1. Applying to Graduate SchoolApplying to Graduate School
Successful InterviewingSuccessful Interviewing
IGSPP Presentation
University Programs, UCI Extension

2. OverviewOverview
 What is the graduate school admission interview?
 Who gets to interview?
 What is the format of the interview?
 How should you prepare?
 What should you do during the interview?
 What should you do after the interview?
 What else should I know?
 Body Language
 Overcoming Nervousness
 Resources

3. What is the Graduate SchoolWhat is the Graduate School
Admission Interview?Admission Interview?
An opportunity for you to
 Impress the admissions committee
 Show that you are serious about attending
the school
 Learn more about the school, program,
faculty, and students
• An opportunity for the school to
 Learn more about you
 Market itself

4. Who Gets to Interview?Who Gets to Interview?
Some schools interview most or all of
the applicants
Most schools select the top applicants for
interviews

5. What is the Format of the Interview?What is the Format of the Interview?
Length of Time: Usually 30 minutes to an hour,
but might be a several-hour social event
Interviewers: Usually a faculty member, but
could also be an alum or student, or a panel of
faculty
Location: Usually an office or conference room
Schedule: Usually Welcome>>Ice-breaker>>
Questions>>Chance to Ask Questions>>
Conclusion

6. How Should You Prepare?How Should You Prepare?
Learn as much as you can about the
school, including reputation, curriculum,
faculty, labs; visit the school if possible—
Why?
Determine your objectives: Use your
Statement of Purpose as a base
 How to show that you are a great match for
the program
 How to reinforce your strengths and address
your weaknesses

7. How Should You Prepare? cont’dHow Should You Prepare? cont’d
Anticipate possible questions and prepare
answers—See handout
Practice with mock interviews
Get enough sleep the night before
Eat a good meal before the interview
Dress appropriately
Prepare business cards, copies of résumé, copy
of application, program info
Arrive early

8. What Should You DoWhat Should You Do
During the Interview?During the Interview?
Show your confidence and enthusiasm
through eye contact, tone of voice, gestures
Be friendly
Stay relaxed
Monitor your language; avoid slang
Monitor cultural differences
Answer concisely and truthfully; structure
responses; don’t ramble; summarize long
answers

9. What Should You DoWhat Should You Do
During the Interview? cont’dDuring the Interview? cont’d
Listen carefully; “read” the interviewer
Assume interviewer(s) do(es) not
remember all your file
Emphasize your compatibility with the
program
Make sure you do not contradict your
application and/or SoP
Ask relevant questions—See handout

10. What Should You DoWhat Should You Do
After the Interview?After the Interview?
As soon as possible, send a thank you
letter
If you have not been contacted after a
week or so, politely ask for an update on
your status
Use your experience to prepare for later
interviews

11. What Else Should I Know?What Else Should I Know?
Most people do not interview well (but may
think they do)—preparation is the best way
to do a great job
Be careful about informal encounters before
or after the interview—anyone could
evaluate you
Try to talk with graduate students in the
program—a great source of information!

12. Body LanguageBody Language
 Confidence not arrogance…
 Up to 65% of communication comes from non verbal cues.
 Do not…
◦ Slouch in your chair
◦ Sit with legs crossed while shaking one leg or foot
◦ Stare at the floor
◦ Sit with arms folded across the chest
Do…
 Sit up straight
 Give eye contact
 Lean slightly forward to demonstrate interest
 Place your hands in your lap
 Show your enthusiasm. Nod and make positive gestures in
moderation
 Make sure you address all your interviewers.
 Smile and appear relaxed and confident

13. The 'Perfect' HandshakeThe 'Perfect' Handshake
 Use the right hand
 A complete grip and a firm squeeze (but not too strong);
 A cool and dry palm;
 Approximately three shakes, with a medium level of vigor,
 Held for no longer than two to three seconds.
 Eye contact kept throughout
 Natural smile
 Appropriate verbal statement
Source: Prof. Geoffrey Beattie, University of Manchester

14. Role PlayRole Play
Imagine you are interviewing at your dream school for
admissions into your dream program. Work with a partner to
answer
each of these questions. Monitor body language and provide
feedback.
1. Tell me/us about yourself.
2. Provide an example of a time when you played a key leadership
role in: an event/activity, a team work unit, or a project. Were
you successful as a leader?
3. What are your career goals? How will our program
help you achieve this goal?

15. Overcoming NervousnessOvercoming Nervousness
 Prepare a mental list of all the positive traits you
possess a day or two before the interview.
 Take deep breaths to relax before you step into the
interview room
 Recall the mental list of positive traits when you start
to feel the nerves.
 Look over your resume to distract you from
nervousness/anxiety.

16. Do you have any questions for us?Do you have any questions for us?
Interviewers usually ask if you have any questions for them at the end
of the interview. Be careful not to ask questions which have already
been answered in the interview. Some possible questions ...
 What do you consider the greatest strength of this program?
 What makes a student successful in your program?
 Where do graduates of your program typically work?
 What are your current research projects? What stages are these
projects in? Do graduate students work on both your on-going
research as well as their own more independent, but related,
projects?

17. ResourcesResources
About.com: Interviewing for Graduate School
Admissions,
http://gradschool.about.com/od/interviews/Graduat
e_Admissions_Interviews.htm
Amideast: Graduate Admissions Interview,
http://www.amideast.org/educationusa/grad_study/
qa.htm
How to Excel in a Graduate School Admission Interview,
http://www.graduateadmissionessay.com/how-to-
excel-in-a-graduate-school-admission-interview

18. Resources, cont’dResources, cont’d
Richard Montauk, How to Get into the Top MBA
Programs, 4th
ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2007.
337-386.

19. GOOD LUCK!GOOD LUCK!