All rights reserved. “Good fit” is essentially an assessment of how well your interests and future goals match with what the program has to offer. Remember, you are interviewing to see how good of a fit you are for the program and for how well the program fits your career aspirations. The interview process varies from university-to-university. You may not have an opportunity to ask all of the questions in part 1, and you certainly will not end up answering all of part 2 during your interviews. Knowing what types of interview questions may be asked of you as a future school psychologist will help you prepare for the interview. What characteristics are specific to this program and distinguish it from competitors? Getting in: A step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology. Questions to Ask During a Graduate Admissions Interview . Why do you feel this site would be a good fit with your interests and background? Applying to graduate school in psychology: Advice from successful students and prominent psychologists. What percentage of your Ph.D.s gets a job within one year of graduation? Does the program provide funding for grad student research? Camden, NJ 08102 What types of financial aid are offered? Remember you are assessing whether or not the program is a “good fit” for you, as well. I hope to work with other drug and alcohol clinicians to develop & implement new interventions that will help patients to sustain long-term sobriety.”. Are they teaching in colleges/universities? The graduate committee from XYZ University has reviewed your application materials and has invited you to the university for an interview. General Interview Questions • Why do you want to be a school psychologist? Be sure to maintain a mature and friendly, yet professional demeanor. (2007). Feel free to ask about something that you already know, if you can’t come up with anything on the spot. Practice your “elevator” speech. Besides, it seems like a timely follow up to my post on “5 Dirty Little Secrets about Getting a Ph.D.”. Asking questions is a great way to get answers, but for interviewing Many graduate interviews will be carried out in groups, meaning that instead of answering questions one-on-one, you’ll be judged on your ability to contribute to a range of team tasks and activities. What do most students do after graduation? Funding usually comes in the form of a teaching assistantship (TA), where you help professors with grading and other instructional duties, a research assistantship (RA), where you help professors conduct their research, or a graduate assistantship (GA), where you do just about anything. "Every internship director has the same lament," he says. Graduate student hosts are still expected to carry out their own schedules while accommodating you, so remember their time is valuable. Share Followers 2. You are now one step closer to being accepted. In addition to writing the "Caveman Politics" blog for Psychology Today, I am the Executive Director of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Texas Tech University. Watch the video on . Violence is increasing at schools, including fatal incidents. These graduate students serve as hosts, tour guides, and escorts during your visit to the campus. You will be repeating it many times over the course of the weekend. S ome schools invite applicants to a series of on-campus interviews as the final step in the screening process. • What do you dislike about school psychology? How long does it take your typical student to finish her/his Ph.D.? Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [12-part video series] Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [video slides in PDF format] Further Resources. And if you haven't scored an interview yet, focus on making your resume and cover letter sharp and engaging. Rather, you should create a list of many, many questions that you would like to ask while on the interview. If you are the nervous-type, don’t worry. If you’re applying to a graduate program, particularly (though not exclusively) to a doctoral program, you may face an interview, and you need to be prepared for the kinds of questions you may be asked. Many graduate schools require an interview as part of the application process. However, there are some basic pieces of advice that apply to a wide range of Ph.D. Psych interview weekends. • How did you get into school psychology? In my own opinion, I would suggest that you never run out of questions! If you’ve listed something in your application and/or CV, you must be prepared to talk about it with your interviewers. • What strengths/weaknesses do you have? I think they apply well to most programs, not just clinical. Research funding often goes to data collection and/or analysis (e.g., surveys, travel, or materials for experiments). Grad School Interview Question #8: Specifics on past publications or projects/Can you explain your research (or research interests) in a way that would be comprehensible to non-specialists? I can’t overstate this (thanks to my former professor, Richard E. Matland, for giving me the opportunity to work with him). For a more detailed guide on what types of questions to ask, take a look at our guide Questions to Ask in a Grad School Interview. Such disclosures may call into question your ability to remain focused on the demands of graduate school, whether that is the case or not. In case a student doesn’t get a job immediately after finishing, are there opportunities to stay in the department as an instructor for a year or so to get more time to find a job? The job interview is a time for an employer to find a good potential employee who meshes well with the professional goals of the agency, and vice versa. What … You could have in mind three questions to ask about the employer and three questions to ask about the … Where are recent alumni employed? The purpose of assessing “good fit” in the interviewing process will have more to do with your personality, your maturity level, and your ability to think on your feet and discuss your desire to gain expertise in the specific discipline that you applied for in your own words. 2. Consider how your research interests and/or goals will contribute to the work already being conducted within that particular program. Applying for graduate school can be quite a meticulous process, and you might find that participating in an interview is a part of it. Interviewing (what to say and ask… Phone: (856) 225-6520 When it comes to questions to ask on graduate school visits, there is no limit. 5 Dirty Little Secrets about Getting a Ph.D, Dear CDC: I Have to Make a Life-and-Death Decision, Schoolyard Politics: The Role of Height in Elections, 5 Dirty Little Secrets about Getting a PhD. You may not have gotten accepted into XYZ university simply because the number of slots that the program had open was exceeded by the number of students that were invited to the interviews. Internships for clinical psychology students can be few and far between and very competitive to obtain. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. You see, ‘tis the beginning of the interview season for applicants to Ph.D. programs. As you review these interview questions about your education, career goals, and plans for the future, keep in mind that your responses should indicate how you are prepared to make the transition from being a student to becoming a productive professional. The graduate committee knows that not all the students that are interviewed will accept an offer of admission. Before undertaking such a commitment, ask these questions … The interview generally entails a full weekend-long agenda facilitated by graduate students already enrolled in the program. What types of services does the un… How do you cope with disappointment? You will have to prove yourself over the course of time in the program, and these professors have likely seen many students both significantly gain and lose confidence over the course of a very difficult program. What types of financial aid are offered? “My main area of interest is in studying the social relationships of adolescent children who have witnessed domestic violence in their homes and the ways by which they react to aggression from their peers.”, “I am interested primarily in working one-on-one with drug abuse victims in a clinical setting. Counseling Psychology Graduate Program Interviews. It is highly likely that you will have to spend the weekend at one of the graduate student’s houses, and that person is “hosting” you during the interview process. You should have a good idea of the answers to these questions before you select a Ph.D. program, so the interview is an ideal time to get this information if you haven’t found it elsewhere. : a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school interviews can take several... Prepare to ask… interview questions: Just know 'Em university put together this comprehensive list of potential questions from Mitch’s. 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