Interview with a Vamp... I Mean, Grad School

In this article, graduate school applicant, Tory Priputin, describes his experience interviewing for admissions to graduate programs. Take his advice and win admission to the graduate program of your choice.

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I recently completed my first grad school interview, and it was definitely an experience worth writing about. Of course, every interview is different, but here's some advice based on my own experience

Ask Questions
First and foremost, you should never be afraid to ask questions (even ones you think might be stupid) during your interview and even in the days leading up to it. If I hadn't called ahead to ask about suitable attire, I never would have known that the school I visited didn't want me to wear a tie, let alone a suit or jacket of any kind. Some programs might even interpret a lack of questions by the applicant as a sign of disinterest, and that's the last vibe you should be giving off. The interview is a two-way street; probe your interviewers for information just as they do the same to you.

Research
Research helps you to avoid "stupid" questions that might throw you out of the applicant pool. Especially if you know beforehand which faculty members you'll be interviewing with, do a little research before meeting with them. Life histories aren't necessary, but at least familiarize your self with your interviewers' areas of expertise. This is important because their research (or how your interests match theirs) will come up. Don't be caught off guard. Be prepared to make a comment or two.

Rehearse
Rehearse your answers to commonly asked interview questions. You'll feel more comfortable answering questions during the interview. The more comfortable you are, the more likely that you'll be able to think clearly, and you'll appear controlled and mature (always a good thing!). Rehearse in front of a mirror, so that you can see what your interviewer will. Also, a word of warning: people don't enjoy talking to a robot, complete with pre-programmed answers. It's fine to rehearse, just make sure that during the real thing you don't come across like you're reading from a script.

Finally, if you are confronted with a question that you're nprepared for, there is nothing wrong with asking for a moment to think about your answer. Interviewers will respect you for taking a moment to compose an answer instead of just blurting something out to avoid being silent. It shows that you really want to give the best answer you can instead of just anything that comes to mind.

In my opening, I said that my personal experience was something worth writing about, and I meant it. The University of Texas-Southwestern in Dallas showed me a truly great time, enough so that I've accepted their offer of admission. I felt welcome and at ease the entire weekend, and dare I say it, I actually had fun while I was there. They wanted to know who I was as a person, not as a transcript and test scores (thank God for that, my transcript is a little sketchy), and all my interviews were of a more personal than technical nature. I hope all of your interviews go as smoothly.

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