Steps to prepare for an interview

[journeybegins]

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It's time I start thinking about interviews... 🙂 Most of my interviews are probably going to start in January.

So, for people who have had dental school interviews already...


1) What steps do you usually do leading up to the interview? Anybody have any crazy formulas or a routine they usually do? Do you write down answers to questions? Do you read the current events?

2) Yes, I know there are interview feedback websites, but besides that. If you have mock interviews, who do you suggest doing it with?

I know there are people who do better when they don't practice, and then there are people who do better when they practice. So, everybody is different. I'm the type of person who sounds better when I prepare. I sound better, but still genuine because my thoughts are more concise and still convey what I want to say.

3) When do you usually start to book your flights?

4) Do you bring anything to interviews?

EDIT:

5) What is a typical general interview day like?

Tour, lunch with dental students, interview at the end of the day? Do interviewees ALL wait outside a place for their turn while an interview is being conducted with an interviewee? Is that what I should be expecting? So, in this time, we're expected to talk to the other interviewees while waiting, right?...

 

[DentalJedi]

It's time I start thinking about interviews... 🙂 Most of my interviews are probably going to start in January.

So, for people who have had dental school interviews already...


1) What steps do you usually do leading up to the interview? Anybody have any crazy formulas or a routine they usually do? Do you write down answers to questions? Do you read the current events?

2) Yes, I know there are interview feedback websites, but besides that. If you have mock interviews, who do you suggest doing it with?

I know there are people who do better when they don't practice, and then there are people who do better when they practice. So, everybody is different. I'm the type of person who sounds better when I prepare. I sound better, but still genuine because my thoughts are more concise and still convey what I want to say.

3) When do you usually start to book your flights?

4) Do you bring anything to interviews?

1) I just use SDN and look at typical questions that are asked.

2) I personally don't do mock interviews as I don't think they are that beneficial (in my case). My advice here is DON'T REHEARSE YOUR ANSWERS. They can tell when you've memorized what you're going to say. Just remember the key points you want to get across for each question, make those points, then stop talking before you start rambling.

3) I book flights immediately after I schedule it, so they're cheaper.

4) I don't bring anything.

 

[valkairon]

1) What steps do you usually do leading up to the interview? Anybody have any crazy formulas or a routine they usually do? Do you write down answers to questions? Do you read the current events?

Research the school. Be prepared to say what you know about their program and why you watnt to go there. Also be prepared to answer all the basic questions like why dentistry, why not medicine, biggest strengths and weaknesses etc...


4) Do you bring anything to interviews?

Bring a pen and a professional looking notebook. Take notes on what they say. I've been to two different interviews where they made us write essays and did not provide a pen and I was the only one without one. Also, it seems that everyone else had notebooks. Even if you don't care to write notes, you don't wan to be remembered as the only guy who didn't.

 

[journeybegins]

Research the school. Be prepared to say what you know about their program and why you watnt to go there. Also be prepared to answer all the basic questions like why dentistry, why not medicine, biggest strengths and weaknesses etc...

Researching the school is important. But do they also do a powerpoint presentation of some sort about the school during the interview too? Or is it just a tour...but tours don't last that long, I assume.

 

[TheIceCreamTruk]

Researching the school is important. But do they also do a powerpoint presentation of some sort about the school during the interview too? Or is it just a tour...but tours don't last that long, I assume.

some schools do the powerpoint presentation and some don't, they just answer questions that you might have. if you really feel the need to prepare, the most i would do (besides researching the school) is to write down the points you want to convey about yourself, why you want to attend the school, why dentistry, etc. and keep those in mind before you interview. but as for mock interviews, i personally feel like they could backfire cause then you have a preconceived sense of how your interview should go so if one interviewer decides to test you and make it as uncomfortable as possible, it might throw off your rhythm. but then again, i haven't done mock interviews so i could be totally wrong. either way, just be yourself i guess 🙂

 

[seattlesun]

I try to have an at least 3 part answer to "Why do you want to attend our school?" I research by reading the ADEA school description for starters, move to surfing and taking notes on their school website, and search to see if I can read their dental alumni magazine online or their school news. Those alumni magazines are a pot of gold: new events, research, programs added, school vision, how it feels to be a student there.
Examples:
http://www.dental.washington.edu/alumni/magazine.html
http://www.dental.upenn.edu/alumni/alumni_connect/penn_dental_journal/
http://www.nyu.edu/dental/nexus

I take notes at all times about all the things that got me excited when doing this research and if a question pops in my head I write it down too, since you should have 3-4 questions to ask also.

 

[YoHomey]

I watch SNL for inspiration and then do a dialogue between myself and myself. I change up my voice and pretend I'm the interviewer and ask a bunch of random questions and then answer them as the interviewee. I also tried this on the plane which was entertaining for the nearby passengers. This approach works like a charm.

 

[amorfati5]

I watch SNL for inspiration and then do a dialogue between myself and myself. I change up my voice and pretend I'm the interviewer and ask a bunch of random questions and then answer them as the interviewee. I also tried this on the plane which was entertaining for the nearby passengers. This approach works like a charm.

👍👍 very innovative 😉

 

[little Buddy]

you should have 3-4 questions to ask also.

Or if your questions were already answered during the presentation or from the students, just say so. I'm sure they would appreciate the honesty.👍