Interview Help!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

Hi Everyone
So I got a Skype interview from a UPenn alum. I am applying for Mechanical Engineering in the SEAS. This would be my first interview so I require some help.
I am from India, so, does getting an interview actually mean something? Or is it just on a random basis?
I am asking this because two of my classmates applied as well (to Computer Science) but didn’t get an interview but they had a better SAT score than me (approx. 60 points more). I didn’t apply for financial aid so does that make a difference?

2

Let’s say it means that your application was slightly preferred over that of your colleagues (I can’t verify that) and that you got lucky enough to get offered an interview.

Is there something you will now be doing differently?

3

@JustOneDad‌ Slightly Preferred?
And yes now I will be doing some interview prep
Because I have heard that internationals do not get interviewed often

4

Anyone else has something to say?

5

So, what if you got the interview randomly? Schools don’t have enough alumni volunteers to handle the increase in applications, particularly this year.

Would that mean you wouldn’t be doing some interview prep?

6

No I didn’t mean that, obviously. Penn is my dream school and there is no way that I would take this lightly.

7

So, now we’re back to my original question which is about how you would do anything differently if you got the interview one way or the other.

8

I wouldn’t do anything differently. All I can do now is give my best to the interview

9

Thanks. It would be difficult to do an interview in a foreign language or for a different country. Best plan is to be yourself (but be mindful of any basic cultural difference, I guess.)

Be polite, relaxed and smile.
Thank them for their time. Before and after at most.
Answer their questions fully.
If they are asking something and you think the answer involves cultural differences, it’s okay to note that may be the case.
If they look funny over an answer, it’s okay to say “I hope I answered what you were asking…”
Have a list of your own questions to ask about their time at the university.
Best NOT to ask about admissions process details.

Good luck.

10

Thanks for the tips. Just one last thing, what is the ideal length of an interview?

11

I would expect a Skype interview to be shorter than a face-to face. There is no ideal length. I would say that 20 - 45 min would be comfortable.