Campus Visits & Interviews

INTERVIEWS Campus Visits & Interviews Overview Planning your interviews Preparing for your interviews Interview manners and etiquette Interview Do's Interview Don'ts The most common interview mistakes Strategy for admissions interviews Opening questions - Admission interviews Opening-ended questions - Admissions interviews Final questions and impressions - Admissions interviews Additional possible questions - Admissions interviews Strategy and questions for Professor interviews Final impressions - Professor interviews

Strategy and Questions for Professor Interviews

The purpose of interviewing with a professor who teaches in the department of your major is twofold:  (1) for you to ask questions and become more informed about the department and (2) for you to create an advocate for your admission to that college.

Collect information about the department.  Go to the department’s home page and conduct research about the faculty, department course specialties and emphases, number of students studying in that department, ongoing student research projects, etc.  The more informed you are, the more specific and informative the questions you ask the professor will be.  Try to better understand the direction, strengths and weaknesses of the department.

Appropriate questions to ask the professor include:

• Are department professors available for consultation?
• Are research opportunities available for undergraduate students?
• Are there special requirements for students that major in this subject? 
• As a freshman, will I be able to take a class in my major?
• What is the atmosphere in the department?  Are students helpful to one another or is it very competitive among students?
• Do professors grade exams on the standard scale or on the curve?
• Do students receive prompt feedback on academic performance?
• Are labs and lectures taught mostly by professors or by teaching assistants
• Are internships available?
• What percentage of students in this department graduate in 4 years?

Create an advocate for your admittance to college.

From you completed research about the department, you should try to demonstrate you knowledge of a few items.  Sharing knowledge about the professor’s department demonstrates great initiative and seriousness on your part. 

Also, read the professor’s résumé if it is posted online.  Know if the professor has certain courses or labs he/she teaches and if he/she has a research specialty.  You’ll leave a lasting impression if you share some facts.
Remember, be prepared for interviews.  Demonstrate the appropriate manners and etiquette and follow the guidelines in the Do’s and Don’ts sections.  Be confident, poised, and well spoken.