Phone interview: Howto?

[Holden_Caulfield]

My dear comrades!
I just got a notification about phone interview. I'm very scared - I have never participated in this kind of activity. So, as always I hope to get some help from the bright community of TestMagic.
The main questions are the following:
What they usually ask about?
What should I mention and what should I skip?
Are they going to ask about my papers and research? Career goals?
Do I need carefully examine all the profs one more time in order to be familiar with all aspects of research at the department?

Anybody who has experience in this kind of stuff - please, share you thoughts.
The interview is tomorrow, so - it is kind of URGENT.
I hope, this thread will be helpful for the whole community.

Sincerely yours,
Holden Caulfield.

[snappythecrab]

Well, Holden, I wish I knew. However, good luck nonetheless. Let us know how it turns out!

[sidd2k]

Hi
I have had couple of Telephone Interviews but for Full time MBA.
Its generally a very smooth conversation like interview for MBA. They talk abt general stuff and then gradually ask about career goals and why the particular college.
I guess one thing u must know before hand is about thy college and thy department. Also be confident in answering and its very natural to ask him to repeat the question in case you did not understand it the first time.

Best of luck

p.s. - One final thing, in case u are getting the call on thy cell phone, remember to remove call waiting!!

[Thande]

Holden, all the best! The only phone interview I have participated in was for a job. I learnt that you just have to be yourself, know yourself (your goals, research interests, motivation for study and why there); know the department you are interested in (have a look at the departmental website, professors and current student profiles).

Just be confident, speak clearly and I'm sure you'll ace it! All the best!

[Panda77]

Don’t have much experience, but I agree with the rest ... just be yourself!

I would guess they’ll ask for career goals (that shouldn’t be difficult to answer), test your knowledge of the program and the department in some way (but I wouldn’t worry too much they must know that you can’t be way too familiar with it, such knowledge only comes from actually being there) and perhaps they might want to know about your research experience (if you have any).

My advice ... try not to worry too much and remain as calm as you can (I find that it helps me if I have paper and pencil in front of me so that I can shack when I talk to the phone, but perhaps that’s just me). Also, I would go over their web site and take notes of what I find important/interesting (I would probably sit in front of the computer with their web site open during the interview, but again that’s just me).

Well, all the best, and let us know!

[malcomgrad2006]

some pretty nice suggestions so far..
although i myself dont have much experience but i guess they would ask questions directly from thy SOP....thy research experiences...why u chose that school in particular....thy future goal in life....and where do u see urself in 10 yrs or so....
hope that helps

[Holden_Caulfield]

Dear Snappythecrab, Sidd2k, Thande, Panda77 and Malcomgrad2006.
Thanks a lot for your input!
Yes, I'll be calm like Buddha
I'll be sitting opposite to the lap top with web page of the department in one window and my SoP in the other.

I guess, the main question that I need to answer: why I get my MS in one school and now want to go for PhD to the other?
I'll wite my answer and just read it to them

I'll share my experience here afterwards

Thanks to you all!

[albertalla]

And don't repeat what you've written in your application. If they ask a question about your interest in the topic, and you reply glossing over your SOP, it will look bad. On the other hand, if you have anecdotes and details to add, you will appear confident and relaxed.

[Holden_Caulfield]

Hi guys,
I had an interview a couple hours ago.
Well, there several questions:

1. Why did you transfering from your current program (I did my MS here and now applying for PhD)?
2. Whose research do you like? (the profs that I've mentioned in my SoP left )
3. What the other schools did your applied?
4. What is my career goals?

It looks like the whole conclusion of the discussion that I can draw: this school does not fit my research interests.
They said that they will consider my application next week, but I think it would be reject. We'll see.

Advises:
- be confident
- have a plan "B" about your research interests in case if the school does not updating their website
- think how smarter to answer the question about "other" schools
- have fast working internet (f**cking comcast does not provide this service to me this day, so I cannot look to the other profs research instantly in order to make the "right" answers).

Good luck to all of you!

[Blase]

Dear Holden,

Your posts are as usual humorous.

Did you mention your acceptance to UMaryland? Wonder if it is OK to tell?