Interviews (Veteran Voices)
Interviews (Veteran Voices)
Transcript
I interviewed at one university. It was set up through one of these non-profits that was helping out veterans go to university. And I didn't really know what to prepare for as far as sitting in with an admissions officer. I didn't know what kind of questions they were going to ask.
But I started looking at it similar to a job interview. And I had been through-- I'd been preparing for a couple of those. And I knew, OK, going into it-- and I had just taken a couple of job interviews-- I knew going in there, I need to know about the company that I was applying to. I needed to know about the role that I was applying for. And I needed to know reasons-- I needed to show interest of why that role at that company was a good fit for me and a good fit for the company.
So I looked at that, and I was like, OK, how do we transfer this over to the university? Well, I started looking at the university and in some of the values that it cherishes, that it values, and started looking at what is expected of me as a student. What is the process of learning in a way?
So I started thinking back. I looked at the curriculums of a lot of classes that I wanted to take at the university. I had read some of the books already that were on a few of those syllabus-- yeah, syllabuses.
And I started thinking about where do I get my information from, as far as news goes. Why do I appreciate that information? What was my process of-- what was my process of deduction, I guess you could say, as far as where I was getting my news from?
What do I enjoy doing? What are the reasons why I enjoy doing that? What can I bring to the school? And why specifically do I want this school that I'm interviewing for?
And when I sat down, the questions that I was asked were, what books have you read in the last year? Where do you get your news? What do you like to do? Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years?
And it really was just like a job interview, if you replace the job with learning, which is your job. Leaving the military, going to school, it's a job in a lot of ways. And so I just applied the same preparation and the same focus to detail.
And it essentially ran like any job interview I had, except there wasn't as much pressure. It definitely solidified my place, I think, in the application process. I was coming in with weak credits. I guess you could say I had zero credits. And a lot of people had had community college or previous university experience in their application.
And me sitting down and actually being able to show somebody that I wasn't a 18-year-old that was trying to fill a check in the box in some linear path of going through school, that I was a veteran, that I had some life experience, and I was able to make my own decisions at this point. And this was the decision I wanted. I think being able to sit down and demonstrate that kind of bearing-- maybe bearing, not bearing, but composure, I guess-- and being able to just sit there and have a conversation with somebody and demonstrate my desire to go to that school, I think that's ultimately what sealed my admission to the university.
I went through interviews for three of the colleges that I applied for. I know one was an option. And I believe the other two were required, which is fine. The way I prepared for these interviews were as anyone would prepare for any interview, especially if it were for work. Considering that this was an academic setting, I just looked over my resume-- not my resume, I'm sorry. To prep for it, I looked over my transcripts, the materials that I submitted for the application process at that institution.
I also-- I made sure I had questions to ask. And I was sure to be very sincere. The questions that the admissions officers ask during these, in my experience, aren't meant to weed out anyone. They're meant to benefit the applicant because they want to see veterans in their institution.
And so if you hold back, if you just sugarcoat things, then when the board convenes to look over your application they're going to poke holes all over it because you weren't honest. And it wouldn't have been anyone else's fault but yourself, so definitely, just be honest.
Trust the institution that you're applying for. Yeah, I would say trust the institution that you're applying for and believe that they want the best for you. Don't shy away if they offer an interview. I've heard-- someone I was stationed with completely turned down an interview, and they didn't make it. I probably shouldn't say that. I couldn't believe he said no. I was like, what?
If they give you the option to apply, I'm sorry. If they give you the option to interview, I would definitely suggest to take it, even if it means seeming a little intimidating. It's for everyone's benefit. The school wants to know you more personally. And they're there to help the applicant.
But I started looking at it similar to a job interview. And I had been through-- I'd been preparing for a couple of those. And I knew, OK, going into it-- and I had just taken a couple of job interviews-- I knew going in there, I need to know about the company that I was applying to. I needed to know about the role that I was applying for. And I needed to know reasons-- I needed to show interest of why that role at that company was a good fit for me and a good fit for the company.
So I looked at that, and I was like, OK, how do we transfer this over to the university? Well, I started looking at the university and in some of the values that it cherishes, that it values, and started looking at what is expected of me as a student. What is the process of learning in a way?
So I started thinking back. I looked at the curriculums of a lot of classes that I wanted to take at the university. I had read some of the books already that were on a few of those syllabus-- yeah, syllabuses.
And I started thinking about where do I get my information from, as far as news goes. Why do I appreciate that information? What was my process of-- what was my process of deduction, I guess you could say, as far as where I was getting my news from?
What do I enjoy doing? What are the reasons why I enjoy doing that? What can I bring to the school? And why specifically do I want this school that I'm interviewing for?
And when I sat down, the questions that I was asked were, what books have you read in the last year? Where do you get your news? What do you like to do? Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years?
And it really was just like a job interview, if you replace the job with learning, which is your job. Leaving the military, going to school, it's a job in a lot of ways. And so I just applied the same preparation and the same focus to detail.
And it essentially ran like any job interview I had, except there wasn't as much pressure. It definitely solidified my place, I think, in the application process. I was coming in with weak credits. I guess you could say I had zero credits. And a lot of people had had community college or previous university experience in their application.
And me sitting down and actually being able to show somebody that I wasn't a 18-year-old that was trying to fill a check in the box in some linear path of going through school, that I was a veteran, that I had some life experience, and I was able to make my own decisions at this point. And this was the decision I wanted. I think being able to sit down and demonstrate that kind of bearing-- maybe bearing, not bearing, but composure, I guess-- and being able to just sit there and have a conversation with somebody and demonstrate my desire to go to that school, I think that's ultimately what sealed my admission to the university.
I went through interviews for three of the colleges that I applied for. I know one was an option. And I believe the other two were required, which is fine. The way I prepared for these interviews were as anyone would prepare for any interview, especially if it were for work. Considering that this was an academic setting, I just looked over my resume-- not my resume, I'm sorry. To prep for it, I looked over my transcripts, the materials that I submitted for the application process at that institution.
I also-- I made sure I had questions to ask. And I was sure to be very sincere. The questions that the admissions officers ask during these, in my experience, aren't meant to weed out anyone. They're meant to benefit the applicant because they want to see veterans in their institution.
And so if you hold back, if you just sugarcoat things, then when the board convenes to look over your application they're going to poke holes all over it because you weren't honest. And it wouldn't have been anyone else's fault but yourself, so definitely, just be honest.
Trust the institution that you're applying for. Yeah, I would say trust the institution that you're applying for and believe that they want the best for you. Don't shy away if they offer an interview. I've heard-- someone I was stationed with completely turned down an interview, and they didn't make it. I probably shouldn't say that. I couldn't believe he said no. I was like, what?
If they give you the option to apply, I'm sorry. If they give you the option to interview, I would definitely suggest to take it, even if it means seeming a little intimidating. It's for everyone's benefit. The school wants to know you more personally. And they're there to help the applicant.