Dos and Don’ts for MBA Interview Success

Landing an MBA interview is a significant achievement, as interviews are invitation-only at most top-tier business schools. So, if you’ve been selected, take pride in the fact that you’ve already impressed the admissions committee. But the work isn’t over yet—somewhere around half of the interviewed applicants are admitted, meaning that a great interview can be the final push you need to secure your spot.

“The interview really is the deciding factor as to whether or not the candidate gets in,” SBC consultant and former HBS Admissions Officer Andrea reveals. “Very few interviews don’t go well, so you must rise to the top of the good interviews.”

Dos and Don’ts for MBA Interview Success

To maximize your chances, it’s crucial to approach the interview with a blend of thorough preparation, authenticity, and strategy. Here are nine do’s and don’ts for MBA interviews to help you tell your story in a way that gets the admissions committee excited about you as a future student in their program.

SBC offers an All-In Interview Prep Package, Group Interview Prep, and a specially tailored HBS Interview Prep. Contact us to learn how our interview coaching services will help you shine.

Do: Prepare Thoughtful, Program-Specific Responses

One of the most common mistakes is underestimating the importance of tailoring your responses to the specific school. Admissions committees want to know why their program is right for you, not just why you want an MBA in general. Start your prep by refreshing your memory of the program before your interview.

Thoroughly research the school’s curriculum, teaching style, culture, and values. That way, you can highlight specific professors, courses, clubs, or unique learning opportunities that excite you and align with your career goals. When discussing your short- and long-term career goals, you can state the specific skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed—and how program X can help you fill those gaps.

Schools are shaping a class of students who contribute to and benefit from their community. Tailored, specific responses referencing elements unique to the school show that you’ve done your homework and understand how to add value to that environment. It signals that you’re not just looking for any MBA program but that you’ve made a deliberate choice based on your goals and what the school offers.

Don’t: Give Generic or Overused Responses

While recycling answers for multiple schools is tempting, this is a risky strategy that can backfire. Vague or boilerplate answers such as “I want to attend this MBA program because of its excellent reputation” or “I’m passionate about leadership and innovation” won’t set you apart. These common responses don’t tell the interviewer anything new or unique about you.

Schools are trying to create a well-rounded class of individuals. They want to know that you’re bringing personal interests to their campus that you’ll share with classmates. That means you should tell them about your recent ziplining adventure in Belize, your role as the food and wine connoisseur among friends, your love for historical fiction, your favorite college class in evolutionary biology, and your opinions on globalization.

Interviewers should be able to imagine you as the classmate who will organize trips, plan dinners, start a book club, etc. They don’t want to think that you are just about business and academics all the time. Ultimately, having thoughtful, customized responses will help you stand out as a prepared candidate and genuinely excited about the program.

So, Who’s Doing Your MBA Interview?

Do: Practice Storytelling to Show Impact

Stories are more memorable than facts or figures, and they offer a way to convey both your accomplishments and your character. The key to making a lasting impression lies in your ability to share impactful stories for MBA interviews that resonate with the admissions committee.

“What you really want to be is the applicant they’re thinking about as they drive home that night, as they’re chatting with their spouse over spaghetti that evening,” explains SBC consultant and B-Schooled co-host Chandler Arnold.

Prepare stories illustrating fundamental themes like leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a helpful framework to ensure your stories are structured and impactful. Focus on stories where you had a measurable impact, either by driving results for your team or demonstrating growth in your skills. This makes your responses not only engaging but also evidence-based.

The MBA admissions interview provides an opportunity to present a three-dimensional version of yourself beyond the confines of your application. You can craft a compelling narrative that sets you apart by aligning your stories with your career goals, showcasing leadership and teamwork, emphasizing personal growth, prioritizing relevance and impact, and being authentic.

Prep for These Common MBA Interview Styles

Don’t: Ramble or Lose Focus

While stories are compelling, keeping them concise and relevant is essential. Rambling can signal a lack of preparation or focus—a red flag for admissions committees. Stick to the critical points of your story and avoid going off on tangents. If you find yourself going off track, it’s okay to pause, take a breath, and reset.

Say something like, “Let me clarify that,” or, “To summarize my point,” to gracefully bring your answer back to its primary focus. A brief moment of composure shows self-awareness and control under pressure, which can actually leave a positive impression.

Remember, it’s natural to be stumped by a question, but panicking can derail your interview. If you don’t know an answer right away, ask for a moment to think. It’s better to pause and give a thoughtful response than to rush into an answer that doesn’t reflect your best thinking.

Do: Highlight Leadership and Collaboration

Business schools are looking for future leaders who thrive in team environments. Showcase your leadership abilities and highlight how you collaborate and contribute to group success. Share examples of how you’ve influenced others, led projects, or built relationships across teams or departments.

This situation could be where you spearheaded a cross-functional team to overcome a significant challenge. For example, talk about a time when you encountered a conflict, such as over ideas on the best way to tackle a project or personal disputes with people on your team. Perhaps you worked with someone bossy and overbearing or with people who didn’t do their share of the work. Show how you brought dissenters together to achieve that shared goal.

Elaborate on your strategies, the teamwork dynamics, and the positive outcome. Highlighting your ability to lead and collaborate effectively will resonate with the admissions committee, as you’ll likely encounter scenarios like these during business school. If your interviewer feels you are already well-prepared for the inevitable challenges, your application is much more likely to receive a green light.

Don’t: Overemphasize Individual Achievements

While your accomplishments are significant, focusing too heavily on them can come across as self-centered. MBA programs emphasize collaboration, teamwork, and leadership in a community setting, so it’s critical to demonstrate that you can also contribute to group success. If you only highlight individual wins, the admissions committee may question your ability to work well with others or adapt to the collaborative environment that is a hallmark of business school.

Strive for a balance between showcasing your achievements and emphasizing how you’ve helped teams, mentored others, or contributed to shared goals. This shows you’re a high performer and a team player who can elevate those around you.

Do: Prepare for Behavioral and Hypothetical Questions

Behavioral and hypothetical questions give admissions committees insight into how you think and act in real-life or imagined scenarios. Behavioral questions like “Tell me about a time when…” are used to assess how your past experiences demonstrate leadership, adaptability, or problem-solving qualities.

Meanwhile, hypothetical questions, such as “How would you handle a team conflict?” or “What would you do if a project was falling behind schedule?” evaluate your judgment and ability to think on your feet.

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To prepare for these questions, reflect on past situations where you made an impact, overcame challenges, or learned something significant. You can also use the STAR method for behavioral questions to structure your answers clearly and concisely, focusing on the actions you took and the results you achieved.

For hypothetical questions, the key is to stay calm, think logically, and demonstrate a thoughtful approach to problem-solving. There’s often no “right” answer. Still, admissions committees are looking for candidates who can assess a situation, break it down into manageable steps, and offer a well-reasoned action plan. Take a moment to gather your thoughts before responding, and don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions if needed to fully understand the scenario.

Don’t: Memorize or Sound Overly Rehearsed

Avoid sounding robotic or overly scripted. Admissions committees can tell when someone is reciting rehearsed answers rather than engaging in a thoughtful conversation. Be ready to adapt your responses based on the interview flow, and aim for approachability and authenticity.

MBA interviews are about both what you say and how you say it. Admissions committees want to see candidates who are not only highly qualified but also genuinely excited about the program and eager to contribute to the school’s community. When you speak with authenticity, it builds trust and makes you more relatable. Authentic enthusiasm is contagious and can create a lasting positive impression.

Let your passion for the program and your future career come through naturally, and again, don’t be afraid to show a bit of your personality. Schools are looking for candidates who bring positive energy and engagement to their classrooms and student groups, so letting your true self shine will help you stand out.

Do: Follow Up with a Thank-You Note

Our clients often ask us if they should write thank-you notes to their MBA interviewers. A thank-you note reflects your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration and lets them know you are grateful for the opportunity to discuss your qualifications and experience.

Well-written thank-you notes demonstrate professionalism and attention to detail. It shows that you take the business school application process seriously and can communicate effectively. As for the content of the message, you shouldn’t feel the need to go on and on. After all, it’s a note, not a letter.

There are only two must-includes:

Thank the interviewer for their time, and
Reiterate your interest in the program.

If you can throw in a sentence or two that references something you talked about, all the better. But thank-you notes are not the place to try and sell yourself any further or write another mini-essay. The point is to show that you’re excited about and thankful for the opportunity to be considered for a seat in Program X.

Some AdComs have to make admit and denial decisions very quickly. Don’t let more than 24 hours go by before you send your message.

By keeping these dos and don’ts for MBA interview success in mind, you can tell a compelling story showing you’re a qualified candidate and a future leader who will thrive in their program. With thoughtful preparation and authentic engagement, your interview can be the final step in moving your application into the “Accepted” pile.

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Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.

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Dos and Don’ts for MBA Interview Success

Dos and Don’ts for MBA Interview Success

Do: Prepare Thoughtful, Program-Specific Responses