Mock Interviews at UCF: Preparation, Collaboration, & Personalization

1. Mock Interviews at UCF:Preparation, Collaboration, & Personalization Erin Myszkowski, Kimberly Finley, & Michelle Hightower SAAHP Conference June 1, 2017

2. UCF and Mock Interview Statistics • Large, metropolitan, public, research institution in Orlando, FL • Student population: 64,318 (2016) • 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 • 2016-17: 150 • 2015-16: 166 • 2014-15: 150 • 2013-14: 80 (major office/staff changes)

3. Overview • Introduction to UCF’s Mock Interviews (MIs) • Engage & partner with UCF 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 interviews

4. Introduction to UCF’s Mock Interviews (MIs) • 2 mock interviewers (1 PH Advisor/GA & 1 UCF colleague), 1 mock interviewee (student/applicant) • Open file (primary application and secondary) • 1 hour each: 30 minutes of Q&A, 30 minutes of feedback/discussion • 2 MIs per day/4 days per week (Mon-Thurs) • Office conducts a total of 8 MIs per week • Each Pre-Health advisor/GA only has 2 MIs one day per week • MI season: Late July/Early August until Early 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. 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 (open file) to our MI Coordinator (an advisor) • 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

7. BACKSTAGE:Preparing for a Mock Interview

8. Mock Interview Structure • There are 2 mock interviewers during each mock interview • Interviewer 1 takes on the role of the “lead” • Interviewer 2 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

9. Mock 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 is divided into 2 sections • Non-verbal communication • Verbal communication

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

11. Identifying Questions to Ask in the Mock Interview • Identify the school’s interview format • Interviewee’s application • General interview question list • Ethical question list • Feedback/info from other past interviewees and schools • Utilize websites for commonly asked questions

12. Question Types • General Interview Questions (from Question List) • Examples: Tell us about yourself?, Strengths/Weaknesses, Why profession? • 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 Question List) • A pregnant, 15-year-old, unmarried teenager comes into your office asking for an abortion. What would you do? Would you inform her parents? • Used to evaluate the applicant’s ability to critically think

13. SHOWTIME:Conducting the Mock Interview

14. 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 video 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, make sure they are both ready, 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?”

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

16. Q&A: Ending • About the 25 minute mark (last 5 minutes) • Three questions to wind down

17. Feedback: Debriefing with the Student • Transition • Non-Verbal • Pace of speech • Volume • Eye contact (engaged and not just with the person who asked the question) • Posture • Gesticulation • Appearance (including presence/absence of smiling) • Movement/fidgeting

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

19. MI VIDEO CLIPS:Your Turn to Provide FeedbackNote: Video clips removed from this version

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

21. Mock Multiple Mini Interview (M-MMI) Set Up • Usually on a Friday afternoon • 3 stations (3 offices side by side) and 3 advisors participate • Print out the scenario and post it on each interview room door • Greeter explains the timing and process to student • Offers student a pad of paper and pento take notes (up to the student)

22. M-MMI • 10 minutes per station, or time is tailored specifically to the interviewing school • 2 minutes to read over scenario • 8 minutes in interview station with 1 interviewer • 3 interview stations total • 30 minute overall timeframe • Evaluated on nonverbal & verbal communication skills, ethical decision making, and critical thinking skills • Advisors outside the station take turns timing the student in each station, knocking on the door when time is up

23. M-MMI Feedback • The three interviewers then escort student/interviewee to our conference room, where each gives their feedback regarding their performance in each station • 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 to their nerves still in play, while Station 3 they typically find more enjoyable

24. 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 using general question list • 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?

25. Informal MI vs. Formal MI Informal MI is different because: • No primary or secondary applications sent/received/reviewed beforehand • Only one advisor/consultant (versus two for formal MI) • Does not allow for in-depth questions about possible difficulties with grades or test scores • Not video recorded like the formal MIs • Verbal feedback plays a greater role; more discussion-based

26. STUDENT REVIEWS:Gathering Feedback from Interviewees

27. Gathering Feedback • Follow-up Emails to Interviewees • An email is sent to each student that had a mock interview 3-5 days after their actual interview • Students are asked to let us know how their actual interview went and if there is anything they can share from it • No sharing of confidential information • Student Feedback Spreadsheet • Feedback given by students is saved to an Excel spreadsheet and categorized by school and type of health profession • Used to help us prepare for and structure future mock interviews

28. 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

29. QUESTIONS Erin Myszkowski, Director, ErinM@ucf.edu Kimberly Finley, Advisor, Kimberly.Finley@ucf.edu Michelle Hightower, Advisor, Michelle.Hightower@ucf.edu