I believe you should always ask a question (even if you have done the research and know the answer) to show that you are interested in the school and are making an effort during the interview.
I know that's fairly standard advice, so I acknowledge that I might be off base here, but ... I still disagree.
If you have questions - sure, ask them. If you don't have questions - ask yourself: Do I not have questions because I have all the info I need, or because I haven't taken the time to think this through? The answer *ought* to be the former rather than the latter.
And if
that's the case (that you've got all the info you need) ... just be honest and tell them that when they say "Do you have any questions for us?" Phrase it in a positive way - something about how you don't have any questions because you've already your homework.
My answer was "I've been volunteering in the teaching hospital for two years. I've talked to every fourth year student that came through our area on rotations about vet school, admissions, life during school, their plans after graduation .... I feel like I have all the information I need to know that I want to be at this school."
Personally, I think that's one step better because it shows you've already done your research. If you're asking them questions, it implies you're still in the information-gathering stage. Definitely not a bad thing, but not quite as good as already having done the work. Back in my interviewing days in the telecom biz, it was always
painfully obvious when people were asking questions because it was the typical thing they thought they were supposed to do to ace their interview - and it always annoyed the hell out of me because it was so obviously contrived. Don't be that person; at least come up with genuine questions that you couldn't have gotten answered by 5 seconds of skimming the vet school's website. Or make it related to your interviewers' job/field. But the people that did best in my interviews were the ones that came into the interview already knowing what they needed to know about the company (within reason; obviously there are some things that are just plain difficult to find out without asking an insider).
If you have access to a video camera tape yourself answering questions...do you roll your eyes or bite your lip, look at your body language -does it say anything negative about you.
Really good advice.
My pre vet advisor told me that everyone would have already seen my application. WRONG.
Yeah, that's bum advice because it differs from school to school, and it's not even black and white - at some places they "may" see it, so you don't know. I flat-out asked my interviewers right at the beginning (I phrased it as "So I understand how much background to give in my answers, have you had the opportunity to review my application?" or something similar.). Nothing wrong with asking them - it's not likely to be a secret!
I'm consistently surprised at the poor advice people get from "pre-vet advisors".... Kinda getting the impression that the pre-vet advising thing is something that schools are just throwing at some staff member who already has a full plate with other stuff and so the person just wings it. I'm sure there have to be good ones out there, but it seems like more often than not they're giving out advice that just isn't all that good.
Regarding what to bring into the interview, I'm with MB. I don't see any reason not to bring your stuff in a nice little folder. Either you can reference it or, if the opportunity presents itself, you can share it with them. They can always decline - no harm, no foul.
I would encourage people to bring a pad of paper and a pen and to not be afraid to jot notes to yourself - just make sure you start off by asking if they mind if you take notes. I used it as an opportunity to write one or two keywords for their questions as well as my answers - it helped keep me on track and focused. Obviously you don't want to sit there and take 30 seconds to outline an answer, but noting one or two key words can a) help you stay organized, b) give your hands something to do, and c) buy you a few extra seconds of thinking time for framing your answer. It also gives you a chance to insert a natural, not awkward, break in eye contact, which is just as important as maintaining it.
🙂
Ugh. This post turned into a book. Sorry.
