1 / 19

Research Career Development - Interviewing for Graduate School

Research Career Development - Interviewing for Graduate School. Gail P. Taylor Fall 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

Download Presentation

Research Career Development - Interviewing for Graduate School

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Research Career Development- Interviewing for Graduate School Gail P. Taylor Fall 2012 11/05/2012

  2. 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: Beth Fischer Michael Zigmond www.pitt.edu/~survival The Leadership Alliance – Graduate School Guidehttp://www.theleadershipalliance.org/pdf/grad_guide.pdf Tips on Preparing for and Applying to Graduate School http://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:

  3. References • 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

  4. What leads to Grad School Interview? • Committee assesses application • (Good schools generally interview) • A person is more than what’s on paper… • Student brought to campus • Usually paid by school, but not always • Individual or group • Sometimes only a phone interview • Meets various people • Decision made

  5. Why Interview a Grad Student? • Cost of education (~250K to educate a Ph.D.) • Insure compatibility • Check attitude • Check preparation • Desire an interview, even if you were in a summer program there • Weather/living conditions

  6. What they Want to Know: • Intellectual ability • Critical thinking • Written Expression • Oral Expression • Emotional maturity • Imagination and creativity • Potential as teacher (TA) • Motivation for GS • Standing as student researcher in dept

  7. Purpose of Interview • Get the “real you” • Brings application to life • Looking for fit • Confirms what was written

  8. What an Interview means • Either school is filthy rich, or you’re a true contender

  9. Process • Depends on school • They contact • Usually, they pay upfront • You may be reimbursed – always save receipts • They set up itinerary (who you meet with) • Ask for beforehand, if possible!

  10. Itineraries Vary • Can come as group or individual • Meet with various people • Faculty from Personal statement • Students • In big group – Meet with Dean or Dept Chair • Meet with Faculty • Lunch of some sort…maybe even interview • Meet with students • Dinner (keep on toes)

  11. Before Going • Reread all materials that you provided • They will be the foundation for questions • Practice standard questions • Make cheat sheet about school • Read about researchers on itinerary! • Look at papers and websites • Researchers you mentioned in statement • Other Interviewers on itinerary • Can request change in interviewer, if you had pre-existing problem

  12. Before Going II • Prepare fluent statement about research • Ask for Mock interview from local mentor/program staff • Fly cheaply and don’t mess with arrangements • Send any information updates (pubs, etc) • Clothing: • Borrow or buy nice dark suit • Unless coordinator of visit says not to • Neat, comfortable, professional • Broken-in shoes

  13. While there • You are interviewing the ENTIRE time you are there • Be professional • Avoid profanity • Rudeness • Be personable • Attend parties • Accompany Grad Students • Don’t party too hard…

  14. Specific Hints I • Don’t interrupt during questions • Make interviewer comfortable • Mirror their handshake • Sit after them • Mirror their posture • Let them set speed • DON’T EXHAUST THEM! Be calm. • Try to answer to the length required • Make sure to emphasize strengths and experience! • Meet interviewers eyes (focus on them) • “I don’t know” is okay (indicate where you could find out • Talk about your research • Show enthusiasm • Show commitment (time in lab) • Speak with interest about interviewers’ research

  15. Specific Hints II • Look relaxed while answering, but keep good posture • Be friendly and open, upbeat and positive • Be prepared to talk about the school at which you are interviewing • Don’t get defensive • Use professional adult language – • Avoid gonna, kinda, you know, Like, uhhhh…., sorta, • If you use big words, know that you are using correctly

  16. Personal Information • Should not ask you about marital status, illness, parenthood unless you mentioned in statement • Honesty is best policy…they will know about accommodating from beginning • If are inappropriate (race, gender), speak to program director

  17. Overcoming Shyness • Many scientists are shy • Can still communicate • Toastmasters? • Be as prepared as possible • Review Strengths with trusted mentor/faculty • Practice beforehand • Cheat sheets (comfort sheets) • Don’t freak at hard questions (some will push intentionally)

  18. Sample Questions • Tell me about your previous research experience • Why do you want to go to graduate school? • Why do you need a Ph.D.? • What are your long term goals? • Where do you want to be in 10 years? • Why do you think that you’ll be successful in your chosen career? • What experiences prepared you for graduate school? • Why are you interested in our program? • What projects attract you for dissertation research? • What are your strengths? • What areas do you need to strengthen? • How do you deal with people who are different from you? • 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 questions do you have about our program? (have some)

  19. ACTIVITY! • Ask one another some of these sample questions, in class! Let the Interviews begin!

More Related