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Grad School Interviews
Interviews
If you are invited to an interview, it is highly recommended that you go, even
if you have to borrow the money. Interviews are granted to applicants being
seriously considered for admittance. If you absolutely cannot attend, find out
if the program will consider a telephone interview. The itinerary usually includes
individual interviews with graduate faculty, a lunch with faculty and graduate
students, a tour of the department and facilities, and a dinner or social event
with other graduate students.
The following steps will help you prepare for pre-selection interviews:
- Review the information about the program and the faculty.
- Review your qualifications, interests, and goals. Make note of those that
make you a good match for the program.
- Prepare answers to the following questions:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your specific interests in attending this program?
- With which professors would you most like to study and why?
- What qualities make you a good match for this program?
- What is your academic background, and which courses have had the greatest
influence on you?
- What are your specific professional interests and career aspirations?
- What can you tell me that is not in your formal application?
- Why should we admit you?
- What makes you different from all the other applicants we have this year?
Don't try to answer a question if you have no answer. Simply state that you
would have to think about the question before giving an answer.
Questions to ask any graduate program:
- What sort of studio or rehearsal spaces are available for graduate students?
- How soon will I be able to become involved with departmental shows, concerts,
exhibitions, etc.?
- Would I be expected to audition for every production or ensemble? Would
I be required to accept a role/chair if offered one?
- What kinds of financial assistance does your department offer?
- What percentage of first-year students receive assistance and what kinds
do they usually receive?
- What is your attrition rate? Of those who don't finish, what are their reasons?
- How long does it take most of your students to complete their degree?
- Would I have the opportunity to teach? How many and what kind of classes?
Would I be the instructor of record, or would I assist a professor?
- What is the mean time to complete (a) class work, (b) research, (c) thesis/dissertation?
(i.e., what is the average time to complete the degree? Ask about the program
as a whole, or more importantly by professor.)
- May I have some bibliographies of recent publications by faculty? Which
professors have won awards and grants lately?
- What are the criteria and process for selecting TAs, RAs, and Fellows?
- May I meet some currently enrolled students? (in person or by email; be
sure to ask about their research topics and be sure to take notes on specific
profs mentioned)
- What sorts of jobs have recent graduates obtained?
- How often are the courses listed in the course bulletin taught and by whom?
Interviews are a two-way street. You should be assessing the program and its
faculty to determine if this is the place you would like to spend the next few
years. Don't worry if you are nervous during the interview--that's to be expected.
However, the more prepared you are, the less nervous you are likely to be. Fine
Arts Career Services offers videotaped mock interviews. Call 232-7333 to schedule
an appointment.
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