A Few Words About Interviews

Interviews....this is the doorway to the rest of your life!! Do not take it for granted!! Make sure you prepare, not only mentally but physically too. The importance of knowing the program that you are interviewing at and the mission of that particular program are paramount. But so it the way you present yourself. Professionalism and confidence can mean the difference between a successful interview leading to acceptance and reapplying the next cycle.
Dress appropriately!! Ladies, wear a suit!! It does not have to be an expensive chanel suit but look put together. It could even be a modified "suit" with a sweater in place of a jacket, or a nice skirt and blouse or the classic pantsuit, as long as you look the part that you intend to display. Do not wear anything to tight or short or revealing. That will not score points! Regardless of what you decide to wear for your interview apparel, keep in mind that the small investment of a decent suit will pay itself off over time, especially if you have more than one interview to go to. Also remember that you will use it many times for such things as professional meetings, day to day wear (get some mix and match pieces) while in school, graduation, job interviews etc...you can't go wrong with classics so avoid the trendy suits that will look all wrong next season! Guys, same thing for you! Go classic! You will also use your new wardrobe over and over again. I am a firm believer that if you dress professionally, and you feel good about how you look and how looking good makes you feel more confident, then you portray that image to others and they tend to look at you in that same light, as a professional. And this is definitely what you want! Show confidence in yourself so the interviewers can feel your confidence without feeling you are being cocky, check that at the door! I don't think I need to mention it but clean underwear! :) Didn't your momma tell you this??? You just never know, so be prepared!
Personal appearance, Don't try new things! Don't change your hairstyle the day before the interview, you may find it hard to style, or you may find that you are pushing it back off your face or fiddling with it during the interview. Stay with the tried and true, or if you feel the need to change it up...give it a week to get used to it, in other words, do it way ahead of time rather than right before the interview. Same with your make-up. Do not try out that new blush or eyeliner on the day of...you don't know if it smears or runs etc. Go with what you know!
For the guys, here is something I always found funny! If you decide you need to shave off that facial hair before the interview, then do it wayyy before the actual day. Have you noticed the difference in skin color when you shave, you have the nice tanned areas that are always exposed and then you have the pasty chalky looking skin where there was recently facial fuzz! Please do it before the interview, at least a week ahead of time to avoid the "Look! I just shaved" look. This is also helpful if you are one of those that tends to get irritation and rash from shaving after having not done so for a while.
It's just these little things that you should think about beforehand.
Remember that you are playing to the adcomm people. Even though we all love to think that others will embrace our individuality and our uniqueness, the committee really has their own idea of who they feel will make up a good class and they think in those terms. "Will this guy fit into the class and become a good team player?" "Will this girl fill the slot that we have open and make the class complete?" "Will this guy's distracting hair distract the class during lectures?" I know it is not exactly the idealistic reasoning that we like to think with regard to our own individuality, but it is reality. You need to "fit" the program just as much as you want the program to go to a school that "fits" you.
So while you are there at the school interviewing, make sure you also interview the school by asking questions, being very observant and exploring the grounds and surrounding areas. If you get the chance to talk to current students, take advantage of it! use all the resources you have to research everything about the program and the school it is attached to.
Hope these little words of wisdom helps you get through the interview successfully!!