Graduate School Inteviews

Most graduate schools are interested in having you visit and interview with faculty and students.  These interviews provide an opportunity for you to articulate your qualifications for and your interest in the program as well as giving you the chance to get a real feel for the school, faculty, and resources available, and to determine whether or not you will be happy there.

If you cannot for some reason schedule an interview, try to contact one or more students already in the program.  They will be able to give you some first-hand information about what it is really like, in addition to what you read in the admissions materials.

Tips for the interview:

  • Review your application materials, be able to discuss your essay in great detail and state your goals with confidence
  • Attend Interview Skills Workshops and practice ahead of time with a career counselor, your friends, your faculty
  • Dress appropriately
  • Remember that you are in “interview mode” regardless of the setting – lunch or a tour of the campus with the current students could weigh as heavily as a structured interview with a faculty member.  Everyone you meet with will most likely be providing input into your acceptance.


Web sites that may be helpful in preparing for your graduate school interviews

Interviewing in general:
Office of Career Development Interviewing Skills Information:  /studentlife/src/career/services/interview_handout.asp

For graduate school:
http://www.careerservices.calpoly.edu/Students/Colleges/successful_
interviewing.htm

http://www.whitworth.edu/academic/Resources/Science/Shared%20Documents/PostgraduateOpportunities/Interviews/Index.htm


Specifically for medical school:
http://www.essayedge.com/medical/admissions/interview.shtml