At Access MBA in Chicago, we asked admissions experts from Georgia State University and IE University for their top three tips for the MBA admissions interview. Their advice came down to one idea: the school is choosing you, and you’re choosing the school.

For many candidates, the interview is the part of the MBA application they feel least ready for. You can study for a test and redraft an essay, but an interview happens in real time, with someone from the school on the other side of the table.

So we went straight to the people on that side of the table. Their six tips fall into four themes, and one message kept coming up: admissions is a two-way match.

Meet the experts


Bhumi Patel is Graduate Recruitment Manager at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business (US), where she works with candidates for its specialised Master’s programmes. She is also an alum of one of the school’s MBA programmes, so she knows the process from both sides.

Adam Santana is Associate Director for Master’s Programmes at IE University (Spain), covering everything from specialised Master’s degrees to the MBA and Executive MBA.

Tip 1: Tell your story, not just your resume


The tip both experts put first wasn’t about test scores or work experience. It was about you.

Bhumi sees many applicants who hold back the most important part:

“I feel like a lot of applicants don’t really share more about their journey, and what led them to wanting to do an MBA and what that MBA could do for them. So really [share] more about your goals, and more about your journey, because we want to get to know more about you.”

Adam’s first tip is to show up as yourself throughout the admissions process, with a clear sense of what you want:

“Make sure you know what you want to get out of an MBA, and have your story very clear, because from the admissions side… we can really see that, and we can help make your vision a reality.”

Your resume tells the interviewer what you’ve done. The interview is your chance to explain why: what connects your roles so far, why an MBA is the next step, and where you want it to take you. Practice telling that story out loud before the day.

Also read: The Interview Prep Most MBA Candidates Skip

Tip 2: Know why this programme


An MBA can look like a safe, all-purpose choice. Bhumi says that shows in the interview:

“I see a lot of students come in and gravitate towards an MBA just because it’s general, not really knowing if it could be the right fit for them. So really [research] a programme to see if it could be something for you.”

Adam puts it as a two-way process:

“A lot of times when you’re shopping for schools, we’re shopping for candidates as well, right? So we want to make sure that the programme is for you.”

Look into each school’s curriculum, format, location and where its graduates go. Then be ready to say why this programme, and not just any MBA, fits your goals. If you can’t answer that clearly, your interviewer will notice, and it may be a sign to keep looking.

Tip 3: Make every document count


Your interview starts before you walk into the room. By then, the school has already read what you sent, and Bhumi’s third tip is about getting that right:

“I would say proofreading all of your documents before submitting, making sure there are no errors on there. I get that all the time. So really [make] sure that you’re putting your best foot forward and looking at that submission before you hit submit on your application.”

Errors are common, and they’re one of the easiest problems to avoid.

Adam adds a point about optional documents. More isn’t always better:

“If you’re asked to submit more documents, […] you can. But again, you don’t have to. Only submit those documents if you think it’s really going to make your application more powerful, and maybe it’ll tell a side of you that you can’t see from the other required documents that you’ve already submitted.”

The rule for every document is the same: it should be error-free, and it should earn its place.

Tip 4: Start early and ask for help


Adam’s final tip is about timing, and about using the help that’s already there:

“Apply as early as possible, and communicate with your admissions advisors once you’re assigned them. Just voice any concerns that you have. It’s not a one-way process. A lot of times there is someone on the ground that can help you get your questions answered. But if you don’t start your application, then there’s no way for us to know that you exist on the other side.”

Starting early gives you time to prepare, and it puts you in touch with someone at the school who wants to help. Questions about deadlines, documents or the interview format are exactly what admissions advisors are there for.

Also read: MBA Application Deadlines 2026-2027: Your Complete Global Guide

Your interview checklist

  • Prepare your story: your journey, why an MBA, and your goals.
  • Know why this programme fits you and be ready to say it.
  • Proofread everything and add optional documents only if they show something new.
  • Start early and talk to your admissions advisor.

A match, not an exam


Both experts made the same point in different words: admissions isn’t an exam you pass, but a match you make. The school is getting to know you, and you’re getting to know the school. Come prepared, be yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

The best place to start asking? At Access MBA events, you can meet admissions teams from business schools face to face and get your questions answered before you apply.

Ask admissions teams your questions in person at Access MBA.