Hi there, knowledgeable people!
So, I have some invitations for visiting and interview days. I know for sure that some of my universities do group interviews - 10 people sit with 3-4 professors and "freely" discuss some topics. I've been on a "free discussion" competitive interview and I didn't like it a bit. I don't like to balance between having a smart say (bragging) and keeping a non-imposing, humble posture. I prefer talking face to face with a professor, where I can focus on him/her and have the time to think on my responses.
What are your notions about interview formats? It seems impossible for a group of 10-20 people to have one-to-one interviews with 5-10 professors and/or students in the course of 4-5 hours, so I suppose some group formats are inevitable, right?
But I do think that group formats are very different than individual ones in terms of how an applicant presents himself, how she explains her experience in comparison to the others' and how the hell he takes the mike from the crowd.
I have a PhD-student friend who is "coaching" me to be aggressive and "trump" over the claims of the other candidates. Not that I will (can) do it, but what do you think about the amiable/self-assertive balance in group interviews? Can you think of a reasonable strategy? And I don't mean only for selfish success, but for a real good interview discussion.
Thanks!