{"id":5818,"date":"2023-09-06T09:22:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T14:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/?p=5818"},"modified":"2023-09-06T09:22:43","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T14:22:43","slug":"a-guide-to-mastering-your-graduate-school-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/blog\/a-guide-to-mastering-your-graduate-school-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Mastering Your Graduate School Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Is a Graduate School Interview?<\/h2>\n

When applying to graduate school<\/a>, it\u2019s common to put together a portfolio of documents which showcase your background and experiences. Portfolios often contain a resume, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose essay, and official university transcripts. But did you know that many graduate schools (but not all!) also require an interview as part of their application process? Don\u2019t be caught off guard! Research the requirements for your school and program (more on that below).<\/p>\n

Interviews will look different depending on the school and program<\/a> for which you are applying, but they generally share some similar components. Your interview might be with one person or with a panel of staff members from the college and will probably contain a variety of questions regarding your program and subject area of study, as well as your background (personal and academic) and your goals and experiences. The best way to ace your grad school interview is by preparing for it beforehand so that you know what to expect and are comfortable answering the questions. The more you think about the questions and prepare your answers ahead of time, the less nervous you\u2019ll be and the more likely you\u2019ll respond with answers that appropriately reflect your qualifications.<\/p>\n

Mastering Your Graduate School Interview<\/h2>\n

1. Do your research.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I can\u2019t stress this enough: research the school, the program, the classes, the instructors, etc. What are your reasons for wanting to be accepted? You want to make sure you\u2019re comfortable when you\u2019re discussing why this particular school and program is a good fit for you. Your interviewer will be impressed if you can name specific details, such as class descriptions and professor names that stand out to you. Make sure you\u2019re knowledgeable about hot topics like the ethics and social values of the school, as well as any important accolades and current events. The admissions committee<\/a> will be happy that you did your \u201chomework\u201d prior to the interview, and it will set a good precedent for your academic abilities.<\/p>\n

2. Practice common questions.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After doing your research, this is the next most important step to prepare for your graduate school interview. Interviews<\/a> can be extremely nerve-wracking, but the more you prepare, the more comfortable you will feel. You can prepare by studying lists of common interview questions and then practicing how you would respond to them. You don\u2019t want to sound rehearsed, like you\u2019re reading off a paper sheet, but you want to ensure your responses reflect your qualifications and experience.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s much easier to do this if you brainstorm responses ahead of time instead of trying to think on the fly. Some common interview questions are:<\/p>\n