How to Prepare for Your MBA Interview (Hint: It’s Not Just in Your Head)

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Now that some of you are starting to get interview invites, one of the most common questions I get is: “How do I best prepare for my MBA interview?”

Here’s the short answer: Talk. Out loud. A lot.

It sounds almost too simple. But the best interview prep is vocal, not mental. It’s a physical process. You have to actually hear yourself talking about your candidacy—your goals, accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, and “Why this school?”—out loud. Whether it’s to a friend, your roommate, your dog, or just yourself in the mirror, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you practice talking about this stuff, not just thinking about it.

Because interviews aren’t intellectual exercises. They’re not a game of chess. They’re conversations. And conversations involve tone, timing, body language, and presence—not just content. If the first time you hear these answers out loud is in the interview room, you’re already behind.

This doesn’t mean you need to memorize lines or perfect a script. In fact, scripting is a trap. You’ll sound robotic, overly polished, and worst of all—insincere. The fastest way to tank an interview is to come across as someone who’s “performing” rather than engaging.

Instead, think like a seasoned salesperson. The best ones don’t repeat memorized spiels—they know their product so well they can improvise. Same goes for you. You are the product. You’re not delivering a monologue. You’re having a conversation about a subject you know better than anyone else—yourself.

Practicing out loud helps with:

  • Reducing nervousness (nerves are physical, not just mental)
  • Improving flow and clarity
  • Making your answers sound more natural and authentic
  • Helping your body language sync with what you’re saying

And it applies beyond MBA interviews. Same principle holds for case interviews and job recruiting. It’s not just about having the right answer—it’s about how comfortably and clearly you talk through your thinking.

Need help on interviews?

Want help making your interviews feel natural, not scripted? The MBA App Assistant includes a full mock interview prep guide—plus “Ask Alex,” your AI-powered advisor trained to help you sound like your best self.