Graduate School Interview Questions

Depending on the Graduate School, an interview may be expected. Prepare for possible questions using this guide.

About Yourself

Tell me about yourself.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you handle difficult people/situations?
How do you deal with stress?
What has been your proudest personal accomplishment?
How would your professors describe you?
What was the last book you read (that isn’t required for class)?
What do you do in your free time?

About the Program

Why do you want to be a ______?
What do you plan to specialize in?
Why did you choose our school/program?
What others schools have you applied to? Where does our school fit in your ranking?
Why do you believe you will be successful in our program?
What makes you different from other applicants?
What will you do to best maintain success in the program?

About Your Academic Experience

Tell me more about your research.
What has been your most influential experience in shaping yourself as a future _?
What has been your proudest moment in school so far?
What has been your favorite/most difficult class?

About Your Career Goals

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
How will you define success in your future?
How would you most like to contribute to the field?

Additional Questions to Prepare to Answer

Ethical related questions with how you would handle a situation
What will you do if you don’t get in?
Situational based questions where you need to describe how you would handle a situation
Current events relating to the profession/program