Be confident.

• Make eye contact
• Speak up (don’t whisper or talk lightly)
• Sound excited and eager
• Sound like you belong in the US

Always tell the truth. Always, always, always.

If you have an answer that might look bad on you, be sure to explain.

EXAMPLE:
Q: Do you have any relatives in the United States?
A: Yes. I have an uncle in Washington DC. I might see him during Christmas and maybe during summer vacation with my parents, but that’s it. My focus is on my studies and getting the most out of my college experience.

Sound like you are prepared and you know know answers, but don’t sound rehearsed. In other words: don’t sound like you’re reading your answers.

Research and know as much as you can about the company:

• Company history
• Visions and forecasts
• Company culture
• At least one person you could reference who works there

Know the company’s products. Even if your job has nothing to do with sales and the company doesn’t have an obvious product.

EXAMPLE:

• Apple – Know the iPhone and iPad, but also learn about the Vision Pro
• Microsoft – Know Office, Bing, and Xbox; but also know their latest in AI
• Non-profits – Know the audience who uses their services

Be prepared to talk through the sincere reason why you want to be admitted. Common reasons include:

• Ranking
• The brand
• The network
• The program’s history

EXAMPLE:
I want to be admitted in your MBA program because of the brand. My personal brand is based around the core values of quality, integrity, and forward thinking. Your MBA offers these three values better than any other MBA program, and here’s why….

The school wants to know that you did your homework and really developed a personal opinion on this program. They also want to know their marketing is working or not. This is a perfect opportunity for name dropping.

EXAMPLE:
– My current supervisor, Jared Hill, graduated from this program three years ago and loved it….
– I’ve always known about this program, but I saw a lot of ads on social media and it grew my interest….
– During my undergrad, I took a class from Professor Smith who said a lot of great things about this program….

The school is hoping you have an overarching vision you’d like to accomplish, and graduating from this program is the next step. Not having a plan makes you look desperate, like you’re trying to take a pause on your career till you find out what you want to do.

EXAMPLE:
– After graduating, I want to work in venture capital. Your program has a strong placement record in that industry….
– Ultimately, I want to get a PhD. Your program is research heavy, which is what I’m looking for in a program….