Successful Interviewing for Graduate & Professional School

Tips for Success

Know Yourself: Why have you chosen to pursue a career in your chosen field? Why do you want to be a ... (doctor? lawyer? research scientist? etc.) Are you able to discuss your personal skills and abilities, strengths, and interests? Are you proud of your education and experiences and can you talk about them with enthusiasm? Thoroughly review your application and statement of purpose. Anticipate questions and prepare/practice the responses.

Know Your Field: Be familiar with your field, its history, areas of specialization, issues, associations and journals. Who are some of the key people in this field, particularly those who have influenced you. How are you going to contribute to this field?

Research the University/Program: Read the catalog thoroughly. Be able to state specific reasons for your interest in this school. Know where you might fit in, and how you would be an asset. Speak to graduate students in the program, if possible.

Be Prepared for the Unusual: You are meeting with professors, and possibly administrators, graduate students and alumni. They are not professional recruiters. Therefore, be prepared for bizarre, controversial and unusual questions.

Dress Professionally: Focus on a neat, well-groomed appearance.

Be Punctual: Even being a bit early is advisable. Take into account time for parking and finding your way.

Be Cordial and Confident: Be courteous to everyone you meet: students, receptionists, secretaries, etc. Walk in to the interview with a smile and shake the interviewer's hand with a good grip. Maintain good posture and eye contact, and smile. Speak at a comfortable level and speed. Be curious and persuasive, but not overbearing.

Be Specific in Your Answers: Select relevant information that will demonstrate your strengths for the program you've chosen. Use examples to support your statements. Turn negatives into positives. Show tact, maturity, and courtesy. Be professional and use professional language. A sense of humor is a plus, used appropriately. 

Be Prepared to Answer Hypothetical, Problem-Solving, Situational or Research Related Questions: "What if.." or "Tell me about a time when…" types of questions are asked to get a sense of what you know, what you can do and how you do it.

Be Sincerely Interested: Show by your attitude that you really want to attend this program and university. Be enthusiastic. Participate fully -- you should be interviewing the recruiter while he/she is interviewing you.

Conclude Strongly: Ask meaningful questions. Summarize your strong points. Clarify the follow-up procedure.

Send a Thank You Letter and Forward Additional Materials Promptly: Immediately following the interview, write a brief note to the interviewer(s), particularly if you established a good rapport with one individual. Thank him/her for taking time to see you, and reiterate your interest in the university and the specific program to which you have applied. If anything additional is requested, or if you discover anything that is missing from your file, follow up immediately.

Follow-Up: If you are not accepted, call (or write) to ask why not and what you can do to improve your chances in the future. If possible, personal appointments might also be appropriate for your top choice schools. 

Keep An Optimistic Outlook: You never know when that acceptance might be just around the corner.

Use Your Career Services Office: For more detailed and personalized advice, take advantage of our services.
 

Most Commonly Asked Interview Questions

General

• Tell me about yourself. How would you describe yourself to someone wanting to know about you.
• Why should I select you over other qualified applicants?
• What are your career goals?

Educational

• Why did you choose your major? Cal Poly?
• Best class? Worst class?
• - Scores: GPA? MCAT? DAT? GRE? GMAT? LSAT?
• - Why did you get 2 B's last quarter?
• - Any courses or subjects where you didn't do well in school, but did better on the standardized test, or did well in school but not on the test?
• Senior Project? Research interests? Research projects?
• What have you learned from your course of study to prepare you for graduate school and/or this profession?
• Extracurricular activities/hobbies/community service?

Work/Research Experience in the Field

• Have you had any clinical, volunteer or work experience? What have you learned from jobs/research?
• Strengths? Weaknesses?
• How do you handle frustration? Stress?
• What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful in ...
• How would an employer/professor/friend describe you? 
• What suggestions have employers/professors made to help you improve your performance?

Knowledge of Issues in Field

• With what theoretical/research/philosophical approaches to the field do you identify?
• If you had to pick a topic for a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation, what might it be?
• What journals do you read? Professional organizations belong to?
• Who (within the field) has influenced you the most? What book have influenced you the most?
• What training model are you interested in?
• How will you contribute to this field?
• What do you consider the biggest issue facing the profession today? Next 5/10 years? 

Knowledge of Specific University and/or Program

• Why are you interested in this program? What are your qualifications for our program?
• Why should we take you? Why is our program right for you?
• What do you know about our program? 

Personal 

• Why do you want to be a ...?
• Why do you think you are personally suited to provide clinical (or...) services to others?
• Are you interested in a particular specialty?
• How do you feel that your background will influence your research, clinical work and areas of interest?
• What will you do if you are not accepted?
• How will you finance your education?
• How do you feel about giving up a paying job for several years?
• Will it be a problem for you to live in the city?
• What other schools have you applied to? Been accepted by?
• What do you do to relax?
• Do you have any fears about attending ... (this) school? What are they?
• Questions about reading, movie, or music tastes; most recent films seen or books read 
• Questions about influences in your life: person/books/family member

QUESTIONS TO ASK AT THE INTERVIEW

Professional and graduate schools, like individuals, are very different -- in their philosophies, faculties, curricula, and the type of students they attract. Consequently, selecting the "best" school for you can be very challenging. The following set of questions was compiled to help you in evaluating schools you will visit. This list is by no means complete; it was designed to serve as a base for your own questions. Keep in mind that the interview represents a wonderful time for you to learn, so don't be shy about asking anyone your questions.

Curriculum 

• Are there opportunities for students to design, conduct, and publish their own research?
• Is there flexibility in the coursework (the number of electives) and the timing of the courses (accelerating, decelerating, and time off)?
• Has this school, or any of departments, been on probation or had its accreditation revoked?
• How do students from this school perform on licensing exams ? How does the school assist students who don't pass?
• What is the faculty to student ratio?
• What's the retention rate?
• Are there minors available or required?
• What is the average number of years that most Ph.D. candidates stay in the program?
• What kind of practicum/internship opportunities would I have? When would these begin?

Evaluation

• How are students evaluated academically? 
• Is there a formal mechanism in place for students to evaluate their professors? What changes have been made recently as a result of this feedback? 

Counseling/Student Support

• What kind of academic, personal, financial, and career counseling is available to students? Are these services also offered to their spouses and dependents/children? 
• Is there a mentor/advisor system? Who are the advisors -- faculty members, other students, or both?
• How diverse is the student body? Are there support services or organizations for ethnic minorities and women?

Facilities

• Tell me about the library, laboratory and extracurricular facilities (i.e., housing and athletic/recreational). 
• Are there computer facilities available to students? Are they integrated into the curriculum?

Financial Aid/Teaching and Research Assistantships

• How are research and teaching assistantships assigned? 
• What is the current tuition and fees? Is this expected to increase yearly? If so, at what rate?
• Would I be likely to get financial aid in my first year? Will the aid increase or decrease over time?
• Are there stable levels of federal financial aid and substantial amounts of university endowment aid available?
• Are there students who have an "unmet need" factor in their budget? If so, where do these students come up with the extra funds?
• Are spouses and dependents/children covered in a student's budget?
• Is someone available to assist students with budgeting and financial planning?
• Does this school provide guidance to its students, and to its graduates/alumni, on debt management?
• Are there jobs available? Is it possible to work and go to school successfully?

Policies

• Is there a school Honor Code? Is there a grievance process/procedure? Are the students involved?

Career Services

• How successful are graduates of this program in getting jobs? What kinds of jobs?