Mock Interviews at UCF: Preparation, Collaboration, & Personalization

1. Mock Interviews at UCF:Preparation, Collaboration, & Personalization Myszkowski, Finley, Christopher, & Yantz NAAHP Conference June 18, 2016

2. UCF and Mock Interview Statistics • Large, metropolitan, public, research institution in Orlando, FL • Student population: 63,000 (2015) • Pre-Health student population: 5,000 (approx.) • Size of Pre-Health advising office: 4 Advisors, 1 Office Manager, 2 GAs, 3 Student Assistants (front desk) • # of mock interviews per year • 2015-16: 166 • 2014-15: 150 • 2013-14: 80 (major office/staff changes) • 2012-13: 90

3. Overview • Introduction to UCF’s Mock Interviews (MIs) • Engage & partner with colleagues • Organizing mock interviews from “behind the scenes” • Mock interview structure • Mock interview preparation • Video clips of mock interviews to critique • Mock MMIs and informal MIs • Gathering interviewee feedback from real interview(s)

4. Introduction to UCF’s Mock Interviews (MIs) • 2 mock interviewers (1 Pre-Health advisor & 1 UCF colleague); 1 mock interviewee (student/applicant) • Open file (primary application and secondary) • 60 minutes each – 30 minutes of Q&A; 30 minutes feedback/discussion • 2 MIs per day (Mon-Thurs); 8 MIs per week • MI season: August to May • Video-recorded; video provided to student/applicant

5. Engage & Partner with UCF Colleagues • Identify and contact faculty, advisors, and administrators who would be 1) a “good fit” and 2) interested in helping • Meet with them to discuss mock interview format, time commitment, compensation/feeling of reward • Schedule time for them to shadow an MI • Once they feel comfortable and ready, we schedule a regular, once-a-month time for them to conduct MIs • Ex. 1st Monday of the month, or 3rd Tuesday of the month

6. A Month of the MI Calendar • MIs are also tracked in our Outlook calendars (our student assistants at the front desk schedule the mock interviews when requested by our Pre-Health students)

7. Organization from “Behind the Scenes” • Student/applicant calls/comes in our front office to schedule their MI • We need 5 business days notice to schedule an MI • If less than 5 business days, we try to fit it in or they are offered an “Informal MI” • Student emails their application and secondary to our MI Coordinator (a GA) • MI Coordinator makes sure all application materials are received (including test scores) by 5 days in advance • MI Coordinator emails student’s application materials to the two mock interviewers by 3 business days (minimum) in advance of MI • MI Coordinator tracks all MIs in a spreadsheet

8. BACKSTAGE:Preparing for a Mock Interview

9. Interview Structure • There are 2 mock interviewers during each mock interview • One interviewer takes on the role of the “lead” • Sets up camera • Greets mock interviewee • Asks questions from application • Leads feedback • The second interviewer follows the lead - Asks questions from a general “question list” for the most part • Goal: • Challenge Student - Enhance critical thinking skills - Get them out of their comfort zone

10. Interview Structure (cont’d) • Each interview is scheduled for 1 hour • 1st 30 minutes: Question and answer format • 2nd 30 minutes: Feedback/discussion with mock interviewee • The feedback portion if divided into 2 sections • Non-verbal communication (ex. volume, tone, posture, etc.) • Verbal communication (ex. content of answers)

11. Key Areas of the Application • Course History & Grades • Admission Test Scores • Experiences/Activities • Personal Statement • Secondary Application

12. Identifying Questions to Use in the Mock Interview • Identify the school’s interview format • Interviewee’s application • General interview question list • Ethical question list • Feedback from students and schools • Utilize websites for commonly asked questions

13. Question Types • General Interview Questions (from List) • Examples: Tell us about yourself?, Strengths/Weaknesses, Why profession? Anything else, Questions for us? • There are various interview formats that our students may be exposed to • Maximizes the chance that interviewees will encounter at least one question asked in the mock interview in their actual interview • Personal Interview Questions (from Application) • Questions about experiences (ex. shadowing, volunteering, leadership experiences, etc.) • Questions derived from personal statement • Future goals • Ethical Questions (from List) • Ex: In your view, what is the most pressing problem facing medicine today? (e.g., abortion, cloning, euthanasia). • Used to evaluate the applicant’s ability to critically think

14. SHOWTIME:Conducting the Mock Interview

15. Q&A: Beginning • Interviewer 1 (lead) preps mock interviewee in office’s waiting room. • Explain interview process (ex. 1 hour long interview, 2 halves including feedback and question and answer) • Permission to record • Confirm the school where the student is interviewing • Additional schools where they have upcoming interviews • Any questions before we start? • Interviewer 1 returns to conference room to confer with Interviewer 2 and hit record on camera • Interview Intro: “You are here today at (school’s name) in (city, state) to interview for a spot in our (entering class), correct?”

16. Q&A: Middle • From about 5 minutes – 25 minutes (20 minutes total) • Questions to mock interviewee by Interviewer 1 and Interviewer 2 from: • Application • General Question List • Ethical (at least one)

17. Q&A: Ending • About the 25 minute mark (last 5 minutes) • Three questions to wind down • “Why do you want to attend (name of school)?” • “Anything else about you that you would like to share?” • “What questions do you have for us?”

18. Feedback: Debriefing with the Student • Transition • Non-Verbal • Pace of Speech • Volume • Look to the Room (engaged and not just with the person who asked the question) • Posture • Gesticulation • Appearance (including presence/absence of smiling) • Movement/fidgeting

19. Debriefing with the Student (cont’d) • Verbal • Articulation • Knowledge • Honesty • Personality • How to improve upon answers • Question by question • Brainstorming with the student

20. MI VIDEO CLIPS:Your Turn to Provide Feedback

21. Mock Interview Clip #1:“Tell us about yourself.”

22. Mock Interview Clip #2:“Give me a time you failed at something and how did you handle this?”

23. Mock Interview Clip #3:“You’ve had some academic bumps in the road. Should we be concerned about your ability to handle the rigors of this program?”

24. Mock Interview Clip #4:“Given all the other health care fields, why did you choose pharmacy?”

25. ADDITIONAL TYPES OF MOCK INTERVIEWS:Mock MMI & Informal MI

26. Mock Multiple Mini Interview (M-MMI) Set Up… (photo) • Generally on a Friday afternoon • 3 stations (3 offices side by side) and 3 advisors • Print out the scenario and post it on the interview room door • Greeter explains the timing and process to student • Offers pad of paper and pen for them to take notes

27. Actual M-MMI • 10 minutes per station, or tailored specifically to the interviewing school • 2 minutes to read over scenario • 8 minutes in actual interview • 30 minute overall timeframe • Evaluated on communication skills, ethical decision making, and critical thinking skills • Advisors take turns timing the student in each station, knocking on the door when time is up

28. M-MMI Closing • The three mock interviewers then escort student to our conference room, where each gives their feedback regarding the student’s performance • Ask for student’s feedback on the process and give them an opportunity to ask any questions they may have prior to interview day • Our summary is that Station 1 stresses the student out the most, due their nerves still in play, while Station 3 they typically find more enjoyable

29. Informal Mock Interviews • Requests from students receiving last-minute interviews • They meet with any advisor depending on their availability • Role play through some commonly-asked interview questions • Given feedback on communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal • Given handout on interview etiquette • Opportunity to address student’s questions/concerns about specific school interview…what to expect?

30. Informal MI vs. Formal MI Informal MI is different because: • No primary or secondary applications sent beforehand • Does not allow for in-depth questions about possible difficulties with grades or test scores • Not videotaped as the formal ones • Verbal feedback plays a greater role

31. STUDENT REVIEWS:Gathering Feedback from Interviewees

32. Gathering Feedback • Follow-up Email • An email is sent to each student that has a mock interview 3-5 days after their actual interview • Students are asked to let us know how their interview went • No sharing of confidential information • Student Feedback Spreadsheet • Feedback given by students is saved to an Excel spreadsheet and categorized by school and profession • Used to structure future mock interviews

33. Gathering Feedback (cont’d) • Mock Interview Survey via Survey Monkey • Emailed to mock interviewees in April (re-sent a few times) • Gathers feedback on MI and actual interviews • We ask them: • Name, Pre-Health Profession, Major • If their mock interview was helpful (SA, A, N, D, SD) • Schools they interviewed at & the result • Any additional comments about MI or actual interviews

34. QUESTIONS