Research Career Development-
Interviewing for Graduate
School
Gail P. Taylor
Fall 2012
11/05/2012
Acknowledgements:
►
Beyond the Beakers: SMART Advice for Entering
Graduate Programs in the Sciences and Engineering.
Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. Baylor College of
Medicine/National Science Foundation. 2005
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Survival Skills and Ethics Program:
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Beth Fischer
Michael Zigmond
www.pitt.edu/~survival
The Leadership Alliance –
Graduate School Guide
http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/pdf/grad_gu
ide.pdf
Tips on Preparing for and Applying to Graduate
School
http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/pdf/tips.pdf
►
Careers in Science and Engineering: A Student Planning
Guide to Grad School and Beyond (1996). Committee on
Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (COSEPUP)
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309053935/html/11.html
References
►
Beyond the Beakers: SMART Advice for Entering Graduate Programs in the
Sciences and Engineering. Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. Baylor College of
Medicine/National Science Foundation. 2005
What leads to Grad School
Interview?
► Committee
assesses application
► (Good schools generally interview)
► A person is more than what’s on paper…
► Student brought to campus
 Usually paid by school, but not always
►Individual
or group
 Sometimes only a phone interview
► Meets
various people
► Decision made
Why Interview a Grad Student?
► Cost
of education (~250K to educate a
Ph.D.)
► Insure compatibility
► Check attitude
► Check preparation
► Desire
an interview, even if you were in a
summer program there
►Weather/living
conditions
What they Want to Know:
► Intellectual
ability
► Critical thinking
► Written Expression
► Oral Expression
► Emotional maturity
► Imagination and creativity
► Potential as teacher (TA)
► Motivation for GS
► Standing as student researcher in dept
Purpose of Interview
► Get
the “real you”
 Brings application to life
► Looking
for fit
► Confirms what was written
What an Interview means
► Either
school is filthy rich, or you’re a true
contender
Process
► Depends
on school
► They contact
► Usually, they pay upfront
 You may be reimbursed – always save receipts
► They
set up itinerary (who you meet with)
 Ask for beforehand, if possible!
Itineraries Vary
► Can
come as group or individual
► Meet with various people
 Faculty from Personal statement
 Students
► In
big group – Meet with Dean or Dept Chair
► Meet with Faculty
► Lunch of some sort…maybe even interview
► Meet with students
► Dinner (keep on toes)
Before Going
► Reread
all materials that you provided
 They will be the foundation for questions
► Practice
standard questions
► Make cheat sheet about school
► Read about researchers on itinerary!
► Look at papers and websites
 Researchers you mentioned in statement
 Other Interviewers on itinerary
 Can request change in interviewer, if you had preexisting problem
Before Going II
► Prepare
fluent statement about research
► Ask for Mock interview from local mentor/program
staff
► Fly cheaply and don’t mess with arrangements
► Send any information updates (pubs, etc)
► Clothing:
 Borrow or buy nice dark suit
► Unless
coordinator of visit says not to
 Neat, comfortable, professional
 Broken-in shoes
While there
► You
are interviewing the ENTIRE time you
are there
 Be professional
►Avoid
profanity
►Rudeness
 Be personable
►Attend
parties
►Accompany Grad Students
 Don’t party too hard…
Specific Hints I
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Don’t interrupt during questions
Make interviewer comfortable
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Mirror their handshake
Sit after them
Mirror their posture
Let them set speed
DON’T EXHAUST THEM! Be calm.
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Try to answer to the length required
Make sure to emphasize strengths and experience!
Meet interviewers eyes (focus on them)
“I don’t know” is okay (indicate where you could find out
Talk about your research
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Speak with interest about interviewers’ research
 Show enthusiasm
 Show commitment (time in lab)
Specific Hints II
► Look
relaxed while answering, but keep good
posture
► Be friendly and open, upbeat and positive
► Be prepared to talk about the school at which you
are interviewing
► Don’t get defensive
► Use professional adult language –
 Avoid gonna, kinda, you know, Like, uhhhh…., sorta,
 If you use big words, know that you are using correctly
Personal Information
► Should
not ask you about marital status,
illness, parenthood unless you mentioned in
statement
► Honesty is best policy…they will know about
accommodating from beginning
► If are inappropriate (race, gender), speak to
program director
Overcoming Shyness
► Many
scientists are shy
► Can still communicate
 Toastmasters?
 Be as prepared as possible
►Review
Strengths with trusted mentor/faculty
►Practice beforehand
►Cheat sheets (comfort sheets)
►Don’t freak at hard questions (some will push
intentionally)
Sample Questions
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Tell me about your previous research experience
Why do you want to go to graduate school?
Why do you need a Ph.D.?
What are your long term goals?
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
Why do you think that you’ll be successful in your chosen career?
What experiences prepared you for graduate school?
Why are you interested in our program?
What projects attract you for dissertation research?
What are your strengths?
What areas do you need to strengthen?
How do you deal with people who are different from you?
What do you think will be hard about graduate school?
What have you not told me, that you want to be sure I know?
What questions do you have about our program? (have some)
ACTIVITY!
► Ask
one another some of these sample
questions, in class! Let the Interviews
begin!