Hi, Future Year Scholars Program candidates! There is a lot to celebrate in Charlottesville during graduation season, and we hope you are taking the time to celebrate your own accomplishments — like being invited to interview with Darden admissions.
Find interview advice from Future Year Scholars Program (FYSP) alumni below!
About the Interview
After you submit your FYSP application, members of the admissions committee will read your application and extend a Zoom interview invitation if they see potential in your candidacy. The interview will be 30–45 minutes in length and your interviewer will not have read your application nor resume before meeting you.
Interview Mindset
Darden interviews are conversational. This is your time to let your personality shine and have a meaningful discussion with a member of the Admissions Committee about the trajectory of your professional journey and why you believe Darden is the right place for you.
Be yourself. Interviewers are looking for individuals to add to the community. It's important to show who you are and how you'd be in the classroom…Think about what makes you stand out. Find ways through the stories you tell about your clubs, leadership experiences, etc. to talk about what makes you, you. Darden tries to bring together people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, so find what speaks volumes about you.
Where are the gaps?
Nathan Pham (Class of 2026) recommends conducting a gap analysis of your entire application. Think through the critical moments of your personal, professional and academic experiences to decipher if there is anything else that you want the admissions committee to know when they are evaluating your candidacy.
By reading through the whole application, you put yourself in the shoes of the admissions committee to feel what impression your application has made and what gaps exist. For example, you see yourself as a creative person, but that quality surprisingly has not shined through your application so far. Then make sure to tell stories that exhibit your creativity in the interview
Discussing Your Future Plans
So, what’s your 5-year-plan? Who do you want to be when you grow up?
We know that questions about the future can be daunting, especially if you’re unsure!
During your deferral period and during business school, you will learn about various industries and the path you want to pursue. Grace Haffner (Class of 2027) shares advice for how to respond when your interviewer asks about your career goals:
Don't overly focus on an industry or role you think you might want in the future, instead focus on the unique traits you've displayed throughout your life that would show up positively in any role you may find yourself in, and use those traits to find your narrative.
Apply to the Future Year Scholars Program
The next and final FYSP application deadline is 15 July 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. To learn more about the program and the application process, visit our website.
