Dean's List Interview

[Ozuru]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Dean's List or if anyone on your team could share what the interview is like. I have an interview lined up for this weekend and don't really know what to expect. If anyone who has gone through this process could share it would be a lot of help for me.

Thanks!

[Lukehart]

I was nominated last year and had an interview, I was not very well prepared for what they were going to ask.
My advice would be to have some specific examples of things you do on the team, especially anything to do with leadership. If I remember correctly they asked about how I influence the team, how I help to make our team better and other general leadership questions. The questions were very general for me, so it helps if you can take those general questions and expound on them. Be confident, but not cocky and try to lead the conversations into areas that you think would reflect well upon yourself.

[aphelps231]

The interview isn't all that bad. Prepare for it like you would for a job interview and you'll be fine. Ask whoever wrote your essay for a copy, and study that, because they will ask you questions about what's said in it. As for any interview, tell the truth and be yourself and you'll be fine! I had two interviewers, you might have more or less than that. The interview is pretty relaxed, but be professional and enthusiastic. Good luck, and stay calm!

[MrTechCenter]

They ask you questions about stuff that was said in the nomination essay, but before they ask you those questions they usually ask you wether or not you got a chance to read the nomination essay. If you haven't, I would recommend asking the mentor that nominated you for a copy. Then it's just basic questions like where do you want to go to school, what are you majoring in. Lastly, they get pretty deep with questions like how you plan to make a lasting impact on the FIRST community and what you plan to do in the next year....

It's not a difficult interview. Just be yourself and answer all of the questions to the best of your ability and you'll be fine.

[Ozuru]

Thanks for the replies so far, everyone! I'll be attending a separate event just for the purpose of this interview and I definitely want to make it count. Are the interviews always that short (i.e. timed) or do they stretch longer?

[aphelps231]

Mine lasted about 10 minutes. Usually there is somebody queueing interviewees and they'll get you from your pit a couple of minutes early. Since it sounds like your team isn't at this event, talk to the pit admin and let them know, they'll figure something out.

[BrennanB]

Thanks for the replies so far, everyone! I'll be attending a separate event just for the purpose of this interview and I definitely want to make it count. Are the interviews always that short (i.e. timed) or do they stretch longer?

They definitely could be a bit longer than the allotted time is. Mine was longer than it should have probably been, and have heard many others have been as well. The whole atmosphere is pretty relaxed.

Echoing the same things that others were saying. Everything that has been said is spot on.

[Jalerre]

I was a Dean's list nominee for my team. I was interviewed by two judges with my mentor in the room. The interview lasted about 15 minutes. They asked me questions like: What do you do on the team? How do you spread FIRST Robotics? What kind of community service have you done? How do you help new members on your team? Where would your team be without you? I would recommend thinking about how you would answer these questions and questions similar to these before going into your interview. Listen to the questions carefully and if you don't fully understand them ask for it to be repeated or elaborated upon. Also don't be afraid to sit and think about the question for a little while. It's okay if you don't speak as soon as they finish asking the question. And you don't have to answer every question positively. They asked me what I do for business on the team and I don't know anything about business. I simply told them I don't do business. Most importantly try to relax and be confident.

[Jon Stratis]

i recommend all of my students study and understand the STAR interview technique (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situation,_Task,_Action,_Result), then prep for it with both general and specific questions. Go through the nomination and understand everything in it and be ready to expand on any items in it (with the nomination being so short, it's often hard to adequately explain everything in it). Come up with other examples based on the list of criteria found in section 6.6.2 of the admin manual.

Be prepared for the inevitable final question "Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?" - Have a list of items you definitely want to talk about, and make sure you check them all off during the interview, and try to leave them with something memorable!

[alex.lew]

Talk with someone supportive - a mentor, a family member, a friend - right before you speak with the judges. I was extremely nervous while waiting to be interviewed. Fortunately, our lead mentor gave me a little "pep talk" before and after to make sure I didn't get too stressed out.
At Bayou last year, when I was interviewed, the interview lasted 10 minutes. There were 2 judges. The atmosphere was casual and conversational, I would talk about my role on the team and they would ask questions building on my previous responses.

Knowing what your nomination essay says is HUGELY important. My judges started by asking for some clarification about points made in the essay. They will also ask you to describe your role on the team and how you've mentored younger students.

Towards the end, they ask "How do you see yourself contributing to FIRST after you've graduated?" As one of the goals of selecting DL finalists and winners is to anchor a strong alumni network, this is a question worth thinking about well in advance.

Just being nominated for Dean's List, cliche as it may sound, is a huge honor. There are way too many deserving students at regionals for every one of them to be recognized. My younger sister was nominated this year, didn't win at Bayou, but is still devoted to making our team and our region stronger. She was disappointed but didn't let it crush her. I think it's important to give yourself a little space after the interview to put things in perspective, remember that your achievements can't be invalidated by one award, and that you can still get so much out of FIRST.

(coming from someone who's read several rejection letters from admissions offices, this is an extremely hard thing to do, but also very necessary to stay positive)

Best of luck!

[Rman1923]

So something that I did when I took my interview was just be myself in a professional and formal way. I answered whatever question they asked truthfully and thoughtfully, I basically expressed my true feelings about what they were asking in the question. The only thing I would do to prepare is to read your essay again and also talk with a friend or a mentor about the answers to the genetic questions (as stated previously in this thread). I was fortunate enough to have a practice interview with my fellow nominee and a member of our team who is a dean's list winner, but I feel that the best way to represent yourself is to be yourself. Your team nominated you for a reason, remember that and what was in the essay and you should be fine. I was told by a mentor that they run these interviews for the sole purpose of knowing who you are as a person, they already know most of what you did from your essay. I also have an interview coming up for the regional level and I am also pretty nervous.

Good luck, I know that you got this. :)

-MAR semifinalist From team 1923
(Sorry for any typos, writing this on an iPhone)

[Ozuru]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your replies. I interviewed on Saturday and was mentioned today as one of the nominees that will be moving on to regionals now. Thanks for all the support and help, everyone. In the event another individual nominated finds this and has absolutely no clue what to expect (much like me at the beginning of this thread), here's what I saw or noticed.

The interview was on time and you're one of the many people (roughly 15-20) they are interviewing. It was supposed to be 5 minutes long they claimed but mine stretched to 15 -- I feel that they have a list of questions that they go through and the rest of the time spent is clarification on your essay. As many others have said, make sure you know your essay. They asked me for clarification and fact-checked by re-asking me things stated on the essay.

They asked me for clarification about my schooling (I'm cyberschooled) and how that allows me to participate in FIRST. They then asked general questions like how I embody first and they also asked about other things I'm involved in. Expect a big-picture question or two (mine was how do you see yourself involved with FIRST in 10 years among a few others).

Overall, thanks for all of the replies everyone.