How do I impress interviewer and staff?

[lillycat11]

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Hello,
I am preparing for two upcoming interviews and I feel pretty comfortable with standard interview questions? However, when trying to think of conversion starters, topics, and questions with staff I freeze? What are good things to ask or bring up? What are hot topics in physical therapy? What will impress the staff and professors and ensure I get accepted?

 

[SJerseyDPT]

You can ask the staff

1. What do you consider the greatest strength of this program?
2. What sets this program apart from other programs?
3. What makes a student successful in your program?
4. How large are the class sizes

Look up the program on their website and read up on everything. Is there a Pro bono clinic for students, can you travel abroad, what makes their program special, why do you want to go there. Know their program well.

If you're talking to students ask them why they chose that particular college, what do they like best about the program, how does the program differ from undergrad, what year are they in, what undergrad did they attend, etc......

Moveforwardpt talks about current issues

I think what impress the staff is being well prepared for the interview. Most interviews are group interviews so you don't want to wing it. You only have one chance to impress them. Practice, Practice, practice until it feels natural to you.

 

[mgdwreck]

Going into my interview I went on to the school's website and looked up every professors research interests. They split us up and we each had one on two interviews with faculty. I interviewed with the program director so At the end when they asked me if I had any questions I brought up her interview interests. We had about a 5 minute conversation just about that and then I brought up some of my own research interests. They seemed really impressed by that and she said my research interests aligned well with the school's.