The goal of this session is to provide you with tips and strategies for a successful graduate school interview. We will cover preparing for the interview, potential interview pitfalls and how to overcome them. We will also discuss how to make the most of first (interview) and second (after acceptance) visits to schools in the context of selecting a school for matriculation. Much of this information is applicable id MD/PhD programs and somewhat to MD programs.
Presentation by Andreas Schleicher Tackling the School Absenteeism Crisis 30 ...
Interview
1. The Interview
You & The School
Some people dream of
success, while others wake
up and work hard at it. unknown
C. Gita Bosch, PhD, MBA
Academic & Educational Consulting
theacademicconsultant.com
2. The goal of this session is to provide you with
tips and strategies for a successful graduate
school interview. We will cover preparing for
the interview, potential interview pitfalls and
how to overcome them. We will also discuss
how to make the most of first (interview) and
second (after acceptance) visits to schools in
the context of selecting a school for
matriculation. Much of this information is
applicable id MD/PhD programs and
somewhat to MD programs.
B
theacademicconsultant.com
3. The interview -- objectives
School You
Be interviewed by Interview the
the faculty, faculty, students
students and and
administration administration
They want to see Is this the right fit
the application for you?
come to life
B
theacademicconsultant.com
4. The interview -- objectives
Make a positive Be
and professional Professional
first impression Prepared
Personable
Learn about the Enthusiastic
facilities Engaging/interes
ting
Knowledgeable
Better to remain silent and be
B thought a fool than to speak out
theacademicconsultant.com and remove all doubt. Abraham Lincoln
5. Be prepared
Who are the interviewers
Get a list
What are they interested in
How many interviews are there
What is the format
Have copies of your CV/personal statement
The Program
What is the program like
What is it about the program that interests you
B
theacademicconsultant.com
6. Before the interview -- prepare
Rehearse with a faculty advisor
Give them a copy of your PS
Practice some standard questions
Familiarize yourself with the
School/Program
Web pages
Why are you applying to that School/Program?
B
theacademicconsultant.com
7. Before the interview -- prepare
Familiarize yourself with the interviewers
Look at their web pages & papers
Email the interviewers or faculty in whom
you are particularly interested
Review your application packet, esp. the
Personal Statement
B
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8. What are they looking for?
Commitment to & understanding of research
Sustained research experience
Summer undergraduate research programs
Senior research thesis
1-2 years full time experience in a research lab
after college
Understand what biomedical scientists do
Demonstrate an aptitude for science
B Grades in challenging science courses
theacademicconsultant.com
9. What are they looking for?
Commitment to a career in sciences
Academia
K-12
Undergraduate/graduate
Research Institute/Medical Center
Government
NIH
NASA
White House
Business
Biotech
Law
Journals (e.g., editors)
Industry
B Pharmaceutical companies (big pharma)
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10. Who are the interviewers
Faculty (research/clinicians)
Faculty who teach in the programs
Current students
Administrators
B Readers are plentiful; thinkers
theacademicconsultant.com are rare. Harriet Martineau
11. At the interview
Show them the
person you presented
in the application
Dress appropriately
Comfortable clothing & shoes
Relax and be professional & social
Introduce yourself (the handshake)
Sit up, smile and speak clearly; participate in the
conversation; show confidence
B
theacademicconsultant.com
12. Dress codes
Traditional or formal
Formal attire business attire
One step down from formal attire
Tux and tails Business suit (usually dark),
Long evening gowns white dress shirt and tie
Dress shoes, socks Business suit, skirted, at least
Closed-toed and heeled knee-length
pumps, hosiery Dress shoes, socks
Closed-toed and heeled
pumps, hosiery
B
theacademicconsultant.com Fashion goes in one year and out the other.
13. Dress codes
Business attire Business casual
One step down from formal One step down from business attire
business attire Dress trousers, dressy collared
Suit or dress trousers and shirts and sports coat, no tie
sports coat, dress shirt and Khakis and golf shirts
tie
Dressy separates, slacks,
Suit, skirted (at least knee- skirts, blouses, sweaters,
length) or pants, dressy dressy dress
separates with jacket,
Closed-toed shoes
business dress
Casual or Campus Casual
Dress shoes, socks
Jeans, collared/tee shirts
Closed-toed and heeled
pumps, hosiery Sneakers, sandals, flip-flops
B
theacademicconsultant.com Fashion goes in one year and out the other.
14. Interviewing the school
“…all great Lab and classroom
institutions are space
continually changing--
-renovating, building, The campus
recruiting, developing
new programs and
The surrounding
collaborations, and area near campus
pursuing new ideas.”
(Harold Varmus)
Plans are only good intentions
B unless they immediately degenerate
theacademicconsultant.com into hard work. Peter Drucker
15. At the interview
YOU SCHOOL
You are always “on”
Be careful of bad behavior
Emphasize your strengths and experiences
Show enthusiasm & commitment when you talk
about your research
Show some interest in the interviewer’s research
It is OK to say “I do not know”
B
theacademicconsultant.com
16. At the interview
YOU SCHOOL
Confidence
Body language
Eye contact
Sense of humor
Active listening
Acknowledge
Reflect
Question
Summarize My intent is simply to know
Clarify my material so well that I'm
very comfortable with it.
B Confidence, not perfection, is
theacademicconsultant.com the goal. Scott Berkun
17. The interview
Let the interviewer take the lead
Pay attention to the questions
Have a list of your own questions
Are students and faculty readily available
when you visit
Is the culture/environment what you need
B
theacademicconsultant.com
18. Overcoming shyness
Rehearse with a trusted faculty
Review your strengths
Write some notes & questions
Review before (not during) the interview
Anticipate questions and plan your answers
B
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19. Interview vs. Second Visit
Interview
Get a feel for the School/Institution and
determine if it makes it to your short list
Second visit
See and feel what is important to you
B It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is
theacademicconsultant.com the privilege of wisdom to listen. Oliver Wendell Holmes
20. Second Visit
What is the format?
Can you select which faculty you see?
How much student contact is there?
Are you prepared?
What do you want to know at the end of the
visit?
Do you have a list of questions?
B
theacademicconsultant.com
21. Optimize your second visit
Talk with faculty in your areas of interest
Talk with lots of students
Explore the institution & neighborhood
on your own
Look at the bulletin boards
Sit in on a class in your major (content &
style)
Sleep over in the residence hall
Take pictures SKGSBS lots of notes
and
B
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22. What not to do
Arrive late for your meeting
Leave your cell phone on
Have your iPod on
Bad-mouth your boss
Complain/whine
Lie about your experiences &
qualifications
B
theacademicconsultant.com
23. What not to do
Get defensive about a particular
question
Let your nervousness/ shyness show
Unprofessional (too familiar)
Look at your watch
Sound rehearsed
B
theacademicconsultant.com
24. What to do
Present yourself
Professionally
Effectively
Honestly
Show you know what you are getting into
Clearly present your current interests
Show you understand your current
interests may evolve as your field of
interest evolves
B
theacademicconsultant.com
25. What to do
Figure out if this School/Program is the right
fit for you
Make notes right away about each
School/Program
Figure out if the research there excites you
Get your facts first, and then
B you can distort them as much
theacademicconsultant.com as you please. Mark Twain
26. Possible interview questions
Tell me about your previous research/yourself.
What do you enjoy most/least about research?
Why do you want to go to graduate school/become
a scientist?
What area of research do you plan to work in?
What qualifies you for graduate school?
What are your areas of strength?
What are your areas of weakness?
Why did you do poorly in subject X?
B
theacademicconsultant.com
27. Possible interview questions
What do you think you can expect in
graduate school?
What are your career plans?
Is there anything else you would like to tell
me about yourself?
Do you have any questions about our
School/Program?
Make sure you have some questions ready!
B
theacademicconsultant.com
28. After the interview
Write thank you messages
Follow-up with an advocate
Follow-up based on when you expect to hear
from them (not the next day)
Promptly acknowledge an offer of admission, ask
how long before they need your decision
Promptly provide additional information if
requested
Politeness and consideration for
B others is like investing pennies and
theacademicconsultant.com getting dollars back. Thomas Sowell
29. Our imagination is the only
limit to what we can hope to
have in the future (Charles F. Kettering)
B
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