INTERVIEWING

Making it to the interview stage in any competition is a major achievement.  At this point, the interview becomes extremely important because it shows your ability to engage with other intellectuals and leaders.  For fellowship interviews, you should try to keep some key things in mind:

Preparing:

• Know your application.  Interviewees will most likely be asked to discuss things they brought up in their essay(s) or in other parts of the application. 
• Think about possible links between the interests you discuss in your essay and broader political and social concerns. How might the committee extrapolate from your ideas and interests to contemporary issues more generally? Be prepared to discuss these potential topics.
• Expect to defend your commitments and your interests.  Why should anyone care about Cicero?  Isn't literary study just an intellectual hobby? 

• Keep up with current events—local, national, and international. When reading the news, ask yourself what you think about the different issues covered and how they are covered. You want to have an informed and particular opinion if questioned by your interviewers about newsworthy events.
• Know about the award.  At a Truman interview, for example, you do not want to be surprised when asked what you like and dislike about Truman's legacy. 
• Be prepared to defend your proposed course of study or research as well as your choice of school or location. You should be very familiar with the school and the country in which you wish to study or research. Be able to express why you need to study at a particular place or school. If you mention people’s names, be sure that you know who they are and something about their work.  
• Think about your potential role as an ambassador for the U.S. and/or Brown; you may be asked to discuss this—in a variety of ways—at an interview.
• Have something to say at the end when you are asked if you have any questions or would like to add anything that has not been touched upon during the interview.
• Review the DOCFO's binder of interview reports from other students at Brown who have been through the process.

Making a Good Impression:

• Professional dress is appropriate for the interview and any related activities such as a reception or cocktail party.
• Have a firm handshake.
• Be sure to make eye contact, and when addressing a group be sure to engage the whole panel and not just the person asking you a question.

Practicing:

Participate in the mock interviews offered by the Dean of the College Fellowship Office for the particular fellowship for which you are nominated.   Mock interview teams consist of faculty, deans, alumnae, and other members of the Brown and/or Providence community.  Depending on the fellowship, the mock interview team ranges from 3-7 people.   In addition to mock interviews through DOCFO, you should also consider scheduling a Sheridan Center Presentation Consultation.  Previous candidates have also indicated that informal "interviews" with friends and mentors have been enormously helpful. 

Helpful Related Sites

http://www.reed.edu/~brashiek/Rhodes-Marshall/interview.html

http://www.reed.edu/~brashiek/Rhodes-Marshall/past.html

top of page