How a Mock MBA Interview Can Help You Get Into Your Dream School

Congratulations, you made it to the interview stage!  Now what should you do? Knowing the answers to the commonly asked MBA questions  a) â€Å"Why an MBA?† b) â€Å"Why this school?† and c) â€Å"Why now?† isn’t enough.  Even if you know all of the potential questions that you will need to address, a mock interview with someone who can give you honest and objective feedback will still be very helpful. Your practice interview can offer you critical insights  that may prove to  be  the difference between admission to your dream school and denial. Here are two reasons why you should have a mock MBA interview before the real thing: Flow Being well-prepared with your materials and being intelligent is not enough for a business school interview you also need to know how to deliver your message in a natural and flowing manner. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore lost the one of the most narrow and  controversial presidential elections in 2000. Well-known for his intelligence, Gore couldn’t connect effectively with his audience, often sounding like he was dictating a letter instead of having a conversation. In contrast, his rival, George W. Bush, came off as â€Å"somebody you would want to have beer with, and could seemingly get away with missteps through his humor and charm. Thus, don’t just count on your innate intelligence and knowledge in your interviews practice your delivery, be aware of your mannerisms, and connect with your interviewer. Having a practice interview partner who can identify the bumps in your delivery can help you smooth these out through awareness and repetitions. This will help you feel more relaxed and confident, instead of having to organize your thoughts and search for precise words during the interview itself. Facilitating mock interviews over the years, I have seen marked improvement for candidates who have gone through   these simulations before their real  interviews. The difference between an interviewee who practiced and  one who  didn’t is night and day in terms of the flow and manner by which they get their messages across. â€Å"Inside Words† I remember watching an episode of The Simpsons  in which the main character,  Homer, blurted out loud words he thought he was only saying in his head. Thus, Homer had to remind himself of â€Å"inside words/outside words† to guide him on what he could and could not say in public. Similarly, applicants  get used to saying things that may be acceptable within their company or with  their  families, but may  not be politically correct or appropriate for a business school interview. For example, within your  team at work, you may know the â€Å"(insert nationality here) account† as the most difficult one, however, in citing this as an example during your interview, be very careful that you do not  come off as associating negative traits in a generalized manner with a particular race, nationality, or other group. Your practice interview partner can help you identify such pitfalls, not only in  your words, but also through your body language, such as eye-rolls and shrugs, or even subtle changes in tone that may be sending an unintended message. Polishing these rough edges in your delivery will allow you to shine during your MBA interview and convince the Admissions Committee  that you are a gem of a find! Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! And as always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+  and Twitter. Written by Edison Cu, a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for  INSEAD.