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Its
5. Summary
Overview
Its a Whole New Ball Game
Purpose of the interview- to be personable! make up lots of ground, covers lots of sins
Overview
Relax: And Heres Why
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3.
Most programs interview 2-3 times as many applicants as they have positions for -Interviews consume real resources -Not too many, and not too few Chances are that they will offer to the majority of those that they interview
Example: Five available positions: #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 Yield Rate= Ratio of Acceptances to Offers
Overview
Know the Programs Yield Rate
General indication of program quality Critical information if wait-listed
Individual on-site Telephone Telephone conference call Group interview or Open House
One-day visit Group orientation meeting Series of individual interviews (~30 min each) Lunch Reception or Final Session
Overview
Interview Questions and Answers
Interview is a 2-way street You are invested in getting an offer and the program is invested in having you accept an offer So be sure to collect information over the course of your interview to inform your decision making Take notes after every interview or interaction
after graduation?
students usually take? Are undergraduates available to serve as research assistants? How are advisor or supervisor appointments made? What do students do after graduation? Would I have opportunities to teach? What opportunities would I have for doing research?
Do faculty and students have good relationships ? Are faculty available? What is the quality of teaching? What opportunities are available to teach and do research? Is the environment competitive/supportive? Do students participate in policy decisions or governance? What is the broader community like? What kinds of things do students do in their free time? What kind of careers do students pursue after graduation?
Your questions send signals. You will be evaluated in relation to the questions that you ask as well as the answers you give
negative or critical ways e.g., "Can you tell me a bit about the theoretical orientations of your faculty, rather than, You are mostly cognitive/behavioral/systemic arent you?
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance
About your interests, pastimes, future directions, and goals About your strengths and weaknesses About your professional or research interests Litmus test:
3. Communication Skills
Listen and respond 2. Reciprocity- dont talk too much or too little 3. Feel free to ask questions 4. Try to approximate a conversation, rather than a formal interview
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4. Interested
Dont assume they know you are interested 2. I could easily imagine myself being here 3. I would love to get an offer to join the program 4. Im really excited about the possibility of doing my graduate work here
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5. Informed
Knowledgeable about program 2. Knowledgeable about faculty 3. Knowledgeable about the broader community 4. university or sports programs is not essential
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6. Inquisitive
1. 2.
If you dont have any questions, you may have a problem Develop a set of questions to ask
8. Likeable
1. 2. 3.
The more your interviewers enjoy themselves, the more favorably they will evaluate you Humble, respectful, positive, sincere, excited, enthusiastic, etc. Avoid being bored, bellicose, boastful or bizarre
9. Goodness of Fit
Determine how and where you feel that you fit in best 2. Faculty 3. Students 4. Overall program
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Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance
1 to 4 = gradations of Poor
5 to 6 = OK
8 8
9-10 = Excellent
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
7-8
Dress for Success Comfortable Talking About Yourself Communication is Key Interested Informed Inquisitive Interactive with Others Likeable Goodness-of-Fit Overall Performance (1-10)
Key Considerations
Be yourself Say what you mean and mean what you say Write a thank you note (or email) -no new information
-e.g. I just wanted to take a minute to say thanks for the opportunity to interview with you. I appreciate all of your efforts and I am even more excited about the prospects of potentially joining your program as a result of my visit. Thanks again, and I will look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks!
Summary
Interviewing is the most exciting part of the
graduate admissions process- enjoy it! Make sure you collect enough information to make informed and effective decisions; if you are admitted into one program, the chances are very high that you will be admitted into 2 or more programs You should plan on releasing lower-ranked programs as you gain admission into higher-ranked programs Good Luck!