Schedule an Appointment for a mock interview.  Appointments are made on a first come, first serve basis. Same day appointments are not available.

Cancellation Policy

Please cancel your appointment at least 24 hours in advance.  

Graduate & Professional School Interviews

Interview Preparation Tips

The art of interviewing is a skill acquired through much practice. To best prepare, read through the information below and begin practicing.

Before The Interview

  • Review your resume.
  • Always know ahead of time who will be conducting the interview and what type of interview format will be used (individual, panel, lunch, etc.).
  • Research the institution, department, and faculty (minimum two hours).
  • Practice responses to potential interview questions.
  • Have correct directions and plan accordingly for traffic and parking time.
  • Make sure interview clothes fit well and are clean and pressed.

Day of The Interview

  • Dress to impress.
  • Always arrive 15 minutes early.
  • Be nice and courteous to everyone with whom you come in contact.
  • Bring extra copies of your resume and a list of references in a portfolio with notepad and pen.

During the Interview

  • Have a firm handshake.
  • Always remember to smile, show enthusiasm and make good eye contact with all interviewers.
  • Be prepared with a 60 second commercial.
  • Limit responses to no more than 2-3 minutes per question.
  • Know strengths and weaknesses.
  • Be prepared to identify specific skills as they relate to your chosen field.
  • Provide examples that illustrate or demonstrate a specific skill or function.
  • Be ready to handle situational/behavioral questions utilizing the STAR (situation, task, action, result) approach.
  • Always ask informative questions at the end of the interview.
  • Ask about the next steps in the interview process.
  • Remember to shake everyone's hand and thank them.

Sample Interview Questions

  • Why did you attend your undergraduate institution? What were your favorite courses at your undergraduate institution and why?
  • How have your undergraduate studies prepared you for this program?
  • What experiences led you to your career choice?
  • What are your long term goals?
  • Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
  • What makes you believe that you will be successful in the program?
  • What makes you a good candidate?
  • Why do you think you are better suited for admission than your classmates?
  • What appeals to you about our program?
  • In what area do you plan to specialize?
  • What other schools have you applied to?
  • Have you been interviewed or accepted at any other school?
  • What do you think are the most pressing issues in this field?
  • Describe any research project you've worked on at your undergraduate institution.
  • How do you cope with frustrating situations?
  • What are your extracurricular activities?
  • Tell me about a situation in which you took initiative.
  • What will you do if you are not accepted?
  • What factors influenced you to go to graduate school?
  • What problems do you expect to face while attending graduate school? How will you handle these?
  • What contributions do you plan to make to the field?

Mock Interviews

Mock interviews are conducted by Career Specialists to simulate as much as possible the conditions of an actual graduate and professional school interview. During or after the mock interview, the Career Specialist will provide the student with coaching and feedback. Each student will receive a copy of his or her mock interview to review.

Students can also utilize InterviewPrep, virtual interview software, to practice interviewing. This allows students to virtually practice and prepare for interviews on a 24/7 basis on or off campus through their student portals.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

No later than one business day before the mock interview, we request that the student email the following items to the Career Specialist with whom they will be meeting. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the mock interview.

  1. Resume or CV
  2. If available, a statement of purpose submitted to the school for which they want to practice
  3. Name of the school and graduate or professional program

Students should prepare for the mock interview and arrive 10-15 minutes early. Students should be dressed in interview attire and bring a portfolio with notepad/pen for notes.

PREPARE FOR A MOCK INTERVIEW

Students should prepare for their mock interviews as they would prepare for a real interview. See the Career Center Career Guide and read “Competencies for a Successful Interview and Frequently Asked Interview Questions.” Career Guides are available at the Career Center in Langsdorf Hall 208 (LH-208).