Business analytics master’s programs lean on recorded video. Many ask every applicant for a video essay, often with random questions and one take, then interview a short list. MIT’s interview adds technical questions. Here is what named programs say about 2027 entry, including the prompts they publish.
From MSBA programs’ own admissions pages2027 entryChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:FormatsMIT technical interviewPublished questionsPractice questionsHow to prepareFAQ
Interview formats at named programs
| Program | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| MIT Sloan (MBAn) | Two videos, then a technical interview | For 2027 entry: a 90-second video and a random one-take question, then “Interviews are required for admission to the MBAn program and are offered by invitation only.” “The MBAn interview includes behavioral and technical questions.” Source |
| Boston University Questrom | Three Kira video essays | “You’ll have 30 seconds to prepare, and then 60 seconds to record your answers.” “Interviews are by invitation only and are not required for admission.” Source |
| University of Illinois Gies | Three random video questions | For Fall 2027, a required video component with “3 randomly assigned questions for you to briefly answer in 3 minutes”. “Admission decisions may be made with or without an interview.” Source |
| Georgetown McDonough | Self-recorded video essay | For Fall 2027, two published prompts (below). Full-time: 1 minute or less. Online: 3 minutes or less. Source |
MIT’s technical interview
MIT is the clearest example of an analytics interview. “Technical questions may cover math, probability, statistics, and computer science concepts relevant to data science and analytics. Behavioral questions explore how you collaborate with others, make decisions, and solve problems.” “Interviews are conducted virtually and scheduled in Eastern Time.” MIT also says “English language ability is assessed during the interview process.” (MIT Sloan)
So review the basics before an MBAn interview: probability, expected value, regression, and how you would explain a model to a manager.
Video prompts programs publish
MIT’s first video question (MIT Sloan):
- “Every applicant has a story that can’t be captured in a resume. Take up to 90 seconds to share yours: who you are, where you come from, and what’s shaped the person you are today.”
Its second is random, with one take, and MIT gives two examples:
- “What achievement are you most proud of and why?”
- “Tell us about a time a classmate or colleague wasn’t contributing to a group project. What did you do?”
Georgetown’s prompts (Georgetown). Full-time:
- “Tell us why you’re excited about studying business analytics.”
- “What drew you to this field, and how do you see it shaping your future career?”
Online:
- “Why do you want to enroll in Georgetown’s Business Analytics program?”
- “Tell us about any analytics or data science experience that you have.”
Answering both full-time prompts in one minute means about 30 seconds each. Write a three-sentence answer for each and practice until it fits. BU’s committee is “interested in your presence, personality, and fit with our community” (BU), so speak to the camera, not to notes. For more on Kira, see our Kira Talent video interview guide.
For recording video answers, see one-way video interview tips from Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist.
Practice questions
Apart from the prompts above, programs don’t publish their questions. These are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- Walk us through an analysis you did. What question, what data, what result?
- How would you explain a regression result to a manager with no statistics background?
- Tell us about a time your data didn’t support what someone wanted to hear.
- Which tools do you use (SQL, Python, R, Excel), and what are you learning next?
- Tell us about a time a teammate wasn’t contributing. What did you do?
- Where do you see analytics in your career in five years?
- Why this program?
How to prepare
- Practice one-take answers with a 30-second prep timer. BU and MIT allow only one attempt on the real questions.
- Keep your answers short. Georgetown’s full-time video is one minute for two prompts.
- Review probability and statistics if you may interview at MIT.
- Prepare one project story with the question, data, method, result, and what you’d do differently.
- Record and watch yourself. Committees look at presence and communication, not only content.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own business analytics personal statement before the interview. If you haven’t submitted yet, see our business analytics personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
Applying to MBA programs too? See our MBA interview guide. For other graduate programs, see our grad school interview guide.
For recorded answers, see Kira Talent assessment tips from Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist, on pacing and sounding natural.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for business analytics applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you’re nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It’s $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do MSBA programs interview?
Many interview a short list after a video essay. MIT requires an interview, by invitation only, while BU and Illinois say decisions may be made without one.
What is the BU MSBA video essay?
Three Kira Talent video essays. You get 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to answer, with unlimited practice questions but only one attempt at the real ones.
What is on the MIT MBAn interview?
Behavioral and technical questions. MIT says technical questions may cover math, probability, statistics, and computer science concepts relevant to data science and analytics.
What are Georgetown's MSBA video prompts?
Full-time applicants answer why they are excited about studying business analytics, and what drew them to the field and how it will shape their career, in one minute or less.
Related guides: Grad school and PhD, MPH and epidemiology, Health administration (MHA), Biomedical sciences and postbac, MBA, and Law school. See all interview guides by program.
Every date and quotation on this page comes from the program’s own admissions page, linked where it appears. Last checked October 28, 2026.