what to expect from an interview for a masters course

Motivation is the main theme of the Master’s admissions interview. You need to be able to explain clearly why you want to become a student at the given university. This includes both the particular program and the educational institution itself.

Full Answer

What questions will be asked in my interview for a Masters?

During your Masters interview, it is likely that you'll be asked a number of questions regarding your academic interests, and why you want to do a Masters degree. These are a few of common questions you might be asked at your interview:

Do you need a postgraduate interview for your masters application?

Nov 09, 2018 · Motivation is the main theme of the Master’s admissions interview. You need to be able to explain clearly why you want to become a student at the given university. This includes both the particular program and the educational institution itself. In most cases, the main part of this particular topic will be dedicated to the course itself.

What to expect in an academic interview?

Here’s what to expect in a postgraduate interview. If you’re thinking of doing a Masters degree then you have to realise that at some point you will be called into an interview, either with the course leader or a lecturer on the course. Interviews can be daunting, and since you are stepping into postgraduate education it might be the case that you have never been in a proper interview …

What is the interview process like at a university?

Jan 25, 2005 · Don't forget about funding: Higher education is very expensive, and many graduate programs offer their students teaching assistantships or grants to help them defer costs. Interview your interviewers: You want to make sure you'll be studying with faculty who share your academic goals and intellectual interests. Think of questions that you'd like to ask about the …

How do I prepare for a Masters interview?

Preparing for a Graduate School InterviewResearch the university or college.Prepare and prioritize a list of open ended questions to ask.Practice mock interviewing with the Career Development Center, family, or friends. ... Call to confirm your appointment. ... Update and bring a professional portfolio. ... Dress for Success.

What will I be asked in a Masters interview?

Masters interview questionsTell us a bit about yourself. ... Why have you chosen this course? ... Why have you chosen this university? ... Where do you see yourself in five years' time? ... What are your strengths and weaknesses? ... Have you applied for funding? ... Have you applied anywhere else?More items...

What does it mean to get an interview for grad school?

1. What is the purpose of the graduate school interview? Put simply, the purpose of the graduate school interview is to get a sense of you as a person and to see how you might “fit” with the program, its faculty, students and staff.

How can I introduce myself in Masters interview?

0:542:17How to Answer, "Tell Me About Yourself" for Graduate SchoolYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLike the reason you're interested in your fields a unique story about your previous. Experience or aMoreLike the reason you're interested in your fields a unique story about your previous. Experience or a pertinent current event that is of interest to you explain your background in your story.

What are your weaknesses grad school interview?

Examples of weaknesses might include:Lack of confidence speaking in public.Not detailed-orientated enough.Competitive.Delegation.Self-critical.Insecure.Don't take enough risks.Not confident asking questions.More items...

Why do a masters interview question?

Postgraduate interview questionsCan you tell me about yourself?What are your strengths?What are your weaknesses?Do you think that your undergraduate record accurately reflects your effort and ability?Describe your dream job in the future.Which academic or businessperson do you most admire and why?More items...

What is a good weakness to say in an interview?

Here are a few examples of the best weaknesses to mention in an interview:I focus too much on the details. ... I have a hard time letting go of a project. ... I have trouble saying “no.” ... I get impatient when projects run beyond the deadline. ... I could use more experience in… ... I sometimes lack confidence.More items...•Nov 2, 2021

What percentage of applicants get an interview grad school?

While many will be cut based on mediocre essays, lackluster resumes, bad recommendations, or simply a lack of originality, 30 to 50% of applicants will make it to the interview round. Below you can see a breakdown of each “cutting” stage of the admissions process.May 12, 2021

How do you know a grad school interview went well?

There are some signs it went well for me: telling me they had a strong file for me but wanted to see if it was a "good fit", went overtime due to good conversation throughout, a few "that's a good attitude to have"s, had a prompt and thorough answer for every question (with a couple fumbles), telling me my proposal is ...Feb 15, 2019

Why have you chosen this course?

You should think about your past days and make a list of the skills and experiences you have gained and think about how they relate to the job you are applying for. You can use your college or previous job website they often include how the course or company is useful for students or employees.

What to include in Tell me about yourself?

How to answer “tell me about yourself”Mention past experiences and proven successes as they relate to the position. ... Consider how your current job relates to the job you're applying for. ... Focus on strengths and abilities that you can support with examples. ... Highlight your personality to break the ice.More items...•5 days ago

What are my strengths?

In general, your strengths should be skills that can be supported through experience. For example, if you list communication as a strength, you may want to recall a situation in which you used communication to reach a goal or resolve a problem.

Tell me about yourself

So, strictly speaking this isn’t a question but more of an opportunity to tell the interviewer about your past experiences, experiences that are likely to make you a good candidate for a position on the course.

Why do you think you are well suited to this course?

It might be the case that you have already highlighted this in the ‘tell me about yourself’ stage. However, it is always good to reemphasise exactly what skills and past experiences you have that make you the ideal candidate.

What are your strengths?

This should be an easy question to answer by now, because you will have already told the interviewer the things that you make you an ideal candidate. What you need to do is to think a little bit deeper, and to highlight the attributes that your past experiences have developed within you.

What are your weaknesses?

This is likely to be the most difficult question asked of you, because it is not always easy to identify, let alone admit where your weaknesses might lie. Again, it is important to note that the interviewer will be talking about academic or vocational weaknesses so you can’t answer ‘Jägermeister’.

What do interviewers ask about themselves?

Interviewers often begin by asking applicants about themselves to put them at ease and for the interviewers to get a sense of who the applicants are as individuals. Admissions officers and faculty want to know what motivates you as a student and how your personal interests relate to your goals as a graduate student.

Who is Tara Kuther?

Tara Kuther, Ph.D., is a professor at Western Connecticut State University. She specializes in professional development for undergraduate and graduate students. Knowing what to expect during a grad school interview is key to effectively answering the questions you're asked.

Is higher education expensive?

Don't forget about funding: Higher education is very expensive, and many graduate programs offer their students teaching assistantships or grants to help them defer costs. Interview your interviewers: You want to make sure you'll be studying with faculty who share your academic goals and intellectual interests.

Is grad school stressful?

Grad school can be a stressful time for even the most successful students. There will be times when you will be pushed to your intellectual limits and must find your own way forward. Interview questions about your leadership skills and problem-solving abilities are a way for admissions advisers and faculty to understand how you function by yourself ...

What is a graduate school interview?

Graduate school interviews allow university staff to evaluate your potential to succeed in their program. These interviews might be with a single interviewer or a panel of university staff, and will likely include a mixture of specialized questions about your subject area and general questions about your goals and experience.

Why do you ask similar questions in a graduate interview?

Although many graduate programs are extremely specialized, interviewers will often ask similar questions to get a sense of your personality and attitude. Your interview answers should emphasize your successes and share information about yourself that was not included in your application materials.

Why do you need to have hobbies in graduate school?

Because graduate programs can have a high level of difficulty, you will also need to have hobbies to help manage stress. Your hobbies and interests can also highlight qualities that are not obvious from an academic record, such as creativity or teamwork. Use this question to display your personality and connect with the interviewer on a personal level.

What are some examples of graduate programs?

Academic success, awards, accomplishments and publications are all examples of positive contributions to a graduate program. To answer this question effectively, research the program thoroughly and relate your goals and interests to the department's recent work.

Prepare your Opening Statement

Interviews often begin with the interviewer asking you to describe yourself and your current position, so have a short, concise answer prepared before you go in.

Find the Right Outfit

Prepare your outfit of choice ahead of the day and smarten up by booking a haircut a couple of days before to finish it off. Make sure to shine the shoes, iron the trousers and hang your outfit the night before so it’s ready to go and you can spend the morning going over your notes rather than rushing around with the iron.

Find the Route Beforehand

Plan out the best route to reach your interview a few days ahead, making sure you know which mode of transport you are taking and if you plan to drive then work out where you can park.

Research, Research Research

Although interviews for postgraduate courses often follow a more laid-back format than a standard job interview it's always advisable to prepare as if you were getting a grilling from a future employer.

Learn your Own CV

It's the oldest advice in the book but never underestimate the importance of knowing your background inside out because there is nothing more unprofessional than stumbling over dates and details in your career or academic history.

Take a Practice Test

Most university websites offer practice tests for future postgraduates on a range of subjects, and these will often be real questions they’ve asked in the past.

Can you tell me about yourself?

This question gives you the opportunity to emphasise things that perhaps you didn't articulate strongly in your CV or initial postgraduate application and personal statement. Discuss your education and work experience, highlighting your achievements and qualifications.

What are your strengths?

Talk about things that will make your application look positive. Mention soft skills, such as teamwork, organisation, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

What are your weaknesses?

This is a classic postgraduate interview question. Choose a weakness that you're currently succeeding in overcoming. For example:

Do you think that your undergraduate record accurately reflects your effort and ability?

This gives you the opportunity to explain a poor grade or a bad semester. You need to be careful here - don't come across as a moaner by blaming other people - for example, your tutors.

Describe your dream job in the future

When university admissions staff ask this question they are trying to see if you have logically thought through your future plans and how the postgraduate degree fits in with these.

Which academic or businessperson do you most admire and why?

When interviewers ask this question, they're trying to learn something about you through the person that you admire most - so explain your choice. It's not enough just to give a name - you need to know something about the person and why they inspire you. Avoid well-known figures, unless you can say something original about them.

What difficult decision have you had to make in the last six months?

This question aims to test the candidate's reasoning ability, problem-solving skills and judgement.

A shoe-in for this course – my own Masters 'interview'

I had applied to a fairly specialised Humanities programme. The topic was fairly niche and the lead academic was very respected in their field, but nothing in the admissions criteria mentioned an interview and, sure enough, I wasn't invited for one.

Know what to expect

As above, one of the first things to establish is how 'interview-ey' the interview is going to be.

Know who'll be there

Most interviews will involve a postgraduate course tutor or programme leader for your Masters (one of the academics responsible for delivering your course). This is likely to be the person you meet for an informal chat and they'll probably be part of the panel for more formal interviews.

Know what to prepare

Once you know what format your interview / meeting will take and who will be there, you can prepare.

Know what happens next

My chat ended with a polite handshake and an encouragement to complete the application and registration process. Formal interviews might conclude with more of a "thank you, we'll be in touch." Either way, it's good to have some idea what to expect afterwards – particularly if you're expected to take the next step yourself.

What is the most important thing to remember in an interview?

However, the most important thing to remember is that the interview is a time for you to shine, not to hold back because of nerves. Faculty members are excited to get to know you. Take advantage of this opportunity to present yourself in the best light possible.

What is a group interview?

The group interview is an integral part of the review process to determine if you are a fit for the program and whether the program is a good fit for your professional goals. Faculty members and selected supervisors will be able to evaluate your observable traits, such as your ability to cultivate relationships, ...

What is CACREP counseling?

CACREP—the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs —also requires that students demonstrate group interactions before receiving an admissions decision. Counseling@Northwestern’s group interview is central to its accreditation and admissions requirements.