what to ask at the interview! Lets make a list!

[suisho]

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I am a bad question maker. But, I know that in the interview its pretty important to ask alot of questions, to look interested and keep the dailouge going. And besides, if your asking questions, they can't ask you questions that are like 'ehh, well, *blank stare*'

So! What questions are you planning on asking at your interview?

 

[JockNerd]

Funding funding funding! How much, if everyone gets it, what you have to do for it, how far it goes in that city, is it guaranteed every year, etc.

 

[Ollie123]

Ask questions that make you seem motivated to do more than the typical student.

I asked about collaborating with researchers in other areas (e.g. genetics, neuroscience, medicine, etc.), about students seeking and obtaining their own grants, about taking classes outside the department when there aren't enough classes within the department in a certain area. For me it was usually stats classes that many psych departments just plain did not have enough of - or they'd only offer the basic univariate/multivariate and that's it, but that depends on both your interests and the school.

 

[Locrytham]

There's a fantastic list of some very pertinent questions to ask in the Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. I'll add it to this post tonight. Feel free to PM in case I've forgotten to get around to it. -K

 

[dontknowitall]

I did a search for interview advice (how I ended up on this forum!) and I found this list somewhere. I am sorry I am unable to cite the source, but I thought they were some great questions.

Questions to Ask Professors

• Is the atmosphere here more collaborative or competitive?
• How many years does it usually take students to graduate?
• What type of placements do students usually get?
• What type of internships do students usually get? How many get their first choice?
• How does the class schedule work? (All courses in first two years, or spread out)
• How much is the stipend? Is it guaranteed? Is it for research or for TAing?
• How does mentoring work?
• What are the strengths or weaknesses of your program?
• What makes a student successful in this program?
• How many publications do students usually leave this program with?
• Where do students leaving this program usually work – academia, hospitals, or private practice?
• Have you had any graduate students that did not work out? If yes, why? How was this resolved?
• What are the summers like in your program? Do the graduate students participate in practica, also take classes, just do research, or what?

Questions to Ask Students

• What made you decide to come here?
• What do you like the most about this school?
• What do you like the least?
• How was the transition?
• Was anything not like you expected based on your interview?
• How is your relationship with your mentor?
• How is your relationship with the other students?
• Do you like it here?
• What is the lab atmosphere like?
• Are you comfortable with your mentor?
• Do you think you are getting the training you need to do what you want to do?
• Have you had any disagreements with professors? How have they been resolved?

 

[psychwanabe]

The list above was given to me by a grad student in my lab (during UG) to help me with the interview process. It's an amalgamation of questions gathered from several years of grad applicants passing it down to each other and adding on/editing as necessary.

I found it to be really helpful during applications last year! Pass it on!

 

[xlittlemissalix]

There is actually a question I really want to ask, but I'm not sure how to word it/when to ask/whom to ask.

I am EXTREMELY interested in the POI at a university I applied to and I have an interview there in a few weeks; however, from the very beginning I have always received responses from his graduate students rather than my POI himself. This worries me about how he will be to have as a mentor. How would I refer to this in the interview? Obviously, I feel I will more likely direct this question to his current graduate students, but I don't want to come off as rude. Perhaps he is an excellent mentor, but just receives too many outside E-mails to respond to them all. When asked if I have any questions, should I simply ask him how his mentorship works exactly? Should I talk to the current graduate students and explain exactly what I'm thinking and see what they say? I just don't want me asking this question to be taken in a negative light. I think it shows I care!

 

[dontknowitall]

There is actually a question I really want to ask, but I'm not sure how to word it/when to ask/whom to ask.

I am EXTREMELY interested in the POI at a university I applied to and I have an interview there in a few weeks; however, from the very beginning I have always received responses from his graduate students rather than my POI himself. This worries me about how he will be to have as a mentor. How would I refer to this in the interview? Obviously, I feel I will more likely direct this question to his current graduate students, but I don't want to come off as rude. Perhaps he is an excellent mentor, but just receives too many outside E-mails to respond to them all. When asked if I have any questions, should I simply ask him how his mentorship works exactly? Should I talk to the current graduate students and explain exactly what I'm thinking and see what they say? I just don't want me asking this question to be taken in a negative light. I think it shows I care!

I think you could disguise it a bit in a question like "How much time do you spend with your advisor? How much time do you spend on his work vs. your own independent research? How has working with Dr. X contributed to your research interests/ dissertation topic/ masters thesis/ etc?" Hopefully what they say will bring up some follow up questions in which you can veil your interest in the mentoring relationship.

Another approach would be ask the grad students flat out. If you don't want a mentor that is up in his ivory tower all day, then you should be straight up about it. But perhaps that is for you to decide after you get your acceptance!

Good luck!