So you've received an email? Inviting you to interview for a #PhD program? & you are excited? What should you expect?
First, understand that most programs interview 5 to 6 people for every available assistantship.
Most Ph.D. program coordinators have limited opportunities to fund students. We want to use our resources to admit students who will a) accept the offer & b) flourish.
GIven you are in a competitive pool, your job is to capture the coordinator's attention.
Second, most programs reject up to 80% of applicants without interviews.
Start reading up on the program, its graduates & its faculty.
Programs reject 100% of applicants who are not prepared.
Third, coordinators will probe your knowledge of issues, themes, & methods relevant to their program.
You will be nervous. Prepare to answer questions such as:
Why our program? Why our city? What issues are you interested in? What do you want to do next?
These are obvious, but you will freeze, if not prepared.
Fourth, & this is important, applicants are generally given time to ask questions.
Most ask questions about curriculum, funding, recent placements, & selecting an advisor. These are great questions. But they are obvious. They can be quickly answered later.
Generic questions squander the opportunity to learn about the program.
Fifth, ask questions that dig into the culture of the Ph.D. program.
Ask questions about the school's traditions. An active speaker series signals a rich research culture. Conference participation tells you target audiences & topics. Faculty talks on other campuses give a sense of department reputation & perspective.
Ask questions about relationships between faculty & students. Learn about how the program helps students build relationships with advisors. This gives you insight into the program's culture & how #faculty#mentor#students.
Ask questions about faculty relationships with graduates. Learn about where graduates work, are they independent, are they tenured? By doing so, you can gather information on whether a program prepares students for academic careers.
The specific questions you will ask should vary with your discipline, background & personality.
Finally, ask if you can talk to current students and recent program alumni. Then ask the same questions. Test and re-test. Look for consistent answers.
Learning about these themes will help you assess your fit with the program.
Best of luck finding the right program for you!
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