The Interview
You may or may not be invited to have an interview by a university after you have submitted your application. The situation varies between countries and between programs.
Students applying to Oxbridge and medical schools in the UK (except Edinburgh) will have an interview if their application is strong enough.
Students applying to most but not all programs in Hong Kong will have an interview.
Students applying to US and PRC universities may have an interview.
Students applying to Canada, Japan and Australia will probably not have interviews.
All we be different.
Oxbridge and UK medical school interviews are subject specific, usually done by a panel and must be prepared for. If you are asked to attend an interview it indicates that you have passed the first cut and then the interview itself becomes very important. Know why you want to enter the program for which you have applied for and be prepared to discuss it in depth. The interview will ask questions to watch your thought process as you work your way through the answer. They will have read your personal statement before the interview so you must review it before you start. Interviews may take place here in Hong Kong or in the UK for Oxbridge; some medical schools will interview you in the UK or in Hong Kong.
Interviews for Hong Kong universities vary; you may be interviewed alone, online, as part of a group or both. Again being asked for an interview is a good sign and a good interview will help you receive an offer. Like the UK, be prepared to discuss your interest in the particular program you wish to enter. Not all programs call for interviews; if you are not asked for one it may mean none are required; or that you will be interviewed in a later round or that your application is not strong enough.
Some American universities may interview, and many who do will ask their alumni in Hong Kong to conduct them. American interviews are much more general and casual; they may be informative (simply an exchange of information) or evaluative (the interviewer submits a report on you after the interview). While US interviews are not mandatory, if invited we recommend that you accept the invitation as it shows that you are serious about the application (remember demonstrated interest). The best interview turns into a two way conversation where you find out more about the university and they find out more about you.
The interview may well be the only time you meet a representative of a university face to face. It is your chance to convince them of your interest in their school and to ask them questions to learn more about their university. Remember you are also interviewing them.
DO:
- Show up on time.
- Dress properly. A school uniform is fine if the interview is done during school time or just before or after school. Dressing too casually suggests that you aren't serious about the interview.
- Turn off your mobile phone before the interview.
- Have a few good questions prepared to ask the interviewer; not ones that can be answered by looking at page one of the university's website.
- Do your homework on the university and the program you want to study there. Know why you applied to the university.
- If you have interviews with several schools, schedule the one with your first choice to take place last if possible. This will allow you to gain experience with the earlier ones.
- If you are interviewed by one person, get his/her full name and email address and then send a thank you email after you leave.
- Be yourself. Don't invent a new personality or claim to be something you aren't.
- Be aware of body language; avoid slumping in your chair or sitting stiffly upright. You may reflect on how your interviewer acts. If he is relaxed and informal, you may not need to sit rigidly at attention.
- Relax, make eye contact. The interview will expect you to be nervous but you shouldn't be so nervous that you cannot respond to questions.
Students applying to Oxbridge and medical schools in the UK (except Edinburgh) will have an interview if their application is strong enough.
Students applying to most but not all programs in Hong Kong will have an interview.
Students applying to US and PRC universities may have an interview.
Students applying to Canada, Japan and Australia will probably not have interviews.
All we be different.
Oxbridge and UK medical school interviews are subject specific, usually done by a panel and must be prepared for. If you are asked to attend an interview it indicates that you have passed the first cut and then the interview itself becomes very important. Know why you want to enter the program for which you have applied for and be prepared to discuss it in depth. The interview will ask questions to watch your thought process as you work your way through the answer. They will have read your personal statement before the interview so you must review it before you start. Interviews may take place here in Hong Kong or in the UK for Oxbridge; some medical schools will interview you in the UK or in Hong Kong.
Interviews for Hong Kong universities vary; you may be interviewed alone, online, as part of a group or both. Again being asked for an interview is a good sign and a good interview will help you receive an offer. Like the UK, be prepared to discuss your interest in the particular program you wish to enter. Not all programs call for interviews; if you are not asked for one it may mean none are required; or that you will be interviewed in a later round or that your application is not strong enough.
Some American universities may interview, and many who do will ask their alumni in Hong Kong to conduct them. American interviews are much more general and casual; they may be informative (simply an exchange of information) or evaluative (the interviewer submits a report on you after the interview). While US interviews are not mandatory, if invited we recommend that you accept the invitation as it shows that you are serious about the application (remember demonstrated interest). The best interview turns into a two way conversation where you find out more about the university and they find out more about you.
The interview may well be the only time you meet a representative of a university face to face. It is your chance to convince them of your interest in their school and to ask them questions to learn more about their university. Remember you are also interviewing them.
DO:
- Show up on time.
- Dress properly. A school uniform is fine if the interview is done during school time or just before or after school. Dressing too casually suggests that you aren't serious about the interview.
- Turn off your mobile phone before the interview.
- Have a few good questions prepared to ask the interviewer; not ones that can be answered by looking at page one of the university's website.
- Do your homework on the university and the program you want to study there. Know why you applied to the university.
- If you have interviews with several schools, schedule the one with your first choice to take place last if possible. This will allow you to gain experience with the earlier ones.
- If you are interviewed by one person, get his/her full name and email address and then send a thank you email after you leave.
- Be yourself. Don't invent a new personality or claim to be something you aren't.
- Be aware of body language; avoid slumping in your chair or sitting stiffly upright. You may reflect on how your interviewer acts. If he is relaxed and informal, you may not need to sit rigidly at attention.
- Relax, make eye contact. The interview will expect you to be nervous but you shouldn't be so nervous that you cannot respond to questions.