“Will you be planning to hold in person interviews this year?” This question was asked at every information session I attended, and rightfully so. I had attended a few info sessions for graduate programs that I was interested in, which was around Summer and Fall 2021. Covid-related everything was getting better, but we were still aware of the possibility that things could change overnight. (Little did we know that the omicron variant was just around the corner.)
I knew right off the bat that I was going to have to prepare for both formats.
These are the types of interview formats that I had:
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Fully in-person
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Fully virtual and no option to visit school.
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Virtual Interviews with an optional school visit after offer of admission.
In-person Interviews
I prefer in person because I can just be myself and talk to everyone (faculty, students, fellow interviewees). Generally, people are very nice!
Tips for in-person interviews:
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Keep in mind of any time differences and stay well rested.
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For clothing, bring layers in case it gets cold. I brought 1 outfit for the interview, thermals, a large jacket, and a couple sweaters and leggings.
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Ask questions that will help you decide if this is the right school and program for you.
Virtual Interviews
A part of interviews is being able to speak with other students and faculty. The program is seeing how well you can mingle and connect with the program. Sometimes, my internet would be slower than usual and whenever I contributed to the conversation, it would be like 10 seconds delayed and by then, the conversation would have been on another topic. This is the main reason why I found virtual interviews so difficult.
Tips for virtual interviews:
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A couple days before, or the day before, make sure your technical items are working. Update any applications and make sure your internet is working.
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Camera should be directly in front of you. If your camera is set to the side, it can look like you are “side-eyeing.”
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Be dressed up for the interview, similar to if it was in-person. I personally dressed business casual for the interview part. For online social gatherings, I would change into something more comfortable.
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Take note of any time differences. You want be on time for the scheduled events.
These are my experiences, thoughts, and advice for graduate school interviews. If you are interviewing for academic programs or summer internships, hopefully this post was helpful. If you have more questions or need help, please feel free to contact and message me. I would love to help in any way that I can.
Good Luck!
bysusanlei
