Usually
interviews are scheduled
to take twenty to thirty
minutes, but they may
extend to forty minutes
or even an hour. The
interviewer is typically
a professor in your
chosen department. Normally
he or she will ask questions
first, letting you ask
questions at the end
of the conversation.
It would be a good idea
to prepare in advance
one or two questions
that interest you about
the program or institution.
However, the department
will expect applicants
to have scrutinized
published materials
about the program closely.
As one Internet site
on admission interviews
puts it—“Don’t
ask things that are
on the first page of
the catalog.”
If your questions seem
weak to you, it’s
better not to ask them.
Typically
it is not the questions
themselves but rather
finding opportunities
to represent yourself
fully that is the greatest
challenge. Outline your
positive qualities in
a persuasive manner.
Recall the information
you gave in your essay
and/or in your résumé.
Explain what you are
able to contribute to
the program (which may
mean sharing information
from your practical
experience, your active
participation in social
activities, or other
facets of your life).
You may want to review
such achievements as
your TOEFL score (if
it is high), but keep
such recounting of facts
brief (the basics should
be known already by
your interviewer). If
you have a response
you know will be unexpected,
or an unusual situation
to discuss, it is difficult
to know what impact
it might make, negative
or positive. Both outcomes
are possible—you
can only consider your
presentation carefully
and hope that the interviewer
may appreciate your
honesty, frankness,
and independence of
thinking.
Below
are some of the more
likely types of questions
that you may be asked
with some suggestions
on response. Again,
you need not follow
these recommendations
exactly—honesty
in presenting your own
unique situation is
most important.
What
are you doing now?
Describe
your occupation and
the ways in which it
is relevant to your
chosen field of study.
If your current employment
is not particularly
relevant to your academic
plans focus on extracurricular
activities relevant
to your planned study.
If what
you say can draw the
interest of the interviewer,
most of the rest of
the interview may be
based upon what you
have already said. That
can eliminate the formality
of the interview structure,
allowing you to discuss
more naturally what
you have done.
What
is the greatest challenge
in your field of study
(in your country)?
What do
you believe to be root
problems in your chosen
field? Or, what do you
believe to be the weakest
point in current approaches
to problems? Review
such elements in advance,
grounding your opinion
with facts. It is good
if you have a potential
solution of your own
to discuss. Maybe such
problems relate to what
you see as your own
personal challenge in
your field (which you
may also be questioned
about specifically)—also
define your personal
challenges for yourself
and be sure to discuss
them at the interview.
What
disciplines in our curriculum
are the most appealing
to you?
You have
to know details on the
institution’s
curriculum before the
interview (and you had
better have
them before writing
your personal statement).
It is understood that
you will be familiar
with the curriculum
from the materials that
you have been provided
with by the university.
Choose
three (the number usually
asked) areas most attractive
to you among the courses.
Preferably, choose areas
from the core or major
areas of concentration
offered by the particular
university. Be prepared
to explain your choices.
What
do you expect to gain
from these studies?
This question
should have been answered
in your personal statement
essay. Recall the information
from your essay, summarize
it, and add what you
think is necessary.
Review what the program
offers you. Analyze
why you have decided
to apply to this program.
What
skills do you expect
to apply to these studies?
Again,
you may have covered
this question in your
essay. If you have,
update your response
and rework it for oral
presentation. If you
have not, consider the
skills you have. Your
résumé,
recommendations (if
you know the information
in them), and your own
knowledge of your academic
and personal strengths
may assist you. Decide
which of your abilities
are particularly applicable
for this particular
program and emphasize
them.
What
specific interest do
you have within your
field of study? (Or,
what is the probable
topic of the research
you hope to conduct
at the university?)
Another
personal essay item—you
must be aware of a particular
issue within your field
that stimulates you
and is worthy of revealing
in a subsequent thesis
(assuming the program
requires a thesis).
The topic you choose
during the interview
doesn’t have to
be your final decision.
It may be changed or
elaborated on later.
Making a statement simply
shows your involvement
and interest in the
field.
What
research have you carried
out previously?
List any
research you have previously
conducted, whether at
your university or for
an article or other
project. Emphasize research
relevant to the field
of application. If you
have done a good deal
of research relevant
to the field, focus
on the projects most
relevant to the particular
program.
Why
have you changed your
specialty (if you have)?
Consider
in advance whether your
switch was based on
larger societal issues
or on some personal
experience that awakened
your interest in a new
topic. Or perhaps you
changed your area of
study because of recent
professional experiences—now
you are striving to
gain academic knowledge
to match what you learned
in the “real world.”
Any of these reasons
is fine, but be ready
to explain and justify
why you are making the
change, and to show
a realistic grasp of
what your new specialty
involves.
Why
have you decided to
continue your education?
To answer,
consider what reasons
brought you to undertake
this educational endeavor.
They will vary according
to your particular situation:
further education may
develop your professionalism,
bring new opportunities,
help implement specific
plans, lead to a scholarly
career, and so forth.
Why
have you decided to
apply to this university
(to this particular
program)?
Again,
this question should
have been answered in
your statement essay.
To reply, consider the
program’s significant
emphases and unusual
strengths. Materials
issued by the university
usually emphasize such
areas. Pick relevant
strengths and/or special
research opportunities
and resources out and
discuss these in your
own words.
Can
you discuss [a specific
issue within your field]?
Be ready
to answer questions
about specifics concerning
your field. For example,
you may be asked to
name some organizations
in your field in your
home country. Or you
may be offered the chance
to express your feelings
about a world event
world that affects issues
in your field. Or you
may be asked to discuss
a few major problems
in your field in your
country. You must be
well-informed about
the state of your chosen
specialty to show the
seriousness of your
application.
Here are
a few last questions
that interviewers have
been known to pose.
Consider in advance
what answer you will
give if asked. Choose
a response that is both
honest and reflects
well on you.
-
What
have you published
related to your
field?
-
Where
do you see yourself
in the next five
(or ten) years?
-
What
would you say about
your country to
a person who has
no idea of it?
-
Can
you give examples
of past problems
in your life and
how you have resolved
them?
-
What
books have you read
(or are you reading
currently)?
-
What
do you do with your
spare time?
