Study Abroad - Admission Interview
If you're applying to graduate school, expect an interview. While interviews aren't a required component of all applications, be prepared for the possibility. As admission to graduate school becomes more competitive, admissions interviews become commonplace.
Think about it: if you attend a particular program, you'll work very closely with a faculty member for several years. It's no wonder that faculty want to meet potential students -- and you should meet them for the very same reason. Do you really want to commit to working with someone for the foreseeable future, without meeting him or her beforehand?
Study Abroad
Admission Interview
Interviews by Institutes abroad is very rare and is usally limited to some business schools. You most probably will not have to go through one. But, just to let you know, Wharton visits Delhi, Bombay and some other cities every year to interview applicants. Some schools conduct interviews telephonically and some others through their alumni who are based in the city you live in.
If you happen to be applying to an institute that wants to interview, you ought to be prepared.
Preparing for the Interview - have the right attitude and do your homework.
Consider the interview as your final opportunity to market yourself. Establish your objectives for the interview. Think about ways of reinforcing your strengths and addressing your weaknesses. Be prepared to support your claims in the application essays. Good preparation will also help you relax somewhat during the interview.
- Do your homework. Learn about the program and faculty. Read recent faculty publications to learn more about their labs.
- Prepare intelligent questions to ask. Remember that you're judged by your application but also by your presentation and your interest in the program and faculty.
During the Interview
- Dress professionally and comfortably.
- Find out what graduate students really think about their advisors and the program
- Try to meet graduate students for a one-on-one conversation so you can find out what they really think
- Don't underestimate the potential influence of current graduate students. Although they might sound like they're speaking off-the-cuff, remember that you're on an interview, regardless of with whom you're speaking. Present your best side because current graduate students may be in a position to help or hurt your application.
- Follow standard rules of interviewing (i.e., eye contact, self confident presentation, conservative dress, etc.)
- Some interviews include social events like parties. Don't drink too much (even if others do). Remember that even though it seems like a party, it's an interview. Assume that you're being evaluated at all times
More Points to Consider
- Consider the interview as your final opportunity to market yourself. Establish your objectives for the interview. Think about ways of reinforcing your strengths and addressing your weaknesses. Be prepared to support your claims in the application essays. Good preparation will also help you relax somewhat during the interview.
- Know all that you can about the school and the program - the school brochures and the website can be useful sources. Carry out a search in Google or Yahoo by the name of the school and read the relevant results. This could make you aware of some specific details about the school or the program, which would reflect in your answers during the interview. It could pay to project yourself as a person who pays attention to detail. It also conveys your interest in the school.
- Prepare for the typical interview questions. Most of the interview questions come from two categories
(1) Standard questions for all students like Why MBA, Why Yale etc.
(2) Questions tailor-made for you based on your essays and your resume.
The interviewer may wish to probe into some of your claims to fame in your essays. Be sure to review your application, essays and resume prior to the interview. The worst thing you can do is contradicting yourself at the interview.
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