It’s the season for grad school interviews. I’ve been doing these a couple years now (for a few different programs), and in the interest of dismantling the hidden curriculum, here’s how I’d interview you and what I’d look for: 1/
(Before I go on I want to emphasize that this is just how one person at one school does interviews. It is not universal, and you should take this as a data point and nothing more.) 2/
Most importantly, I want to see that you are prepared for the rigors of grad school This means that you have the academic training (and if you made it to the interview you almost certainly already do) to not be overwhelmed and the motivation to push through the difficulties. 3/
I’ll usually start with small talk. This is not a test, this is to put you at ease. I know it can be intimidating to be 1-1 in a professor’s office at a school you want to go to, and I’d really like that stress to not get in the way of you showing who you are at your best. 4/
Then I’ll ask questions about your history, why you chose to go into this field, how you ended up interested in research, etc. The point of this is to give you a chance to say what drives you, why you care about the field, why it matters to you. 5/
“I needed a job, and I went to the only lab that was willing to pay, but then it turned out to be fascinating because X and Y” is a great reason. Not everything has to have been planned, but why you want to keep doing it matters. 6/
“I don’t know, I was always kind of good at science and grad school seemed like the next step” is a bad answer. That’s a warning that when it gets tough (and it will get tough) you might not care enough to push through. 7/
Next, I’ll ask you about the research that you’ve done. Here I’m looking to see that you’ve thought about the work, why it matters, and why you were taking the steps you were. Again, remember this is about *you* more than the project. 8/
As a grad student you’ll be driving your own project, and will make guiding decisions. You have think about why you’re doing what you’re doing to decide well. Even if you didn’t get to make those decisions before, show that you can think about the bigger picture reasons. 9/
Again, the point is what you did and what you thought about much more than the project itself or the results. Where a paper you’re middle author on ended up I care less about, that says more about the lab you had access to than you. 10/
Finally I’ll leave time for you to ask questions. This also isn’t a test. Moving across the country (or the world) for grad school is a huge choice. I want to give you a chance to get as much information as you can and make an informed decision. 11/
For me, asking about lifestyle is a sign of realism and professionalism — you’re going to spend a few years of your prime here, you should know what you’re in for. Asking about requirements and expectations is definitely ok also. 12/
Also it’s ok if I’m your last interview and you’ve asked all your questions already. But I’d recommend asking the same question to multiple people. You will often get different answers. 13/
In the end, for the majority of PhD programs, the difference in experiences within the program is much larger than between. You won’t get all the information you need because the right decision is fundamentally unknowable. Trust your instincts, and good luck. 14/14
I was also asked about thank you notes: in terms of how you're evaluated, they're irrelevant to me. They're a kind gesture if you send them genuinely. Basically, be a normal person, but maybe a slightly kinder, better version of yourself. 15/14
Like if I get a “thank you so so much I really hope to work with you!!!” from someone who obviously is interested in some other research, I'll definitely roll my eyes at it. But I won't change an admission evaluation based on it. 16/14
