Tips for staying (relatively) calm during interviews?

[jk616]

I am leaving for my first interview this week and I'm starting to get pretty nervous  . I have prepared for all of the things that are within my control, but I was wondering if anyone had tips or tricks they used to stay calm-ish during the formal interview days? Any other general tips are appreciated as well! 

[01sonal]

First, congratulations! Getting invited to interview is a big deal

Second, keep in mind that this interview process is just as important for you as it is for the program. You're trying to assess whether or not the program and your POI are a good fit for you, just as they are trying to assess if you are a good fit for them. I found that keeping things in perspective when I was going through the process was helpful for me because I didn't feel like I was just the lowly prospective student desperately trying to get accepted into any old program. 

Other tips would be to get a good night's rest, pamper yourself a little bit (e.g., if you really like taking baths then take a nice hot bath the night before the interview), and try not to do any last-minute prepping because I find that that usually makes people more stressed out. 

[Clinapp2017]

As silly as it sounds, being yourself and realizing I was invited for a reason calmed me down. It’s nerve wracking for sure, but recognizing that it’s your time to shine (in a non-self-aggrandizing way) oddly helped me enjoy the interview. 

 

Best wishes with it

[Clinpsyc01]

This might sound dumb, but I'm speaking from experience... Watch your caffeine intake if you drink coffee/tea. A lot of places have coffee available all day, and it's easy to mindlessly drink it while you're waiting for interviews, etc. I always find that I get way more anxious if I drink a lot of caffeine while nervous. 

Make sure you get a good night's sleep, drink water, eat enough. 

Finally, don't listen to other applicants if they start competing with each other about their qualifications or interviews. If you've made it to the interview stage, you are qualified and deserve to be there. They chose you for a reason.

Good luck! 

[b_l91]

20 minutes ago, hsnl said:

Finally, don't listen to other applicants if they start competing with each other about their qualifications or interviews. If you've made it to the interview stage, you are qualified and deserve to be there. They chose you for a reason.

I can't even begin to express how important this is. Imposter syndrome starts in immediately. I actually felt more comfortable with current grad students and in interviews than I did with other applicants. Tune it out best you can.