  Blind interviews, European and SE Asian schools conduct interviews via Alums or panels which have full access to your entire application. 

How can you prepare for your interview?

Like most MBA Interviews, your interview will mainly revolve around a pretty similar set of MBA interview questions. You can never predict what questions will be asked, but with enough research, you can predict what are the most commonly asked questions in these interviews. We have created a short FAQ list below to get you a jump start, and we also have a free guide linked below to help you prepare for these commonly asked interview questions.

 

UCD Smurfit Interviews Frequently Asked Interview Questions

Professional experience-related questions

  1. Tell me something about yourself, or Walk me through your resume.
  2. What are your short-term and long-term goals?
  3. Why MBA? or Why now? or Why an MBA at this stage of your career?
  4. Why UCD Smurfit?
  5. What is your Plan B? in case your primary goal does not happen?

Personal qualities-related questions

  1. What are your key strengths? Can you give some examples, please?
  2. What are your key weaknesses? Can you give some examples, please?
  3. How can you add value to the Class? or Why should we take you?
  4. Any reasons why we should not select you?
  5. Interests and Hobbies related questions – why do you do it, what have you achieved/learned?

Frequently Asked Situational & Behavioral Questions

  1. What is your leadership style? Can you give an example of a project you led?
  2. What would you describe are your greatest achievement to date?
  3. Give me an example of a time you failed.
  4. Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict. How did you handle that?
  5. Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectations. What happened, and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?
  6. Any other questions you may have in regards to the program.

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UCD Smurfit MBA Interview Questions – 1

 

I was interviewed off campus with Advisory Committee.

Interviewed on: Nov 15, 18

Conclusion: Accepted

“”Round 1 Interview – September 2019 Intake; Location: Mumbai””

One of the members of the Advisory committee participated in the interview. The scene took place at a hospitable coffee shop housed within a luxurious hotel in Mumbai. Overall, the interview was very laid back and informative all at the same time. The person conducting the interview gave the impression that they had a sincere interest in learning more about both my personal life and my professional profile. Even when I responded to one of her questions with a relatively lengthy explanation of a particular experience or my own personal motivations, she did not cut me off or otherwise interrupt what I was saying.

To restate, the interview had a great deal of relevant information. It lasted for about half an hour, give or take. And she asked practically all of the questions that any potential applicant should have prepared answers for.

The following (in no particular sequence) are examples of some of the questions that were asked:

1) Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I went right into providing her a history of my education, work experience, the motivation for my decision to seek an MBA along with its genesis, my subsequent actions to show my seriousness about MBA, and the reasons why MBA is the appropriate approach for me to reach my goals. Notes: I jumped right into giving her a background of my education, work experience, and the origin of my decision to get an MBA.

2) Why attend UCD Smurfit?

Notes: Listed four to five Unique Selling Propositions (USPs) of UCD Smurfit, including its Brand Value, Flexible MBA, Exhaustive list of Business Schools for International Exchanges, and Network of alumni, particularly in Ireland.

I also mentioned that it is a one year course, which means that I will have the least amount of time away from work. In addition, it is a Ireland business school, which is significant for me because I intend to find employment in the Ireland.

In addition, I said that I had done my research by reaching out to a previous student of UCD Smurfit in order to gather pertinent information and that I had stated that I had done so. (UCD Smurfit values the initiative shown in reaching out to alumni and maintaining connections with them. It is essential to bring attention to this point.)

3) Why you?

4) On the other hand, you have limited professional experience.

Notes: Additional work experience in my current profession will not move me closer to my objective; an MBA is the sole tool that will allow me to change fields. Plus, hours spent per week at work were extraordinary. I have converted the number of hours into the comparable number of months of work experience and described how this will more than double the amount of work experience I currently have. Therefore, actual job experience (in terms of hours) is an excellent match for the profile of the typical student at UCD Smurfit, which is five to five and a half years old at the time of enrollment. (While this is obviously not very accurate or convincing, the idea was to show my confidence in fitting in at UCD Smurfit, managing the work load and that I had put in enough thought before applying to UCD Smurfit and coming to interview).

5) After you earn your MBA, do you plan to work in a particular sector? In what position do you envisage yourself in the next eight years?

Notes: I outlined my short-term (immediately after receiving my MBA), medium-term (eight to ten years), and long-term (ultimate target) objectives. In addition, I mentioned a few businesses operating within the sector that interests me and that has maintained a long-term partnership with UCD Smurfit (in order to demonstrate that I am familiar with ESADE’s employment report).

6) What is the accomplishment of which you are most proud, whether it be professional or personal?

7) What do you consider to be your biggest weakness?

8) If we happen to run into one of your coworkers while we’re here at the hotel, and then we strike up a conversation. After that, you politely excuse yourself so that you can use the loo. If you were to leave for two to five minutes, I would ask one of your coworkers what they think about you and ask them to describe you. What would they have to say about you?

9) GOOGLY – Imagine for a moment that you are in my position, that you are a member of the UCD Smurfit AdCom, and that I am a potential applicant. How would you pitch ESADE to me in the space of a minute and a half? Go.

Notes: Provided a concise explanation of the unique selling propositions of UCD Smurfit, sometimes known as an elevator pitch. It gave the impression that she was delighted as well as amused by my response.

(UCD Smurfit is known for asking students questions that may at first glance seem unusual. The key is to keep a level head and not let anxiety take over. To all intents and purposes, they are regular questions that you have studied for, but they will be asked in an unusual manner. In my particular circumstance, she was essentially asking a repetition of a question that she had posed earlier, which was why UCD Smurfit? I needed to have done my research on UCD Smurfit and then listed out the elements that I enjoy about this B-school in order to be able to answer her question (by marketing UCD Smurfit to a prospective applicant). In other words, I needed to be able to sell UCD Smurfit.

10) Let’s do a 180-degree turn here with our circumstance. While you are a member of the UCD Smurfit Admissions Committee, I am a candidate. In order to assess whether or not UCD Smurfit is the right school for me, what aspects of my personality or professional background would you focus on during the interview?

Notes: I have named the personal qualities that are comparable to those that I have described about myself in the questions that came before this one. (The goal here is to link your profile with the profile of an applicant who would be a good fit for UCD Smurfit.)

11) Please explain how you would contribute to UCD Smurfit.

12) During the course of your MBA, what plans do you have to gain practical experience?

Notes: This presentation discussed the Business Labs program as well as the significance of combining theoretical understanding with actual experience.

Are you familiar with the Career Acceleration Program?

Notes: I had no idea. Therefore, I stated that I was aware of the Program’s existence but that I was not too familiar with the specifics of it. After that, she began talking about the Program, during which she described what it was and how it may be of assistance to me.

14) What are some ways that you unwind and what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Notes: I mentioned a sport and stated how it helps me relax, provides me with time to contemplate, and allows me to escape the pressures of life and work for a few hours each week. Also enthusiastic about the Formula 1 racing series.

15) However, considering the amount of stress in your life, how do you manage to find the time to play your sport?

Notes: If you are serious about something and have a lot of enthusiasm for it, you will always be able to find time for it and even create time for it. I am aware of the significance of pausing one’s work occasionally in order to reset or recharge one’s batteries. (The idea was to emphasize that I am not a one-dimensional workhorse and that I am aware of the significance of striking a healthy balance between my professional and personal responsibilities.)

16) You mentioned that you watch live Formula One races. Where have you been able to see similar races before?

17) Have you ever been outside of the country? What is the total number of countries that you have visited?

18) During your travels, you were exposed to a number of other cultures. Please give an example of how these cultural differences manifested themselves.

19) How do you plan to deal with the pressure and the demands of the MBA program in terms of course load and other requirements?

Because life between classes and jobs has been so hectic up until now, multitasking has been second nature to me. There will be no problems with the amount of work or tension involved.

20. How comfortable do you think you will be living in Ireland for one to one and a half years?

21) Are you aware that UCD Smurfit and other business schools in Ireland are different from Indian business schools in their approach to education? There are no job placements available on campus, and students are encouraged to actively seek out and get employment placements on their own outside of the school.

22) If you are unable to find work in Ireland and are forced to go back to India, what plans do you have in place?

Notes: No trouble. I am aware that there is no doubt that it is a possibility. But even if I decide to focus on India for the foreseeable future, it does not preclude the possibility that I may subsequently pivot to the Ireland Union. Don’t be too concerned about it.

23. How do you intend to pay for the Master of Business Administration program?

24) Aside from this business school, have you applied to any others? To what end?

Notes: I only mentioned the ones that I had previously indicated in my application that was sent in. Reasoning: The best MBA program that just require one year of study in Ireland. Which met my objectives and expectations precisely.

25. If you have applied to a number of different business schools, what are your plans in the event that one or more of them extend an offer of admission to you?

Notes: This is always a question that presents some challenges. Especially considering the fact that the other business schools to which you have applied are widely considered to be among the best. In my response, I mentioned that the reason why I would still select UCD Smurfit was because of the batch size. The other top business schools in Ireland have class sizes that range anywhere from 500 to 800 students. UCD Smurfit, on the other hand, falls somewhere between 180 and 200. If I wanted to create real relationships and deeper connections with the people in my cohort, I would choose a smaller batch size because this is something that would not be possible in a large batch.

26) If a member of a team is not contributing as they should be, how do you plan to address the situation?

27) Do you have any queries for me?

Overall, I would say that the interview was fairly entertaining and not at all stressful in any way. Before I left, I inquired with a member of the AdCom about when we can anticipate hearing some responses, just to get a general sense. She indicated that it would take at least two to three weeks, but I found out about the admission offer nine days after the interview.

I wish you the best of luck in your interviews! And feel free to send me a private message if you have any further inquiries.”

UCD Smurfit MBA Interview Questions – 2

I was Interviewed Online on: Oct 20, 22

The Ultimate Decision: Admitted

“I had a conversation with one of the General Managers of Admissions at UCD Smurfit University,” I said in my application. My experience with the interview was positive; rather than being a stressful test, it was more like a chat.

Some of the most important questions were:

1. Please tell me about your background.

2. Why UCD Smurfit?

3. Would you be interested in joining any specific clubs?

Some customized questions:

1. In light of the fact that you have firsthand experience in the start-up world, how would you classify the current state of the industry?

2. In your opinion, which of AI’s many innovations do you consider to be the most significant?

3. In your opinion, do you believe that the longevity of businesses was much higher 50 years ago, or is it still the case today? Why?

4. In your opinion, what actions have successful companies like Amazon taken during the covid?

It is crucial that you link your previous experience and post-MBA ambitions to what the university will provide you in the way of their curriculum, faculty, projects, and clubs.

UCD Smurfit MBA Interview Questions – 3

I had a skype interview for the UCD Smurfit MBA Program. It was conducted on February 03, 2021. The questions were:

1) Give me a rundown of your resume.

2. Why UCD Smurfit?

3) Short-term objectives

4) An additional goal

5) How do you deal with difficulties?

The interview went quite smoothly and had more of a conversational feel to it. 30 minutes long.

UCD Smurfit MBA Interview Questions – 4

Interview Conducted Online on October 4, 2022; Decision Taken to Accept

“There was a lot of back and forth during the interview. The questions are really comparable to the information that I found in the other debriefs.

1. Please tell me about your background.

2. Describe an event from your childhood and explain how it has impacted you as an adult.

3. You’ve said that you enjoy going on vacations. Where have you been, and what have you picked up from your travels?

4. What qualities do you possess that make you an effective leader?

5. What distinguishes an effective leader from an effective manager?

6. If your friends had to describe you using only three words, what would they say?

7. Why an MBA, and why now specifically? Why Choose UCD Smurfit?

8. Have a contingency plan. Would you be satisfied with the aforementioned backup plan?

9. Please describe the professional accomplishment that you are most proud of.

10. Describe a typical day at your workplace.

11. Which types of people do you find to be the most challenging to interact with?

12. Starting today and going forward until the beginning of the MBA program, how do you plan to develop yourself and prepare yourself?

In general, these questions were generated by the natural progression of the conversation. I sincerely hope that this information is useful.

UCD Smurfit MBA Interview Questions – 5

I was interviewed away from the Campus with Adcom on Nov 25, 2019. The Ultimate Decision was that I was Admitted.

The following are the questions that were asked:

“”1. My current position and the experience I have gained

2.Entrepreneurial journey and experience

3. Examples of qualities that make a good leader

4 reasons why UCD Smurfit

5 As a representative of UCD Smurfit, you ought to make an effort to convince the interviewer to go with UCD Smurfit.

6 Make a comparison between yourself and a brand.

7 post- UCD Smurfit MBA goals 

8 Give us a reason why we should pick you for our program.

9 Please give us a very brief description of who you are”

Approximately half an hour was allotted for the interview.

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