Help and info regarding interviews

[Felixjuggler]

Dear all,

 

After more than a month of waiting I got the first interview offer from Northwestern University (DGP life sciences program). I am an international student so this will really be a completely new experience for me (never attended a whole interview in english, should I be worried for minor errors in my speaking?). How should I prepare? Are these interviews rigid and formal, tough from the scientific perspective? (I have 6 publications so I expect massive amounts of questions about them). I come from a small relatively unknown institution so I wonder if this could be a problem.

 

Of course the interview will be done with Skype and they gave me 4 possible dates. Is it wise to take the last one in order to have more time to prepare? In the email they mention the interview will be with 2 faculty members and 1 or 2 program administrators, but they didn't mention their names. Again is it wise to ask who the interviewers will be in order to have a look at their work and refresh my memory? (I did my research before applying to search for a potential fit, but now some months have passed).

 

Sorry for the wall of text, but when I read this email in my lab I litterally jumped from my chair! As it was an important moment for you, it is for me.

Thanks for you answers, if I'll get any!!

[Felixjuggler]

No one has some advices to share????

[SunshineLolipops]

I'm interested in an answer to your question as well. I would start, however, by rereading your entire application and particularly your statement of purpose essay. Their knowledge of you is limited to that information, so be prepared to answer specific questions about your essay and further develop why your interests and experiences would work well with the professors you wish to work with. I've got to imagine that reading the most recent articles by those Professors would help as well unless the professor mentions a different focus in his or her online bio. Best of luck!

[Felixjuggler]

Yeah I believe you are right, the only problem is I don't have the names of the interviewers and I politely asked for them, I think it's a legit question if someone wants to be prepared for the interview!

[SunshineLolipops]

http://www.uwgb.edu/careers/skills/interviewing-graduate-school.asp

 

This is a pretty decent list of questions to expect during interviews.  Be prepared for follow up questions to your answers particularly for the difficult questions like, what is your greatest weakness.  Also, having questions about the program interviewing you shows that you have taken an active interest in their program.

[andrestoga]

Hi,

 

Do you know if the Skype interviews are with video or without video?

 

Best,

[Chubberubber]

One more thing- be prepared with question to ask them regarding the research being done at the department (the more you can ask about each professor indivfidual research- the better), and with questions about the program (things like- how much of a "free hand" do grad students get when it comes to indipendent research, what is each professor preferred mentoring style, what is expected from you in terms of research etc.)

Good luck!

[Felixjuggler]

Thanks all for sharing your thoughts they are very helpful indeed!!

However I sent a confirmation with my choice for the interview date to the program 4 days ago, but I did not get a reply yet. Maybe they are just busy but I will probably send another email tomorrow, I don't think there was any problem with my email account I tested it. These are the kind of things that freak me out!!!

[rising_star]

Skype interviews are typically done with video. If you can't find out who the specific interviewers are, prepare for every single professor in the program. Be prepared to discuss what you want to research and how and why that department is a good fit for you. 

[Beepboopbop]

Skype interviews are typically done with video. If you can't find out who the specific interviewers are, prepare for every single professor in the program. Be prepared to discuss what you want to research and how and why that department is a good fit for you. 

I'm not sure how you'd do this in a reasonable manner. There's 142 potential faculty members at Northwestern DGP. They said specifically during my interview weekend,

 

Anyhow, I interviewed at DGP this past weekend and the interviews were pretty relaxed.

Most followed this scheme:

-Discuss your research, I found it to be pretty chill. Nobody asked me any hard questions. I felt well prepared and have presented on my research over and over and over so I felt comfortable with this. Just practice and know how to explain it in a way that captures the common questions and is concise/clear and you'll be fine.

 

-They will talk about their research. Listen to them, ask questions if you have them (and those questions are interesting/show curiousity). They aren't going to expect you to have memorized every detail on all of their publications. In many cases they will talk about work that they are currently doing and is not published. I found I had little time to discuss their work with them so questions was not a huge issue. Seemed to be more of a "here's some of the work being done in the fields your interested in" type of deal. Not a test or anything like that.

 

-You may get a few harder-hitting questions here and/or there. I got 2-3. Realistically, I got one hard-hitter about my grades a particular semester; another set of questions was about some of the more unique difficulties I had to work around in my research and another was about my motivations for the program which I really just had to elabor.  The second set were really phrased as to be easily made into my favor, as well. Everyone seemed content with what I responded with and I'm not an amazing interviewer or anything.

 

Numerically you've got better stats than me as well. One publication, two in review/submission, average undegrad GPA, no masters. ~3.5-4ish years of research experience.

 

EDIT: I should add, I was given a list of people I would be interviewing with. This was not until maybe two or three days beforehand, though. I am also domestic, so the interviews were on campus; I don't know if that would make a difference?

Edited February 3, 2015 by Beepboopbop

[Felixjuggler]

I'm not sure how you'd do this in a reasonable manner. There's 142 potential faculty members at Northwestern DGP. They said specifically during my interview weekend,

 

Anyhow, I interviewed at DGP this past weekend and the interviews were pretty relaxed.

Most followed this scheme:

-Discuss your research, I found it to be pretty chill. Nobody asked me any hard questions. I felt well prepared and have presented on my research over and over and over so I felt comfortable with this. Just practice and know how to explain it in a way that captures the common questions and is concise/clear and you'll be fine.

 

-They will talk about their research. Listen to them, ask questions if you have them (and those questions are interesting/show curiousity). They aren't going to expect you to have memorized every detail on all of their publications. In many cases they will talk about work that they are currently doing and is not published. I found I had little time to discuss their work with them so questions was not a huge issue. Seemed to be more of a "here's some of the work being done in the fields your interested in" type of deal. Not a test or anything like that.

 

-You may get a few harder-hitting questions here and/or there. I got 2-3. Realistically, I got one hard-hitter about my grades a particular semester; another set of questions was about some of the more unique difficulties I had to work around in my research and another was about my motivations for the program which I really just had to elabor.  The second set were really phrased as to be easily made into my favor, as well. Everyone seemed content with what I responded with and I'm not an amazing interviewer or anything.

 

Numerically you've got better stats than me as well. One publication, two in review/submission, average undegrad GPA, no masters. ~3.5-4ish years of research experience.

 

EDIT: I should add, I was given a list of people I would be interviewing with. This was not until maybe two or three days beforehand, though. I am also domestic, so the interviews were on campus; I don't know if that would make a difference?

 

Just finished the interview, mixed feelings about it. One very difficult question was: you come from applied research (referring also to my degree in biotechnology), why now basic research? Found a little difficult to elaborate.

The mixed feelings are based on the fact that I don't think I was able to say all the things I wanted because I am not so good at spoken english (on the toefl my worst score was on that part), so I don't really know if I made a good impression. A rejection after interview would be soooooo disappointing!

 

Apart from that did you send thank you e mails??? I am wondering if I should add something more in them...