Graduate School Interviews – How To Prepare Without A Stomach Ache

A graduate school interview is often something that makes a person’s stomach start to ache. But does it have to? The answer is no. You can prepare for your graduate school interview in your sleep, it’s that easy. Really? Yes, really. There is no reason for you to bust out the pepto bismol, unless you want to engage in unusual experiments with bright pink liquid or tablets.

A graduate school interview is much like an ordinary interview with someone over coffee. It’s nothing to choke up about. Here are some tips that will help you calm down even if you are interviewing with an admissions committee at a top ranking business school or the #1 school of the top 10 business schools. Ready?

1. Prepare ahead of time. Write a list of questions you are likely to be asked so you can practice answers. That way you will not be caught off guard.

2. Select your clothing ahead of time (if you have to interview in person) so you don’t have to mess with that the day of the interview.

3. Consider some of the common things asked like…your strengths and weaknesses; your career choices; why you like the school you applied for; what your plans are for graduate study; what other schools you might be considering; why you chose the program you did.

4. Figure out one or two questions of your own to ask.

5. When you go to the interview, maintain eye contact with the admissions committee.

6. Do not fidget. Stand or sit still and answer questions directly.

7. Speak slowly and clearly. Articulate. Act confident.

8. If you are really nervous, pretend you are confident. Imagine you are your favorite superhero. Act. Acting is easy, anyone can do it. After you shut the door behind you on your way out, you can go back to being your ordinary shy self, and lose it!

Remember, participating in an interview is just as nerve wracking for you as it is for anyone else, you will do a great job! And the fact that you are invited for an interview is a good sign you probably landed the job (you got accepted into the MBA program)! So relax and have fun with it! After all, what is the worst that can happen?