Do You Talk Yourself Out of a Great MBA Interview?
MBA Interview Communication Tips That Matter
Even confident, articulate MBA applicants can fall into subtle communication traps that weaken their presence in interviews. Whether you’re talking to an alum, an admissions officer, or a group, MBA interview communication tips can make or break your impression—the way you speak matters just as much as what you say. Verbal habits that seem minor in everyday conversation can undermine your authority, confuse your message, and leave a lukewarm impression.
A recent LinkedIn article from the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast—hosted by Stanford GSB lecturer Matt Abrahams—inspired us to reflect on how his public speaking tips are excellent for MBA interviews, too. As Abrahams notes:
“If your audience doesn’t believe you’re confident and credible, they likely won’t consider what you’re saying.”
Here are three common speaking habits that quietly erode your credibility in MBA interviews — and what to do instead.
Hedges: The “Kind of” Confidence Drain
Hedges are softening phrases like “I think,” “kind of,” “maybe,” or “sort of.” They creep in when you’re trying to sound polite or open, but in an MBA interview, they dilute your message and make you seem unsure of your goals, accomplishments, or ideas. They often slip in when you’re buying time to think or trying to sound less aggressive.
But in the MBA admissions context, where confidence signals leadership, they can make your answers sound like you’re unsure of your impact or direction. Imagine telling your interviewer, “I think I want to go into consulting.” Compare that with, “I’m pursuing consulting because I’m drawn to strategic problem-solving and team-based environments.” The second version reflects conviction.
Example: “I pretty much led the team during our product launch.”
That phrasing suggests you were either partially involved or hesitant about your role. Instead, aim for clarity and ownership:
Better: “I led our team during the product launch, coordinating across marketing and engineering to hit our deadline.”
To reduce hedging, write down sample answers to common MBA interview questions and underline every tentative phrase. Then revise with stronger, more assertive language. You’re not trying to sound arrogant—you’re showing you’ve thought things through.
Swap weak openers like “I think” for more confident ones: “I believe,” “I know,” or simply state the point directly.
What are your chances of getting into a top business school? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.
Tag Questions: Seeking Reassurance, Not Respect
Tag questions turn statements into questions, like: “That project was successful, wasn’t it?” or “We really learned a lot, right?”
In casual conversation, tag questions might invite connection. But in interviews, they suggest self-doubt or an unconscious desire for validation. That can weaken your perceived confidence and leave the interviewer wondering if you believe in your own story.
One tag question that deserves special mention is “Does that make sense?” While it’s often used with good intentions, it can still subtly undermine your credibility in an MBA interview. This phrase can imply that you’re unsure whether you explained your point clearly—or worse, that you expect the listener might not understand.
Instead, assume clarity and stay in command of your message. If you truly need to check for alignment, consider stronger alternatives like: “Let me know if you’d like more detail on that,” or “I’m happy to expand on that if helpful.”
“Does that make sense?” sounds helpful—but in MBA interviews, it can subtly suggest you doubt your own clarity. Own your message instead.
To fix this, record yourself answering common interview questions and listen for these tacked-on queries. Better yet, practice with a friend or coach who can call them out in real time. With awareness, you’ll start catching yourself before you say them.
Uptalking: Turning Facts Into Questions
Uptalking is when your pitch rises at the end of a sentence, making statements sound like questions. It’s a habit that instantly signals uncertainty—even when your words are strong.
Example: “I interned at Bain last summer?”
To an interviewer, this can sound like you’re unsure of your own experience. That’s a problem. Train yourself to “land” your sentences instead. Practice speaking slowly, breathing steadily, and finishing each thought with downward vocal inflection.
It’s especially common among early-career professionals who want to sound approachable or non-threatening—but in an MBA interview, it can undercut your authority. Even the strongest accomplishments can sound uncertain when your voice rises at the end.
What’s more, uptalking can interfere with how your story lands. Your listener may focus more on how you’re saying something than what you’re actually saying. That’s a missed opportunity.
To break the habit, practice landing your sentences with a controlled breath. You can try reading aloud from your resume or elevator pitch, making sure your tone falls, not rises, at the end of each sentence.
If you’re not sure whether you’re doing this, record your responses or practice with a hand on your belly to monitor breath control.
Sharpen Your Elevator Pitch With These Habits
In many ways, your MBA elevator pitch is the ultimate test of how well you can present yourself with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re introducing yourself to an alum at a networking event, answering the classic “walk me through your resume” question, or pitching your goals in a scholarship interview, your pitch needs to land.
And that means avoiding credibility-killers like hedges, tag questions, and up-talking.
These verbal habits can make a high-potential candidate sound hesitant, overly casual, or unsure of their path—none of which are ideal when you’re summarizing your qualifications and aspirations in 60 seconds or less. On the flip side, strong verbal delivery can elevate your message, highlight your leadership voice, and help you stand out from the crowd.
Want to learn how to build a compelling elevator pitch from the ground up? We break it all down in our guide to creating a strong MBA elevator pitch.
And If You’re Job Interviewing Too…
These same habits can sink your chances with post-MBA recruiters. Whether you’re answering a behavioral question or walking through your resume, every phrase shapes your professional narrative. Clean speech builds trust. Sloppy speech can cast doubt.
Nail it now, and you’ll be ahead of the game long after admissions season ends.
“I used to over-explain everything in interviews because I was nervous. My consultant helped me simplify my answers, speak with more confidence, and own my story. When I got the admit call, the interviewer even commented on how clear and composed I was.”
— SBC Client, Admitted to Kellogg and Haas
Bringing It All Together: Speak Like a Leader
MBA interviews aren’t just about data points on your resume. They’re about presence—how you come across, how you connect, and how clearly you communicate your potential. Hedges, tag questions, and up-talking don’t just distract; they cause the listener to question your confidence and clarity. Polish your speaking habits, and you’ll project the leadership, conviction, and executive presence top programs are looking for.
“Confidence is conveyed not just in what you say, but how you say it,” says Stanford GSB’s Matt Abrahams.
Need help getting there? Stacy Blackman Consulting offers one-on-one MBA interview prep designed to help you deliver your story with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with a Principal SBC Consultant today to learn more.
Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team.
Ashley
Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...
×Pauline
A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...
×Laura
Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...
×Andrea
Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...
×Jennifer
Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...
×Erin K.
Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...
×Susie
Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...
×Dione
Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...
×Anthony
Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...
×Meghan
Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...
×Amy
Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...
×Ally
Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...
×Erin B.
Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...
×Emma
Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants. ×
Kate
Kate served in the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School for over five years. In her capacity as an Associate Director, Kate advised applicants daily and reviewed hundreds of applications per cycle. She was also an applicant interviewer, a liaison to other offices within the School, and a CBS representative at events around the world. Kate managed several recruiting and operational projects for the Admissions Committee. After Columbia Business School, Kate transitioned into cam ...
×Holly
Holly worked as a member of the NYU Stern MBA Admissions team for seven years and holds an MBA from NYU Stern. In her tenure as Director of NYU MBA Admissions, Holly worked closely with admissions teams from Columbia, Michigan Ross, UVA Darden, Cornell Johnson, Berkeley Haas, Yale SOM, and Duke Fuqua on recruiting events domestically and internationally. On the NYU Stern admissions committee, Holly conducted interviews, planned and hosted events, and trained staff on reading and interviewi ...
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