How important is the interview?

Hey there mate,

The answer is a definitive yes. Think about the time and resources interviews take. Most programs only pull the trigger on them with a shortlisted applicant pool. Kellogg and Tuck incur the cost on EVERY applicant. The interviews for them are a big deal.

As for a poor interview - there are definitely some things that can be done. Something you can consider is sending a follow up email to your interviewer. Let's say they ask you a question you weren't quite ready for and you stumble through a response. If you walk and go, "oh man, I should have said..." you can always add on to the thank you email. Say something along the lines of "Also, I wanted to add a little more context around my response when you asked X." That also shows you were introspective and reflective enough to realize what could have gone better. That's just one technique and there are, of course, others. But that one's pretty effective for that situation.

DefyingGravity has a good point - you're your own worst critics at times. But if you know something went poorly, being proactive can make a big difference.

Have you already interviewed or are you just thinking ahead? If it's the latter, make sure you're prepped well for those two schools. Work on the front end can save you heartache on the back end!

Cheers,

Bhavik