Research Career DevelopmentResearch Career Development- - Interviewing for Interviewing for Graduate SchoolGraduate School

Gail P. TaylorGail P. Taylor

Fall 2012Fall 2012

11/05/2012

► 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

► Survival Skills and Ethics Program:Survival Skills and Ethics Program: Beth Fischer Michael Zigmond www.pitt.edu/~survival

► The Leadership Alliance –The Leadership Alliance – Graduate School Guidehttp://www.theleadershipalliance.org/pdf/grad_guide.pdf

Tips on Preparing for and Applying to Graduate Schoolhttp://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

Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:

ReferencesReferences

► Beyond the Beakers: SMART Advice for Entering Graduate Programs Beyond the Beakers: SMART Advice for Entering Graduate Programs in the Sciences and Engineering. Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. Baylor in the Sciences and Engineering. Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine/National Science Foundation. 2005College of Medicine/National Science Foundation. 2005

What leads to Grad School What leads to Grad School Interview?Interview?

►Committee assesses applicationCommittee assesses application►(Good schools generally interview)(Good schools generally interview)►A person is more than what’s on paper…A person is more than what’s on paper…►Student brought to campusStudent brought to campus

Usually paid by school, but not alwaysUsually paid by school, but not always►Individual or groupIndividual or group

Sometimes only a phone interviewSometimes only a phone interview

►Meets various peopleMeets various people►Decision madeDecision made

Why Interview a Grad Why Interview a Grad Student?Student?

►Cost of education (~250K to educate a Cost of education (~250K to educate a Ph.D.)Ph.D.)

► Insure compatibilityInsure compatibility►Check attitudeCheck attitude►Check preparationCheck preparation

►Desire an interview, even if you were Desire an interview, even if you were in a summer program therein a summer program there

►Weather/living conditionsWeather/living conditions

What they Want to Know:What they Want to Know:

► Intellectual abilityIntellectual ability► Critical thinkingCritical thinking►Written ExpressionWritten Expression►Oral ExpressionOral Expression► Emotional maturityEmotional maturity► Imagination and creativityImagination and creativity► Potential as teacher (TA)Potential as teacher (TA)►Motivation for GSMotivation for GS► Standing as student researcher in deptStanding as student researcher in dept

Purpose of InterviewPurpose of Interview

►Get the “real you”Get the “real you” Brings application to lifeBrings application to life

►Looking for fitLooking for fit►Confirms what was writtenConfirms what was written

What an Interview meansWhat an Interview means

►Either school is filthy rich, or you’re a Either school is filthy rich, or you’re a true contendertrue contender

ProcessProcess

►Depends on schoolDepends on school►They contactThey contact►Usually, they pay upfrontUsually, they pay upfront

You may be reimbursed – always save You may be reimbursed – always save receiptsreceipts

►They set up itinerary (who you meet They set up itinerary (who you meet with)with) Ask for beforehand, if possible!Ask for beforehand, if possible!

Itineraries VaryItineraries Vary

► Can come as group or individualCan come as group or individual►Meet with various peopleMeet with various people

Faculty from Personal statementFaculty from Personal statement StudentsStudents

► In big group – Meet with Dean or Dept ChairIn big group – Meet with Dean or Dept Chair►Meet with FacultyMeet with Faculty► Lunch of some sort…maybe even interviewLunch of some sort…maybe even interview►Meet with studentsMeet with students►Dinner (keep on toes)Dinner (keep on toes)

Before GoingBefore Going

► Reread all materials that you providedReread all materials that you provided They will be the foundation for questionsThey will be the foundation for questions

► Practice standard questionsPractice standard questions►Make cheat sheet about schoolMake cheat sheet about school► Read about researchers on itinerary!Read about researchers on itinerary!► Look at papers and websitesLook at papers and websites

Researchers you mentioned in statementResearchers you mentioned in statement Other Interviewers on itineraryOther Interviewers on itinerary Can request change in interviewer, if you had pre-Can request change in interviewer, if you had pre-

existing problemexisting problem

Before Going IIBefore Going II

► Prepare fluent statement about researchPrepare fluent statement about research► Ask for Mock interview from local Ask for Mock interview from local

mentor/program staffmentor/program staff► Fly cheaply and don’t mess with Fly cheaply and don’t mess with

arrangementsarrangements► Send any information updates (pubs, etc)Send any information updates (pubs, etc)► Clothing:Clothing:

Borrow or buy nice dark suitBorrow or buy nice dark suit►Unless coordinator of visit says not toUnless coordinator of visit says not to

Neat, comfortable, professionalNeat, comfortable, professional Broken-in shoesBroken-in shoes

While thereWhile there

►You are interviewing the ENTIRE time You are interviewing the ENTIRE time you are thereyou are there Be professionalBe professional

►Avoid profanityAvoid profanity►RudenessRudeness

Be personableBe personable►Attend partiesAttend parties►Accompany Grad StudentsAccompany Grad Students

Don’t party too hard…Don’t party too hard…

Specific Hints ISpecific Hints I► Don’t interrupt during questionsDon’t interrupt during questions► Make interviewer comfortableMake interviewer comfortable

Mirror their handshakeMirror their handshake Sit after themSit after them Mirror their postureMirror their posture Let them set speedLet them set speed DON’T EXHAUST THEM! Be calm.DON’T EXHAUST THEM! Be calm.

► Try to answer to the length requiredTry to answer to the length required► Make sure to emphasize strengths and experience!Make sure to emphasize strengths and experience!► Meet interviewers eyes (focus on them)Meet interviewers eyes (focus on them)► ““I don’t know” is okay (indicate where you could find outI don’t know” is okay (indicate where you could find out► Talk about your researchTalk about your research

Show enthusiasmShow enthusiasm Show commitment (time in lab)Show commitment (time in lab)

► Speak with interest about interviewers’ researchSpeak with interest about interviewers’ research

Specific Hints IISpecific Hints II

► Look relaxed while answering, but keep Look relaxed while answering, but keep good posturegood posture

► Be friendly and open, upbeat and positiveBe friendly and open, upbeat and positive► Be prepared to talk about the school at Be prepared to talk about the school at

which you are interviewingwhich you are interviewing►Don’t get defensiveDon’t get defensive► Use professional adult language – Use professional adult language –

Avoid gonna, kinda, you know, Like, uhhhh…., Avoid gonna, kinda, you know, Like, uhhhh…., sorta, sorta,

If you use big words, know that you are using If you use big words, know that you are using correctlycorrectly

Personal InformationPersonal Information

►Should not ask you about marital Should not ask you about marital status, illness, parenthood unless you status, illness, parenthood unless you mentioned in statementmentioned in statement

►Honesty is best policy…they will know Honesty is best policy…they will know about accommodating from beginningabout accommodating from beginning

► If are inappropriate (race, gender), If are inappropriate (race, gender), speak to program directorspeak to program director

Overcoming ShynessOvercoming Shyness

►Many scientists are shyMany scientists are shy►Can still communicateCan still communicate

Toastmasters?Toastmasters? Be as prepared as possibleBe as prepared as possible

►Review Strengths with trusted mentor/facultyReview Strengths with trusted mentor/faculty►Practice beforehandPractice beforehand►Cheat sheets (comfort sheets)Cheat sheets (comfort sheets)►Don’t freak at hard questions (some will push Don’t freak at hard questions (some will push

intentionally)intentionally)

Sample QuestionsSample Questions► Tell me about your previous research experienceTell me about your previous research experience► Why do you want to go to graduate school?Why do you want to go to graduate school?► Why do you need a Ph.D.?Why do you need a Ph.D.?► What are your long term goals?What are your long term goals?► Where do you want to be in 10 years?Where do you want to be in 10 years?► Why do you think that you’ll be successful in your chosen career?Why do you think that you’ll be successful in your chosen career?► What experiences prepared you for graduate school?What experiences prepared you for graduate school?► Why are you interested in our program?Why are you interested in our program?► What projects attract you for dissertation research?What projects attract you for dissertation research?► What are your strengths?What are your strengths?► What areas do you need to strengthen?What areas do you need to strengthen?► How do you deal with people who are different from you?How do you deal with people who are different from you?► What do you think will be hard about graduate school?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 have you not told me, that you want to be sure I know?► What questions do you have about our program? (have some)What questions do you have about our program? (have some)

ACTIVITY!ACTIVITY!

►Ask one another some of these sample Ask one another some of these sample questions, in class! Let the Interviews questions, in class! Let the Interviews begin!begin!