So its that time of year where people are starting to interview. I was just wondering from people who have gone through this whole process: What is one thing you wish you had done prior to interviewing at any particular school?
Your interview day starts the moment you step out of your car in the morning. Don't do something that would jeopardize your admission on the way to or from the interview. Also, your interview starts the second your interviewer comes and gets you for the interview. The small talk on the way to the door of their office or wherever you are going is part of it. Something i read said that some adcoms can make up their minds on what they want to do within the first 5 minutes of meeting you, make a good first impression.
Don't rehearse answers, you will come off as disingenuous. DO however, have some stock answers or examples to questions. Stories or examples of your character are good to have, typically you want to answer in a way that shows the problem, shows how you tackled it and the solution or what you learned from it. Simple yes/no or one word answers are never good.
Have a good way to answer the question "Tell me about yourself", I was asked this in every interview I've ever been in, 3 school interviews and every professional interview. This question can easily guide the interview based on what you say.
Have questions ready for the interviewers, not having questions can be interpreted as lack of interest. Ask these questions even if they are going to be answered later in the day or if they have been answers earlier, its better to ask and hear the answers again than say "nope, I'm good"
On that topic, have questions that aren't easily found online or ones that involve the interviewers personal opinions, give them a chance to sell the school to you.
Get to your interview early, I had a girl show up 15 minutes late and mess up the interview schedule, needless to say the interviewers weren't exactly happy.
