As part of the admissions process, all qualified candidates will be invited by email for an interview by the Admissions Committee. Applicants are given the option of interviewing on-campus, by telephone and by Skype. Skype is strongly preferred for international applicants.
All interviews are conducted by a member of the Admissions Committee on a one-on-one basis. The interview is meant to provide the Admissions Committee with more information on your qualifications, career goals, and potential contributions to the UIC Liautaud community. The interview also provides you with the opportunity to meet with us and address all of your questions about our program.
Prepare for your admissions interview just as you would prepare for a job interview.
Applicants should dress professionally, be well researched about our programs and able to answer specific questions about our curriculum, our student clubs, and other important aspects of UIC Liautaud.
Be able to communicate what value you would add to UIC Liautaud.
This is your opportunity to shine. What differentiates you from other applicants? What contributions will you make both inside and outside of the classroom?
Be prepared to address any weak aspects of your application.
For example, did you perform poorly at the undergraduate level in any of your courses? Why did this happen and how do you plan to address this in graduate school? What support systems do you have in place to avoid the same pitfalls? Do you have any gaps in employment? Why? How did you leverage this time away from the workforce?
Help us to understand your long and short term career goals.
Are your career goals logical and well informed? Are your goals aligned with the concentrations and coursework offered at UIC Liautaud? How do you plan on leveraging your experience at UIC Liautaud? Be able to walk your interviewer through your resume explaining key decision points along the way, where you provided value for each employer, and your track record of working in teams and leadership capabilities.
Convey your enthusiasm about UIC Liautaud.
Are there specific professors or curriculum that attracted you to UIC Liautaud? How do you see yourself fitting in with our student body? What opportunities at UIC Liautaud do you plan to take advantage of? What do you hope to learn? The Admissions Committee is looking for thoughtful responses that demonstrate that you are committed to joining the program and that your decision to apply was thoughtful and well researched.
I hope my tips give you a better idea of what to expect during the admissions interview. Please feel free to contact the UIC Liautaud Admissions team with any additional questions at lgsb@uic.edu. We look forward to assisting you during the admissions process!