General Resource : Resources for Graduate Schools >> 2. Apply for Grad Schools

• Graduate and Professional School Interviews
• Submitted by Joe Wilson on 2009-12-22
• About Graduate and Professional School Interviews

  • An interview may or may not be required by the program.
  • Remember, it's an information exchange. This is a great time to find out more about the campus, program, your potential faculty advisor, and other students currently in the program.You want to be certain that the program is a good fit for you.
  • Treat your graduate school interview like a professional job interview; dress and act professionally and be prepared.
  • Bring along a list of questions to ask, copies of your GRE scores and transcripts, interview confirmation letter, and any course catalogues, brochures, directions, or maps that the school has sent you.
  • Prepare by thoroughly reading the university's literature, anticipating questions you are likely to be asked, and practicing your responses.
  • Send a thank-you note to each interviewer within 24 hours. our writing ability

  
  Sample Interview Questions

  In general, graduate and professional schools will ask questions about you, their program, and their faculty members.

  Questions about You

  
  
  

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • What are your career goals? How will this program help you achieve these goals?
  • Why do you want to pursue a graduate degree in ____?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • What are you plans if you are not accepted? Do you have a Plan B?
  • What unique qualities and contributions would you bring to this program that other candidates would not?
  • How do you feel about the many ethical issues that face the profession?
  • How do you motivate yourself?
  • How do you deal with stress?
  • Explain a situation in which you had a conflict and how you resolved it? What did you learn?
  • Describe a group project you've worked on and what role you took.
  • Why did you decide to become a ____?

  
  

  Questions about their Program and Faculty

  
  
  

  • Why did you apply to our program?
  • What appeals to you most about our program?
  • How do you see yourself fitting in?
  • What do you think will be the biggest challenge as a graduate student in our program?

  
  

  Sample Questions to Ask the Interviewer

  
  
  

  • What do you consider the greatest strength of this program? Greatest challenge/weakness?
  • What makes a student successful in your program?
  • Where do graduates of your program typically find employment?
  • How would you describe the culture/environment of your program?
  • What career services, counseling, medical, and housing facilities are available for graduate students?
  • What assistantships and scholarships are available and what proportion of graduate students in the program receive one?

  
  
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