R3 Interview Experience & Tips
Hey, I was just like y'all, scouring these pages for interview tips cuz it seems like a make or break, so I thought I'd share my experience too.
I found the posts here are pretty helpful. There were 2 interviewers and they seemed pretty chill. The advice I read about them keeping a poker face or seeming disinterested wasn't really true as the first interviewer was really nice and expressive, and the second seemed to be focused on something, maybe analyzing my answers while being quiet. I kinda forgot their names in a blur, but I do remember them mentioning being from the Admissions team?
It was a pretty standard interview, they asked me to introduce/describe myself, and I could tell they had read up my profile pretty well. They asked me questions from my profile that they were curious about or if I mentioned something in my answers they asked me to elaborate. It really is true that there's not much to prepare for this interview other than reading your own profile and essay thoroughly.
As many have said, they did ask me about the Foundation Courses so just go through that. My interest was econ so they asked me about my interest and reasons for pursuing econ, future goals, reading books, socio-political events that interest me and some stuff I had mentioned in my essay. I had a little bit of a unique background so they asked me about that too as well as family.
They asked me about what my different leadership roles taught me since I did mention that in my profile. And they asked about my weaknesses which is the only question I feel like I could've answered better. I obviously do have weaknesses but I had to think of something appropriate for an interview and is not a lie lol. I said some stupid stuff that I don't even remember (like a weakness which isn't even really a weakness). They also asked me why I chose Ashoka and if I had any other colleges in mind. And concluded with "Do you have any questions for us?", to which I asked about research opportunities ofcourse.
My advice to doing interview prep:
- Read your own profile,
- Know about 2-3 current affairs/socio-political events that interest you and link them to your major,
- Know about Ashoka's liberal arts, foundation courses, and your own major,
And treat it like a conversation, it's super duper chill if you make it so. You don't wanna risk putting on a front and fumbling so just be casual about it and it'll work. My interview lasted 20 minutes but I talked a lot about myself in each question so I feel like it was just the right amount of time. I will share my results here when they're out!