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
: 150
: 166
: 150
: 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
PH Advisor – 1x per week

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
UCF colleague – 1x per 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 s 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 s 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
Well oiled machine

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 Feedback Note: 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 pen to 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 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
ed 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,
Michelle Hightower, Advisor,