Interview Advice from the class of 2019
Congratulations on having an interview! My
advice to you is to be yourself, have questions, and also interview the school.
Remember, you already proved yourself on paper, now programs want to know your
personality and style to see if you’d be a good fit for the program. You will
have plenty of opportunity to ask questions, so be sure to have them prepared
for your interviewers, faculty, and students. Finally, ask yourself if you
could see yourself at this program – do you like the city, the school, the students,
the rotations, the class set-up,
extracurriculars, etc? Good luck!
-Megan Hoenig
Congratulations on your interview! Amongst all
the excitement and jitters you’re probably feeling, don’t forget to take a deep
breath and be yourself! Take advantage of different opportunities to interact
with faculty and current students. These moments will be a great chance to ask
more questions and get to know the dynamic of the program to see if it’s the
right fit for you. Good luck!
-Alyssa Azevedo
Take a second to pat yourself on the back, you
got an interview!!! Now the hardest part is out of the way, and they already
think you’re pretty great, so now is the time for you to figure out if it’s the
place for you. I recommend coming up
with a list of questions and taking notes after each interview so it is easier
for you to look back on. I had friends (even those outside of science) who helped
me practice for interviews. I found being forced to say some of my answers out
loud was very helpful, and I found my best interviews were after I’d had a
chance to practice. Wear something that
makes you feel great about yourself!
Good luck!
-Natasha Robin Berman
Congratulations! Take pride in the fact that
you got an interview because it is quite an accomplishment. Remember that you
are interviewing Pitt as much as they are interviewing you. Explore the area if
you get the opportunity, and talk to as many students and faculty as possible.
Just stay calm because everyone is genuine and wants to get to know you! Good
luck!
-Rebecca Clark
Congratulations on getting an interview, you
are one step closer to becoming a future genetic counselor! My advice would be to write down questions
beforehand, it is so easy to forget questions in the moment. This will also allow you to go back and look
at what you asked and what some of the answers to those questions were. Also, don’t be afraid to interact with the
faculty and current students—remember these could be your future classmates,
professors, and colleagues. Lastly, (try
to) relax and be yourself! Best of luck!
-Rachel Sutton
How exciting! We look forward to welcoming you
during your interview. Interviewing is great, because it is one of a few times
in life that you get to really show off how impressive you are in person, with
a confidence-inspiring backdrop of how impressive you already looked on paper!
My advice is to take some quality time to explore and understand your unique
priorities and motivations, personally, professionally, and academically. If
you have done this before your interviews, it is much easier to come up with
critically important questions to ask about what life is like as a student in
the program; specific questions that can really help you find out if it is a
good fit for you. In my interview experience, I found that each program had
unique vibes, strengths, and focuses- make sure you explore and feel these
aspects out, then write them down so you remember how you felt about the
people, school, and area/city. Cheers!
-Charlotte Skinner
Woo! Way to go- you’re halfway there! I cannot
really say more than any of my classmates above have so beautifully
articulated. Just be yourself, do your best, and really try to have fun!
Wherever you choose, you’ll be spending the next 2 years there so try your best
to get a sense of not only the school and faculty but the city as well. Take
lots of notes right after your interview, what you thought of everything you
heard and saw that day- it will really help you when it’s ranking time. I wish
you all the best of luck, I’m sure you’ll do great!
-Samantha Afonso
Congrats! You've done the hard work. Now, give
yourself the best chance to show everyone how amazing of a classmate and future
colleague you will be! Don’t underestimate the importance of the little things:
Make sure you feel comfortable in your clothes (heels and snow were a no go for
this Californian), have eaten something and gotten plenty of sleep, and maybe
listen to a few good pump-up tunes. Give yourself plenty of time to find the
interview, too. Campuses can be confusing, and buses delayed. These all may
sound minor, but they’ll help keep your mind (relatively) relaxed and focused
on the important parts of the day. The weeks before, I also practiced saying
out loud why this is a career I feel so passionate pursuing. It was all there
in my head, but verbalizing it the first few times was definitely a bit
awkward. Have fun!
-Caitlin Russell
Congratulations! You’ve worked very hard and now you’re one
step closer to your goal. My advice is
to take a deep breath and try to relax.
Everyone is warm, welcoming and kind, so it’s not hard to feel at ease
with them. Smile, ask questions, and
remember that this is your opportunity to talk about all of the amazing things
you’ve done so far, especially the things that may not have fit well on your résumé!
-Meghan
Cunningham
You
are clearly impressive enough to secure an interview, so the next step is
seeing if you and the program are a good fit.
On paper, you’ve met the requirements, so now is the time to stop
stressing about that low(er) organic chemistry grade and really focus on why
you want to be a genetic counselor and how that aligns with the program’s
values. Being able to communicate your unique motivation for pursuing a
master’s in genetic counseling is vital to any interview. Being able to speak
to how your personal and career goals align with the vision of the program will
set you apart from other applicants.
UPitt stresses the importance of making sure the program is a fit for
you-- this is not a line. All programs
are demanding in their own way and asking questions to ensure that you can
commit to their standards will save you from choosing an experience that won’t
serve you or the program. In the same
vein, answer questions honestly. Just
like any other interview, giving an answer you think you are expected to give
will often come across as disingenuous.
(Remember these are counselors who can pick up those subtle cues!) Maybe less obvious, but enjoy getting to know
the other applicants. You may see them
at other interviews; and I know that several women in our class actually forged
friendships during the whole interview process.
If nothing else it can help calm the nerves seeing that other people are
in the same boat as you!
-Kelsey
Bohnert
It
is important to make sure that you are not only prepared for your interview,
but also that you are prepared to get your own questions answered and
investigate the campus and city! Knowing
your strengths and weaknesses, being prepared for case simulation questions,
and being able to explain how you know you want to be a genetic counselor are
all important components of arriving prepared.
I would also suggest that you look into opportunities specific to the
University of Pittsburgh so that you can ask for more details when speaking
with faculty and students. This both
gives you a better understanding of the program and shows your interest to
those with whom you speak. Explore the
city if you have the time--it will help you envision being here. Definitely try to enjoy the experience!
-Sarah
Brunker
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| Class of 2019 |
