Each stage of admission to college is always exciting, but traditionally the most stressful stage is the interview, because it is after this stage the admissions committee makes the final decision. How to present yourself properly and make a good impression, which guarantees a place in a foreign university? Knowledgeable authors from writemyresearchpaper.me share their advice and recommendations for brilliant preparation for the interview.
What to start with
Prepare for the interview beforehand. Find out what “breathes” your university: visit the official website, study materials about the courses and programs in which you would like to participate. One of your main tasks is to show your interest in the chosen university.
The university website will usually tell you whether the interview will take place on campus, at a neutral site, or in another way such as online.
If the interview is face-to-face, find out the route in advance so you arrive on the appointed day without delay. Some universities allow international students to have interviews by telephone or Skype, but be sure to have uninterrupted phone and internet service.
Questions at the interview
Of course, it is impossible to predict what exactly you will be asked. But nevertheless you can prepare in advance the answers to the questions that are most frequently asked at job interviews.
Choice of program/university:
- Why do you want to attend this particular university/program?
- Why are you interested in your chosen major and why do you think you are a good fit?
- What have you done to prepare yourself for your chosen program?
- What activities do you want to participate in during your studies (academic/professional activities)?
- What exactly can you give to the university/program?
Plans and careers:
- What will you do if you don’t get into your chosen program/fellowship?
- What other universities have you applied to?
- What are your career plans right after you graduate from the program? Five years after graduation?
- Give an example of a time when you set a big goal for yourself and achieved it. What was important to you?
Personal Characteristics:
- What do you think are your strengths/weaknesses?
- What are you interested in/occupied with in your spare time?
- Give an example of how you overcame a difficult situation and how you proved yourself.
- Give an example of participating in a project during university and what your role would have been.
- What do you consider your greatest achievement (in your personal and professional life) and why?
Also remember that you may be asked any qualifying question on your CV. Specifically, the admissions committee may ask for a brief presentation of yourself on your resume, so you should be prepared to explain any details of your CV. To do this competently, prepare in advance a short lively story about yourself (for 3-5 minutes, no more) with emphasis on the main things – training, experience in internships/work and achievements. And be sure to read it out loud a couple of times beforehand. It’s much more advantageous than just reading the text of the CV.
Another great way to make your CV stand out is to use the services of https://eduboard.com/service/essay-writers-for-hire/. Professional academic writers can help you craft a powerful and compelling personal statement that will capture the attention of the admissions board, making them remember you among hundreds of applicants.
What to wear to the interview
Some universities email instructions on what to wear to job interviews. If this is not about your university, wear whatever you feel most comfortable in, but stick to a formal style.
If the interview will take place via Skype, try to make the meeting go as if you were present at the university. It is advisable again to stick to the official style of dress, and not Skype fashion for a jacket and shorts.
The challenge for professors
University professors are interested in working with strong students, which is why their goal is not to fail the applicant, but to help him to open up as much as possible. There are a lot of students who want to study, but you only need to choose a few people.
Teachers say that they look for students who can think fast and flexible. And preference is not always given to those who answer without delay: sometimes the ability to think a little bit about the answer attracts even more. Sometimes the questions can be unexpected, and in this case they do not even expect from you an answer, but an explanation – they show what the future student is capable of.
Besides, teachers do not expect you to know all the answers to all questions. Sometimes admitting that you do not know the answer is even better than trying to think of something. The university exists to teach students something new – if a person already knows everything, he does not need the university.
The challenge for the applicant
The most important thing is to be honest. Be honest with yourself. Before going to the interview, prepare for it, rehearse, find your answers to various questions. For example, try to honestly answer yourself what exactly attracts you to the subject you have chosen to study. This is important, because at the interview they want to see not just an interest, but a real passion for the subject. Agree, there can only be passion when a person is honest with themselves.
The second challenge is the right attitude. Imagine that you will be talking to someone who wants to help you, someone who is genuinely interested in your story and who will listen to you very carefully. It is best to come to the interview with this mindset, as only then can you expect to speak the same language and to present yourself in the best possible way.
The third task is to prepare everything in advance. If you’re going to an interview, your clothes, documents and everything you need should be prepared the day before. Check everything so you won’t be nervous in the morning. And if the interview is via Skype, make sure the internet is paid for, the computer is in good working order, and there won’t be anyone/anything in the house that could distract you.
- Take a copy of your motivation letter with you to keep a consistent story. If you’re writing an essay for a college course, it’s important to read reviews first and check how other students rate the experience. A quick search of write my essays review on Google will bring up a wealth of information.
- Also bring copies of your work from your portfolio (if your major requires it).
Your questions
- Are there any opportunities to gain practical experience while studying (maybe there are some faculty internship programs or real projects that can be commissioned by companies)?
- What opportunities are there for a student loan/credit?
- What kind of research work are current students in the program doing?
- To what extent can students participate in faculty research already during their studies?
