Group Interviews

[freudismyfriend]

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I'm going to have my first group interview tomorrow. Anyone have any experiences to share so I know what to expect? Thanks!

 

[deleted176373]

I'm going to have my first group interview tomorrow. Anyone have any experiences to share so I know what to expect? Thanks!

Group interviews suck. You want to exercise a fair amount of impulse control and you want to definitely strike a balance in how engaged you are. You don't want to dominate the discussions and you don't want to disappear into the wood work either.

When you do speak, be concise, factual, and contribute something meaningful to the conversation. A few well spoken statements are far more valuable than having a bunch of moderately decent statements. Show that you are mature, non-competitive, and confident. Less is more and how you answer the questions posed directly to you will be important.

Allow people who have diarrhea of the mouth to hang themselves. They aren't making themselves look better, as you will see, they may start strong but usually don't do well as the interview wears on.

Mark

 

[KillerDiller]

My best advice for a group interview is to be courteous, respectful, and encouraging of the other applicants' answers and opinions. This will reflect well on you.

As for my group interview experience two years ago, it wasn't too painful, but there was this one girl who tried to monopolize the conversation but also didn't seem to have an idea what she was talking about. It was really annoying and I like to think she didn't get in.

 

[schoolpsych]

I have had one group interview so far. It wasn't that different from a one-on-one interview. The faculty member asked us the usual questions (why this program/degree/field, what are your research interests, etc.) and we took turns answering them. As KillerDiller said, just be respectful when the others are talking and don't monopolize the conversation and you'll be fine 🙂

 

[JockNerd]

Mercifully I only had one group interview last year. It sucked. No one wanted to talk first so I did, for every question, and I think it looked like I was dominating the conversation. Plus some douche just kept repeating what everyone was saying without contributing anything; I think he was trying to "facilitate." Wost. Interview. That year.

my tip: Try to contain how naive and uninformed you think the other applicants are

 

[EquestriAnn]

Group interviews sound horrible. I just got back from a regular interview weekend and the first night I went to dinner with the other girl trying to get the same spot in the lab, our potential adviser, and a few other people. I felt like I was monopolizing the entire conversation, but the other girl barely spoke the entire time! Turns out she was kind of just like that, she was definitely a better-on-paper kind of person and didn't have much to say. Before I left they told me I was unofficially accepted (and there is only room for one), so I would say it worked to speak my mind whenever I had something intelligent and appropriate to say, but of course I didn't interrupt her or not give her a chance to speak or anything. I can't imagine having to do that with several other candidates as well...good luck!

 

[Jon4PsyD]

LOL wow I am not looking forward to this next year (if I ever get to the point of even receiving an interview invite of course). The conspiracy theorist almost makes me wonder if these people are purposely planted in the group interviews and arent even real applicants, just to throw off things🙂

 

[Liselaime]

I had a group interview at the University of North Dakota last week and I rather enjoyed myself. There were seven questions, which we each received copies of at the beginning of the interview. We took turns being the first person to answer a question, so no one person dominated, and no one seemed woefully uninformed or repetitive. I guess it depends on what the applicant pool is like.

 

[Jivan]

Hey Liselaime, I am interviewing for Clinical at UND in a few weeks. Imagine the interviews are different, but would be really interested to hear about your experience there and general impressions! If you wouldn't mind PMing me (don't want to take over the thread), would really appreciate it.

 

[JockNerd]

UND--I interviewed at the counseling program there. Are either of you going there for the counseling program?