Acing the MBA Application Interview

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Dressing the part doesn't hurt either. Most admissions experts agree that interviewers would rather see applicants overdressed than underdressed. Business attire is best, which means a suit and tie for men and either a pants suit or dress for women. Being dressed appropriately will help you feel comfortable and exude a certain level of confidence. "Confidence is key to success," says Cohan. "Preparation is key to performance."

Talk the Talk

Answer the questions that are being asked of you. Don't get sidetracked. Even though you might have prepared points that you'd like to get across to the interviewer, you still have to give responses that relate to the questions being asked. For instance, MIT has a highly structured interview process, and it is designed to extract particular details from applicants, such as their ability to nurture talent. If the interviewer gets through the interview, says Garcia, and you have not revealed those facts, he will be unimpressed.

The admissions interview is one of the few times in life that talking about yourself is encouraged. Most business schools want you to discuss the role you played on a team, but they want to know about you and not your teammates. MIT tells applicants to use "I" and not "we" during the admissions interview, says Garcia. And that's a good rule for anyone interviewing for admissions to a school or job for that matter.

When you are responding to questions, be specific. "You don't want to be so broad that your response has no meaning," says Cohan. For example, instead of saying, "Kellogg (Kellogg Full-Time MBA Profile) is good at soft skills, which is why I like it," you could specify what impresses you about how Kellogg teaches soft skills and which skills in particular, adds Cohan. If the interviewer asks about your experiences or skills, then use examples to illustrate and confirm whatever you are saying.

In a face-to-face interview, the interviewer will be judging you as much on your ability to communicate verbally as he will on your body language. Make eye contact, smile, and sit at an appropriate distance from the interviewer (not too close so that you're invading personal space and not so far that you have to shout to be heard), says Cohan. Avoid any distractions. Try to refrain from nervous movements, such as flicking a pen, tapping your foot, or biting your nails. Leave water bottles at home or in your bag, and silence your cell phone and any other devices you might have with you, says Barefoot.

End the admissions interview on a high note. Have questions for the interviewer ready and be sure to ask them when prompted. Skip questions that you either should know already or can easily find on your own, such as those about the application deadlines or the majors that are offered. Instead, ask about the school's culture and the experiences of the interviewer. Even if an admissions committee member is asking the questions, says Cohan, he can tell you about working at the business school and its culture, all of which can give you a better sense of what it would be like to attend the program. Sign off with a firm handshake and an offer to share your business card (be sure to have a few on hand). Of course, suggests Cohan, ask for a business card in return.

After the Interview

Many business school applicants rush home and analyze every detail of their admissions interview to determine their chances of getting into programs X and Y. Instead of worrying about already spilled milk, you should write a thank you card to your interviewer, say admissions experts. An e-mail will suffice. But Cohan reminds his clients to reference the interview in some way, rather than send a generic thank you note, so you prompt the interviewer to remember you.

Remaining calm throughout the process is a must. Keeping the interview in perspective is helpful. "The bottom line is that it's always good to make a good impression," says Jackie Zavitz, senior associate director of MBA admissions at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School (Wharton Full-Time MBA Profile). "That said, this is just one piece of data in your larger application. The interview is not make or break."

Di Meglio is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in Fort Lee, N.J.

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