Acing the Graduate/Professional School Interview Tutorial

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Acing the Graduate/Professional School Interview

• Tutorial

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CONGRATULATIONS!

• You should applaud yourself for being invited to
  interview for a graduate school program!
• The admissions committee found your application
  impressive. Now you just need to wow them during
  your interview.

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This tutorial will

• Provide an overview of the various components
  that make up the interview process
• Provide interview strategies to ensure success

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Purpose of the Graduate School Interview

• Faculty perspective
• Narrow down the applicant pool
• Decide who to admit into the program
• Your perspective
• Learn more about the program
• Meet with the faculty
• Determine if the program is a good fit for you
• Decide if you want to attend the institution

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Interview Components

• Similar to a job interview, a graduate school
  interview consists of three components
• Before the interview
• During the interview
• After the interview

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• Before the Interview

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Before the Interview

• Always, always, always make sure you prepare for
  the interview.
• Preparation involves knowing about
• Yourself
• The career field, industry and available career
  options
• The program
• The institution

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Know Yourself

• Because graduate school is a big investment
  (time, money, etc.), it is essential that you
  choose the right program that matches your career
  goals.
• Consider the following
• What attracted you to this field?
• What attracted you to this particular program and
  school?
• What are your professional goals?
• How will going to graduate school help you reach
  your goals?
• What experiences have you had that set you apart
  from other applicants?
• What are you hoping to gain from advanced
  education?

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Know the Career Field, Industry Available
Career Options

• Due to the fact that graduate and professional
  programs are very focused, it is essential that
  you demonstrate your knowledge regarding your
  chosen career field.
• Some questions that you should be able to answer
  include
• What occupations can be pursued with this type of
  education?
• What are the educational requirements?
• In what professional associations are people
  involved?
• Who are the key people in the field?
• What are the current trends and issues facing the
  field?
• What is the history of your field?

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Know the Program

• Additionally, those interviewing you want to know
  that you are serious about their program.
  Therefore, you must demonstrate that you have
  thoroughly researched the program in question.
• Consider learning
• Who the faculty members are, their specialties
  and research interests.
• Program requirements.
• The type of students that the program attracts.
• The distinguishing characteristics of this
  program.

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Know the Institution

• As you know from your time at McDaniel College,
  plenty of learning and activities take place
  outside of the classroom.
• Since you can expect to spend a fair amount of
  time on campus, you may want to consider
• The facilities
• The library
• Student organizations
• Support services

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Before the Interview

• Preparing for a graduate school interview does
  not end with knowing about yourself, the program,
  etc.
• Applicants invited to interview must make sure to
  dress professionally and to be prompt.

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Interview Appearance

• Get a good nights sleep
• Wear wrinkle-free clothes
• Wear little jewelry, perfume and makeup
• Items to avoid include
• Loud colors
• Low cut blouses
• Short skirts
• Clanging jewelry
• Sandals/open-toed shoes
• Character ties

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Interview Timing

• Know the exact time and location of the interview
• Arrive 15 minutes early to freshen up hair and
  clothes

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• During the Interview

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During the Interview

• The interview is the time and place to let
  yourself shine!
• Here you want to expand on your academic
  interests, research experience and skills,
  professional goals and how this program ties into
  the big picture.
• This is also the time when you can expect any
  questions that focus on weaker areas of your
  application. So, be prepared.

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During the Interview (continued)

• The interview begins once you step into the outer
  office, so be nice to everyone you meet
• Enter and greet the interviewer(s) with a smile,
  good eye contact and a firm handshake
• Always refer to the interviewers by their name
  (ex. Mr. Brown)

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During the Interview (continued)

• Listen to questions carefully
• Mention examples and results of your past work
• Avoid using slang and expressions such as uh,
  you know and like
• Speak in a clear tonenot to fast and not too
  slow
• When it is your turn, ask questions. This shows
  responsibility and alertness

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• After the Interview

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After the Interview

• Similar to job interviews, you will want to send
  a thank you to those that interviewed you and
  anyone that hosted you during your visit.
• Follow up with the program coordinator to check
  the status of your application.

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For More Information

• Visit Career Services web page at
• http//www.mcdanielcareers.org/
• Visit the Career Resource Library to review
  graduate catalogs, financial aid information,
  etc.
• Attend a Graduate School To Go or Not To Go
  workshop (check Career Services events schedule
  for dates and times of workshop).

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Need more help?

• Stop by Smith House to speak with a career
  counselor
• Call 410-871-3305 to schedule an appointment