Interview Advice

[Cogsprocks]

Hello all, 

I have applied for this cycle, and I am thoroughly thrilled by my current situation.  I have gotten into Rice and UC Irvine, and I am waiting on quite a few more decisions to be returned.

I applied to MIT and CalTech as a "What could go wrong?" Well folks, today I was contacted to have a skype chat (interview I guess) with CalTech.  I was completely floored, but now I am trying to prepare for it.  

My advisor essentially said it sounds like I am in the hold pile, and that the interview is trying to sort through it.

Here is some basic info about my application.

GPA 3.6 Chem GPA 3.4.  GRE V(98%) Q(75%) W(93%).  ChemGRE (39%).
I have done 2 years of research in a lab where my PI received her PhD from Caltech.  I am specifically interested in her PhD advisors lab. I assume that my LOR were relatively strong, and I believe my essay to be pretty unique because it is a pretty good narrative of my life in science. I also visited CalTech in November when I was in town.

What kind of questions should I expect?  How should I dress?  What are some pointers that will move me from a candidate on the bubble, and get me in?

[YaBoyAR]

A few technical tips: Skype someone else first. Eliminate technical difficulties. Make sure your microphone sounds good. The picture is solid. Wear a shirt that looks good on you in the camera. Make sure the lighting is good in the area you plan on holding the interview. I know you're not a movie star doing promo for Entertainment Tonight, but people get impressions based on weird things sometimes. You want to feel confident and a glitch in the program will eliminate the confidence very quickly.

Interview Advice: Plan for everything. You should be able to talk about your research and lab skills in a cogent manner. Be knowledgable about the professors research as well, to some extent. Be ready to discuss why you would die to work in his/her lab. Who doesn't like to hear that they're awesome? Your gpa is kind of mediocre so perhaps you should be able to discuss why (without making excuses) and explain why you think you'll do much better academically in grad school.

Good luck! You've almost won the battle!

[LAChem]

As someone that is in graduate school and has had many different interviews when thinking of joining a group it's most important to be quiet and let them talk.  Don't start talking until you are sure they are finished, so you can answer their question best.  Also, don't act like you're an expert in their field, they've been doing this for years instead have questions about their research like why did this happen and what made you think that would work. 

 

Good luck