TestMagic

myun · 09-23-2002, 02:32 PM

I have two informal phone interviews coming up (sometime next week). These are with the faculty members at the graduate schools that I am applying to, although I have not submitted any materials yet. I wonder what kind of things I need to prepare for the interview. I believe it is an informal conversation rather than an interview. Perhaps I should read something about their research and their department? What kind of questions are likely to be exchanged in this kind of informal interview with the PhD program? Any suggesions would help.

atnoon · 09-24-2002, 01:37 AM

Myun,
Don't be nervous about interview, just calm down and act naturally!!
As far as I know, the interviewer will examine you about your education background such as Master thesis, courses, activities, and your willingness to continue Ph.D study.
They might inquire your thesis/reseach which you plan to do in Ph.D too.

When I worked with teachers in University, I observed that teachers always select students who have ability to finish Ph.D. That ability is high responsibility, high performance/cumGPA(you pass this criteria

), hard work, easy going (this is important coz Ph.D students don't study/work alone)......
Of course they read Ph.D thesis proposal and Master thesis report.
Here in Thailand, Ph.D students have to be teaching assitants. Sometimes they teach B.E students. So, Ph.D students must get along well with others and seem to be second advisors for BE students.
I don't know where is Graduate school you applied for, maybe it is different from Thailand. Anyway, Myun show interviewers your strong will to study Ph.D.

I cannot advise you much because I just graduated B.E.
At noon

**Erin** · 09-24-2002, 05:44 AM

Hello, Myun. Congrats on your phone interview! You made it this far! If they weren't interested in you, they wouldn't waste their time with the phone interview.

Many of these interviews, especially the phone interviews, are conducted by volunteers, often current students or alums. Some of the interviews are relatively low pressure, I think, at least not like what you'd go through to get a good job (a friend of mine had several interviews, at least one of which was an essentially a day-long interview that involved spending the day with various people who would make the ultimate hiring decision). Many of these people are just as eager to make a good impression on you as you are on them, although this is certainly not true for every school, especially state schools.

Some of the interviews are rather loosely structured, but others, particularly those run by inexperienced interviewers, are tightly scripted and are really little more than question/response sessions. In some cases, if you ask a question that is a bit unpredictable, the interviewer might become confused for a moment.

Anyway, my best advice for all interviews in general is to be a bit relaxed and confident. It's always nice to show that you know a bit about the school, so if you can do some research first, perhaps about the various programs or about some of the better profs there, it'd always be good. I interview a lot of people here at TestMagic, and I can tell you that there's little that impresses me more than somebody with a good attitude who is well prepared and seems to know something about TestMagic before they arrive. Think of it this way--how would you feel if you interviewed somebody?

Good luck, myun! Knock 'em dead!

xisto14 · 05-09-2003, 11:06 AM

Hi Erin,
I am brazilian and i will have a phone interview today with a member of the admissions commitee from a BE in the US. What do you think it means to be interview for such a person?? What should I do to impress him.?

Please advise

Xisto

thaiva · 05-14-2003, 02:16 AM

Hey xisto14,

You mentioned you wanted to know:

What do you think it means to be interview for such a person?
What should I do to impress him.

Iam not Erin

but i may be of some help to you. Firstly as Erin mentioned to myun If they were notinterested in you they would not waste their time on you. And you should just try and be yourself to impress him. Just try and visualise the questions and prepare basic answers. Overall just try relax and keep calm and in control of the interview. If he interupts you talk over him to show him your boss. Mainly just try to relax, keep calm and in control,

When is your interview?

All the best, Tim

09-24-2002, 01:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
atnoon Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Thailand Posts: 283	Myun, Don't be nervous about interview, just calm down and act naturally!! As far as I know, the interviewer will examine you about your education background such as Master thesis, courses, activities, and your willingness to continue Ph.D study. They might inquire your thesis/reseach which you plan to do in Ph.D too. When I worked with teachers in University, I observed that teachers always select students who have ability to finish Ph.D. That ability is high responsibility, high performance/cumGPA(you pass this criteria), hard work, easy going (this is important coz Ph.D students don't study/work alone)...... Of course they read Ph.D thesis proposal and Master thesis report. Here in Thailand, Ph.D students have to be teaching assitants. Sometimes they teach B.E students. So, Ph.D students must get along well with others and seem to be second advisors for BE students. I don't know where is Graduate school you applied for, maybe it is different from Thailand. Anyway, Myun show interviewers your strong will to study Ph.D. I cannot advise you much because I just graduated B.E. At noon

09-24-2002, 05:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Erin So many things to do... Forum Admin Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: USA Posts: 8,303	Hello, Myun. Congrats on your phone interview! You made it this far! If they weren't interested in you, they wouldn't waste their time with the phone interview. Many of these interviews, especially the phone interviews, are conducted by volunteers, often current students or alums. Some of the interviews are relatively low pressure, I think, at least not like what you'd go through to get a good job (a friend of mine had several interviews, at least one of which was an essentially a day-long interview that involved spending the day with various people who would make the ultimate hiring decision). Many of these people are just as eager to make a good impression on you as you are on them, although this is certainly not true for every school, especially state schools. Some of the interviews are rather loosely structured, but others, particularly those run by inexperienced interviewers, are tightly scripted and are really little more than question/response sessions. In some cases, if you ask a question that is a bit unpredictable, the interviewer might become confused for a moment. Anyway, my best advice for all interviews in general is to be a bit relaxed and confident. It's always nice to show that you know a bit about the school, so if you can do some research first, perhaps about the various programs or about some of the better profs there, it'd always be good. I interview a lot of people here at TestMagic, and I can tell you that there's little that impresses me more than somebody with a good attitude who is well prepared and seems to know something about TestMagic before they arrive. Think of it this way--how would you feel if you interviewed somebody? Good luck, myun! Knock 'em dead! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ [Say 'hi'!] [Google Interviews Erin] [San Francisco Chronicle Interviews Erin]

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-23-2002, 02:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
myun Eager! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: USA Posts: 71	I have two informal phone interviews coming up (sometime next week). These are with the faculty members at the graduate schools that I am applying to, although I have not submitted any materials yet. I wonder what kind of things I need to prepare for the interview. I believe it is an informal conversation rather than an interview. Perhaps I should read something about their research and their department? What kind of questions are likely to be exchanged in this kind of informal interview with the PhD program? Any suggesions would help.

05-09-2003, 11:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
xisto14 Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1	Hi Erin, I am brazilian and i will have a phone interview today with a member of the admissions commitee from a BE in the US. What do you think it means to be interview for such a person?? What should I do to impress him.? Please advise Xisto

05-14-2003, 02:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
thaiva TM Guru-in-Training Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 761	Hey xisto14, You mentioned you wanted to know: What do you think it means to be interview for such a person? What should I do to impress him. Iam not Erin but i may be of some help to you. Firstly as Erin mentioned to myun If they were notinterested in you they would not waste their time on you. And you should just try and be yourself to impress him. Just try and visualise the questions and prepare basic answers. Overall just try relax and keep calm and in control of the interview. If he interupts you talk over him to show him your boss. Mainly just try to relax, keep calm and in control, When is your interview? All the best, Tim

TestMagic

Free GMAT, GRE, SAT Test, TOEFL practice tests