The graduate school admission interview, though it is not the sole basis of your graduate school application, is something you have to excel in. You have to present yourself properly and politely to give the interviewer an impression that you’re somebody who deserves to be a part of their academic institution. Here are some tips to help you survive a graduate school admission interview:
Tips before the interview
* Do an online research.
Browse through the school’s website and read about its course offerings, academic history, and degree programs. So, when the interviewer asks you what makes the school special, you will be ready with a credible answer.
* Visit the school campus.
Visit the campus and hold informal interviews with the school’s current students or professors to get some tips and advice to help you do well in your interview.
* Stage a mock interview.
Practice your verbal skills by staging mock interviews with your family or friends. Ask for their feedback to learn which areas you still need to improve on.
Tips during the interview
* Choose an appropriate outfit.
Dress appropriately during the interview. Make sure that you look professional enough to be entrusted with a slot in graduate school.
* Follow the interview rules.
Apply all the tips and advice you got earlier: make eye contact, display self-confidence, and maintain good composure.
* Give consistent answers.
Make sure that your interview answers are not different from what you have written in your graduate admission essay.
Tips after the interview
* Send a “thank you” letter.
After the interview, send a follow-up thank you letter or email immediately. This is one way of showing how much you appreciate the opportunity given to you and the interviewer’s time.
* Ask for an update.
After a week or so, contact the admissions department of the school you applied for to get updates on the status of your application. Do this as politely as possible.
Aside from the interview, you also need to prepare your graduate school admission essay. Look for websites that have sample graduate school essay. You can use these samples as a guide.
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Are you hesitant in applying to graduate school? This may be cause by many negative things you heard about graduate school admissions. Don’t let these things you heard discouraged you in pursuing a graduate study. Most of these things you heard about graduate school admissions are myths.
There are many great universities to choose from, and it is a pity that you are hampered to pursue graduate study because of baseless reasons.
What are the top 4 myths about graduate school admissions?
Myth #1. You don’t have a chance to be admitted in a graduate school if you have low undergrad grades
This is also a common misconception. Although, having good grades in your undergrad degree is great, it is not the sole factor in graduate school admission. Your motivation and interest are more influential than your grades. This is why, you have to pass a remarkable graduate school essay, because your essay is your chance to let the admission personnel know your personality. Reading a sample graduate school
essay will give you an idea of how to write an excellent essay.
Myth #2. Graduate schools are expensive
There are lots of scholarships that can give you financial assistance. Many Universities have scholarship grants, you can also apply for scholarships. There are even specialty scholarships for very specific target graduate degree.
Myth #3. Applying for financial aid in most Universities will lowers your chance of being admitted in that University
This is not true. The admission in graduate schools are based on your graduate essay, written exam, and interview. So, to have a bigger chance of admission in graduate schools, you should know the qualities of a well-written sample graduate school essay for this essay will help you enter one of the best graduate school.
Myth #4. In writing a graduate school admission essay, you must use a very formal and technical language to showcase your knowledge about the field you are applying
A formal language, yet friendly in tone, is used in graduate essay. Reading sample graduate school essay will give you an idea of what approach to use. The sample graduate school essay you see on the Internet is free of jargon.A well-written sample graduate school essay has a light tone, yet not colloquial. Another feature of a well-written sample graduate school essay is that it reveals the personality of the writer. A good sample graduate school essay is also clear in conveying your message.
So, no matter what your undergrad course is or you have low undergrad grades, it all boils down on having a well-written essay. Read the sample graduate school essay you can find on-line. You will learn much from this sample graduate school essay. Gaining technique from a sample graduate school essay will give you a big chance to be admitted in the graduate school you want. You can also view many different tips on the Internet about graduate school admissions.
