Phone Interview?

[mikeman591]

Hi guys,

 

I am halfway done with my PhD Applications (finished all due 12/1 or 1/1). Surprisingly, I received an email from a faculty member (already?) at a school I completed stating that they were deeply interested in my application and asking for "an informal phone interview to discuss my interests and experiences further". Of course I said yes and am still pinching myself.

 

With that said, what should I expect from this phone interview and how can I prepare accordingly?

[ssynny]

That's really exciting! Congrats!

 

To prepare for my phone interviews, I had to do a ton of reading. Find out what sort of work this person does and read up on their recent papers and recent projects. From what they've done, try to find something in particular that interests you and look into that topic in more detail. The goal of this interview is to see if your interests match up with theirs. If they do and this person likes you, they might help push your app through. Good luck!

[The Pedanticist]

Hi guys,

 

I am halfway done with my PhD Applications (finished all due 12/1 or 1/1). Surprisingly, I received an email from a faculty member (already?) at a school I completed stating that they were deeply interested in my application and asking for "an informal phone interview to discuss my interests and experiences further". Of course I said yes and am still pinching myself.

 

With that said, what should I expect from this phone interview and how can I prepare accordingly?

 

Congrats!  What school?  

[mikeman591]

University of Maryland

[autumn]

Congrats! That sounds super promising!

[Aditya J]

Hi guys,

 

I am halfway done with my PhD Applications (finished all due 12/1 or 1/1). Surprisingly, I received an email from a faculty member (already?) at a school I completed stating that they were deeply interested in my application and asking for "an informal phone interview to discuss my interests and experiences further". Of course I said yes and am still pinching myself.

 

With that said, what should I expect from this phone interview and how can I prepare accordingly?

 

how did your interview go ?

[mikeman591]

It went great! I eventually got in with full funding. I also got in to UConn with full funding. I'm waiting to hear back from Michigan State and Arizona but I'm happy to have some choices!

[techboy]

Hi mikeman591,

Congrats!

Can you please share some questions they asked and how long the interview lasted?

Thank you

It went great! I eventually got in with full funding. I also got in to UConn with full funding. I'm waiting to hear back from Michigan State and Arizona but I'm happy to have some choices!

[mikeman591]

Sure!

 

The person I interviewed with was the director the Center for Health and Risk Communication at Maryland. She was one of the people I was interested in working with. She spent a couple minutes talking about the program and her specific research. Then she asked me why I was interested in their program. Then, she asked what research plans I have should I attend the university. To be honest it was just a podium for me to sell my research interests, which at that point, I was very confident was worthwhile and can sell. Finally, she asked me if I had any questions and accordingly, I asked a few questions about the program and what their priorities are.

 

Before I left she asked if I had heard from anywhere else and to look for an admissions decision soon.

 

This was at the end of December and the first week of January I was admitted with full funding.

 

It was only a 30 minute interview and I was rather long winded in my answers, mostly because I could talk about my research interests and experiences for days!

[techboy]

Great! Thank you for the detailed response! I have an interview scheduled next week with another school and I am very excited about it. I appreciate Igor response and hope will have a smooth interview and get accepted

Thanks again and good luck with your studies!