Graduate School Interview Questions

Personal Characteristics / Skills / Strengths:

· Tell me about yourself

· What is your strongest personal asset?

· What are your strengths and weaknesses as a student?

· What challenges do you think you might face in the graduate program?

· What would one of your friends/teachers/supervisors say about you?

· What would a supervisor or professor tell me are your strengths?

· What skills or abilities do you hope to strengthen through our program?

Academic Experiences/Performance:

· Why did you major in _________?

· Why did you choose to attend ___________ College/University?

· When did you choose to enter this occupational field and why?

· How did you make the decision to apply to our program? What other programs did you consider?

· What do you know about our program?

· How has your undergraduate background prepared you for our program?

· What do you believe to be the major trends in your intended career field at this time?

· What courses have you enjoyed the most?

· What courses have been most difficult for you?

· What satisfaction have you gained from your studies?

· What has motivated you to pursue this academic field?

· What are your short-term and long-term goals?

· Why do you want a graduate degree in ___________?

· What are your career goals? How will this program help you achieve your goals?

· How do you intend to finance your education?

· What skills do you bring to the program? How will you help your mentor in his or her research?

· Tell me about the research project you completed with Professor _________?

· Do you feel your academic record accurately reflects your abilities and potential?

· What didn’t you like about your college/university?

· Why would you be an asset to our department? How would you be able to contribute to our program?

· What skills and experiences do you feel have prepared you for admission to this program?

· Why should we consider you for our program instead of several other equally qualified candidates?

· How many programs have you applied to besides our institution/program?

· If you're not accepted into graduate school, what are your plans?

Unusual or General Questions:

· If you could have dinner with someone (living or dead), who would that person be?

· Describe your greatest accomplishment. How did you achieve it?

· What do you feel has been your greatest failure? How did you handle it? How has it changed you?

· Tell me about a time you were faced with a difficult situation and how you handled it.

· Tell me about a mistake you made and how you handled it.

· What was the last book you read or movie you saw?

· How do you work under pressure? Give an example.

· If you were told by a doctor that you had only 1 year to live, what would you spend that time doing?

· How will you make the world a better place?

· In college, what courses did you enjoy the most? The least? Why?

· What are your hobbies?

· What would you change about yourself and why?

· In what ways have your previous experience prepared you for graduate study in our program?

· What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?

· Describe any research project you've worked on. What was the purpose of the project and what was your role in the project?

· How will you be able to make a contribution to this field?

· What do you plan to specialize in?

· What do you do in your spare time?

· Do you have any question you would like to ask us?
(The interviewer does not actually have to answer these – just see what kind of question(s) the interviewee comes up with for you)