SMU - Lee Kong Chian School of Business Interview

Just got back from my interview at SMU and I am immediately writing a post about it in case I forget about the details. Before going for the interview, I researched about it extensively online and I want to thank everyone that posted about it because it really gave me an insight. That's why I am going to do it as well and cover some points that were not mentioned! 

I think I was on the waiting list because I only got the call after the first acceptance period so don't worry if you don't get any updates soon. Whatever I know is solely based on the business interview, I do not know much about the rest of the schools :)


There are two components to the interview, if you are a poly student or did not do so well for GP, you will be required to take an English test (Comprehension passage + essay). After the English test, you will then proceed to the group interview. - from what I know, business's interview is a group interview while other schools have individual interviews.

English Test
After you have registered, you will get a number card indicating your group for the interview later (eg, B4, B1, A3, A1) - all the same alphabets will be in the same group.

You will go into a room to take the English test, 30 minutes for comprehension and 45 minutes for the essay.

The comprehension consists of five questions - not that difficult but not that easy as well, I think it depends on the person doing it. If your English standard is superb then it should be easy peasy for you.

For the essay, you will be given two questions to choose from & you will need to write a 300 - 400 word essay.


Group Interview
This is the part where a lot of you might be afraid of but trust me, the English test is much worse. You will be given an article to discuss with your group mates before you proceed to the interview room. The interviewers are two professors from the school. My article was about 'Marketing vs Socialism'.

They will start asking questions regarding the article so you just got to answer them if you have something to say. No worries if you didn't have the chance to talk because there was this one girl that was quiet and the professor specifically asked her one question to give her the chance to speak.

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I can say that my whole experience today was a good one. I mean no matter if I get in or not, I appreciate that I have the chance to go through SMU's interview because I mean, not everyone get shortlisted for the interview. The dean of the school was really nice too, he came in during the morning and joked around with us asking us to chill and not look so nervous. The professors were nice as well and I am glad that my group mates were really friendly people that are not over competitive. Like we didn't 'steal' each other's points during the interview and respected everyone's views.


UPDATE
So I wrote this post quite long ago but didn't post it till it was around the enrolment date. & news update! Guess who is now an SMU student? Okay, so for people getting ready for the interview, don't worry, seriously. I'm pretty sure they didn't mark the English test because I got the acceptance call the day after the interview. & I think almost or everyone from my interview group went through.

Don't worry if they didn't call you for an interview till a later period. Because they have this appeal period (the one I was in), and you might be called in for the interview, so don't give up hope! 

Hope this helps, comment below if you have any enquiries on the interview, school life, etc :)