Interviewing for counseling programs and graduate schools is so nerve-wracking. We put so much pressure on ourselves to answer every question right, we overthink everything, and we convince ourselves that there is no way they will accept us into their program. When everything seems to ride on this interview, it is hard to be confident and calm instead of anxious.

But there is hope!

When I was preparing for my counseling program interview, I was overthinking everything. I was Google-searching every question I had about the interview and what to expect to try to prepare myself. Let’s just say, there is not a ton of information out there. Thankfully, I had done job interviews before, so I knew what to expect about the questions they might ask me. And eventually, I did find a couple of YouTube videos that helped me prepare for the counseling program aspect of the interview. By the time it was the day of my interview, I was a bit nervous, but ultimately, I felt confident and prepared and ready to crush the interview.

Counseling Program Interview: My Experience

Here is a little insight into what my interview was like:

• Interviews with two professors
• Meeting with students in the program to ask questions
• Role-play as a counselor with two students acting as clients
• Group activities (roughly 10 people in a group with one professor guiding the activities)

Not every program structures its interviews this way, but it is better to be overprepared than underprepared. More and more programs are adding different experiences to their interviews, such as role-play and group activities. When you get invited for an interview, they should provide you with some information about what to expect. Here is some information to help you prepare:

Common Interview Questions

I recommend figuring out your answers to the following questions and rehearse your answers each day leading up to the interview.

“Tell me about yourself.”

This is often the first question they ask. This question is designed to get to know you better while also understanding your accomplishments. Remember, they probably do not remember your application. Highlight the best parts about yourself and your accomplishments.

“What led you to want to be a counselor?”

This is where your passion for counseling and mental health should shine through! Give the whole backstory of what inspired you to pursue a career in counseling.

“Why do you want to be a part of this program?”

It is important here to know a lot about the program. You should know what is special about the program. If the program is CACREP-accredited, mention that. It is an intense process for a program to get that accreditation, and many faculty members are very proud of that aspect of their program. Tell them what you like about the program and what you think will be valuable to your learning.

“What is your biggest achievement?”

This question is designed to see what is important and valuable to you. It’s okay to brag about yourself a little bit here. They want to know what is important to you and what you put effort into.

“What is your biggest strength/weakness?”

Be honest here. When talking about your weakness, try to spin it in a way that will benefit your studies or time in the program, or mention that it is something you are currently working on and how you are doing that.

“How do you handle feedback, and how do you prefer to be given feedback?”

Getting feedback and constructive criticism is a big part of counseling programs because they help you fine-tune your skills to become a better counselor. They want to know that you can take it and apply it.

“Graduate programs are major time commitments. How will you remain focused and keep it as a priority?”

They want to know that you will make time for the program and all of the work involved. They want someone who is committed and willing to work hard to complete the program.

What to know and be able to talk about:

• Important elements of the program and what you like about it
• Things that might set it apart from other programs
• Research focuses of the faculty members
• Qualities that make a good counselor (especially ones that you exhibit)
• Have an idea of what population you might want to work with
• Prepare 5-7 stories from your experience that demonstrate skills like handling conflict, empathy, working with diverse populations, etc.

Role Play During Interviews

This is what my role-play experience was like: A couple of us were invited into a room. The professor introduced himself and a couple of his students who would be “our clients.” The professor explained to us what was about to happen: We were each going to get a client, and we would have 5 minutes to talk with the client as if we were counseling them. They didn’t expect us to use techniques or anything like that; we just had to have a conversation. We would start by asking, “What brings you in today?” and the client would tell us what is going on for them (one had social anxiety, the other recently went through a breakup). The professor was observing and taking notes as we were doing this.

• Demonstrate active listening skills
• Try to look open and relaxed
• Ask open-ended questions
• Act as if you are talking to a friend, but in a more professional way

What they are looking for: They want to see if you have empathy and can demonstrate that, which is important to being a counselor. They want to see how you interact with a person who is struggling with something.

Tips and Advice

Be yourself!

Yes, there are things you can do to prepare and have really good answers. But ultimately, they want to get to know you and see how you would fit in the program. Don’t act like someone you are not.

Be professional

Dress in business attire. Have good posture. Have conversations with others, even if you are just waiting for your turn to be interviewed.

Ask questions

Even if you don’t have any, ask questions anyway. Ask about the person interviewing you, ask about suggestions to balance life and school, or ask what they think the best part of the program is. This helps you to stand out and demonstrate active listening skills.

Don’t compare yourself to others

Most people here are high achievers. Try not to compare yourself to everyone else, or be hard on yourself. Focus on what sets you apart, whether it’s your story, your love for learning, or something else.

Talk to other interviewees

Your anxiety may be high, but it helps to talk to others rather than turn in on yourself and withdraw.

Speak up during group experience

If there is a group experience during your interviews, they are looking to see how you interact with others and if you help other people feel heard and encouraged. They want to see if you speak up or let everyone else do the talking.

Send personalized thank-you emails

Send an email to the people who interviewed you to thank them for their time and consideration. There are tons of templates and examples online to help you write a professional thank-you email. This really helps you to stand out and sound professional.

Conclusion

Preparing for counseling program interviews can be really intimidating and nerve-wracking. Knowing what to expect and prepare for can help you to feel more confident and ready to crush your interviews. Be encouraged by the fact that they invited you for an interview. You can bring so much to the program, so make sure you let those things show. You got this!

Do you have more questions about preparing for your interviews? Feel free to reach out!