Grad Open House

[HJS]

I have been invited to a Graduate Open House for Chemical Engineering program at one of the universties I applied. I haven't been admitted into the program but looks like I am close to get a Admission offer. Do you know how can I prepare for this event? As I am meeting one on one with professors, is it more like a interview with them? Any information provided would be of great help.

 

-HJS

[actuallyatree]

My experience at a grad open house involved a brief talk from the Dean of Research (I believe that was his position), another brief presentation by one of the program professors, a long Q&A with that professor, and the chance to meet one on one with a few other professors from the department. We also got a tour of the campus, but the tours we being run by undergraduate students, who weren't sure where some graduate student specific resources were located, but I did get a sense of what the school is like. The one on one talks with the professor was quite useful, particularly in terms of issues like course content, methodologies, and possible research topics. You don't get a complete sense of what everyone you could we working with is like, I met two out of 20+ professors within the department, but I think it is worth going if it isn't too much hastle for you.

 

In terms of preparing, I didn't do much, aside from looking up a few profs who had similar interests to me beforehand. Meeting the prof was nothing like an interview, but more of a conversation about the school and the program, and the prof selling me on the program, and answering my questions about the program. I don't think there is much you can do at an open house in terms of improving your chances of being acceptancel; depending on how admissions is organized, it's quite possible that no one with any say in your admittance will even be there. That said, it never hurts to make a good impression, without overdoing it too much.

Edited February 23, 2014 by actuallyatree