Aspiring MBA students have a lot on their plate; they often have to juggle their jobs, applications, essays and school research throughout the admissions process. However, one of the most important aspects of getting accepted into business degree programs is nailing the interview process.

“We are looking for qualities that you can’t necessarily assess on paper, such as communication skills, poise, charisma, and the right fit for the school,” Dawna Clarke, a business school director of admissions, told Bloomberg Businessweek*.

There are many things applicants must do during the interview process to ensure success, but there are also some things they should stay away from. The news source spelled out a few things applicants should avoid to help impress an admissions officer.

Being too casual

In the interview process, confidence is key, but it is important to find that happy medium. While interviews can vary in formality, interviewees should not feel too comfortable. Involving themselves in any inappropriate conversations with the interviewer should be something applicants should stay away from.

Crying

There is a lot of tension and nervousness that can build up leading up to an interview, but applicants need to hold their emotions in throughout the process. With proper preparation, interviewees can subside the fears that force them to tears when meeting with admissions officers. A few ways interviewees can prepare themselves is to anticipate potential questions and hold practice interviews.

Having poor manners

Being as polite as possible while interviewing cannot hurt, but failing to show good manners can leave a bad taste in an interviewer's mouth. Saying please and thank you, muting cell phones and being courteous of time can show admissions officers that an applicant has properly prepared themselves for an interview. 

Not having a plan

An applicant should have a game plan going into an interview. By knowing what they want to say, aspiring MBA students will have an idea of what to voice to admissions officers and will come across as calm and poised, according to U.S. News & World Report**. Having narratives about experiences ready is also a solid strategy applicants can use to show off success they have had in the past. 

*http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-11/mba-admissions-interviews-gone-bad-really-bad

**http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/MBA-admissions-strictly-business​/2011/01/21/preparing-for-your-mba-interview​