So, you applied to grad school and you got an interview! What now? It's been a hot second since I interviewed for grad school but since admissions interview season is coming up, I thought I'd share some of the interview questions I asked/wish I'd asked more about during my grad application process.
First, my top tip - even before you think about what specific questions to ask - is to remember that this interview is for YOU, too. Sure, we tend to think that being interviewed for admission to a grad program is where you're being judged whether you're "worthy" of a program, but in reality, if you're at the point where they want to spend the time and money to interview you, you already have the right qualifications for the program. This is more so an opportunity for both you and them to decide whether you are a good fit for the program, the people, and the culture.
It's like Harry Potter houses. You probably have multiple interviews for grad programs and they have multiple students interviewing - you're still going to be at Hogwarts, it's just a matter of which house you're getting sorted into. And, it's important that you ask questions that are important to you and true to yourself during these interviews so you're sorted into the right house. (shout out to all my fellow hufflepuffs 😘) Though it is still up to you to decide what is important to you, here are some things I asked or wish I had asked during my PhD admissions interviews:
What's the funding situation like?
How every advisor, department, and school determines PhD student funding varies a ton. In some departments it totally depends on your advisor, in others, you teach in exchange for your funding, and in some cases, you may be responsible for your own funding. Usually, if your program is reputable, your school and department should guarantee you some sort of funding - however, the way in which you earn that funding may vary. Furthermore, you might only get funding during certain semesters (e.g., not in the summer) so you may have to budget accordingly. Long story short, how much funding you get, what work you have to do in exchange for that funding, and how it is distributed varies a TON so get 👏 those 👏 details 👏 . You need to know what you're getting into.
Are there opportunities to teach, and if so, how are teaching opportunities distributed?
Again, how teaching opportunities are distributed in each department varies a ton. Even within the business area in my school, the teaching opportunities are distributed totally differently across marketing vs. accounting vs. real estate. In some departments, you have to teach during certain years of your program, in others, you may not teach at all unless you choose to do so. Teaching is also viewed very differently by each person - some people love it, some would rather teach as little as possible. How much you as an individual want to teach should be based on what your ultimate goal is - either way, however, having at least one or two opportunities to teach during your program is ideal if you want to move into an academic role in the future, so knowing how teaching is distributed is valuable.
How long does it take students to finish their PhDs?
This one may not seem super important but again, I think it's about setting yourself up to have accurate expectations of a program. In many cases, PhDs take people 5, 6, 7 years or even longer depending on the area. Knowing how long you'll be in an area and how many years of your life you will need to commit to this program is invaluable when you're making such a big life decision.
Ask for specifics about the qualifications/preliminary exam/dissertation process.
This is a question I wish I had asked at the schools I visited! Especially if you get the opportunity to meet with current PhD students, their most recent experiences will give you a good idea of what it's like to actually go through the process. Though it may seem preliminary to be asking such specific questions about qualifying exams and the dissertation process, it's again one of those things that varies a TON by school and program. In some programs, the qualifying exams is an extremely stressful process where students may be weeded out while in other programs, the qualifying exams are important, but the goal is not to weed students out and a majority of sutdents are supported through the process. Having that information in your mind will be that much more helpful when you're making a decision as to which program is the best fit for you.
What is it like to live in XYZ place?
Asking about what it is like to live in the program's location is important for two reasons. 1) It gives you valuable information about what your day-to-day life will look like for the next 4-8 years and 2) it demonstrates that you are seriously considering the program because you are evaluating what it would be like to live there!
What is the culture of the department like?
This may or may not be a question that people will answer honestly, but I think it's still worth asking because it can be very telling how people choose to (or choose not to) answer the question. Each program is different, the relationships between students are different and the relationship between students and faculty is different. The sooner you can get a read on the culture, the better!
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