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The Group Interview Experience

Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Each spring, as part of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology admission process, the faculty look forward to meeting selected applicants for a group interview. After brief introductions, applicants are divided into small groups of two to four and spend 20 minutes with each faculty member. Each faculty member presents to interviewees a set of questions to better get to know applicants individually and to learn about their desire to pursue a graduate degree and career in the counseling field. Additionally, PsyD applicants are asked to review a brief case study in a small group of six to eight students, and then to present their findings to the faculty after the group assessment and discussion.

To help applicants know what to expect from the group interview process, below is a sampling of comments we received from this year’s interview participants: 

  • The interview with you all was a highlight of my week! Thank you so much for allowing me to meet you and the faculty. 
  • I really enjoyed the panel interview and getting a chance to meet some of the other applicants, as well as the opportunity to answer your thoughtful questions  I appreciated your questions about the importance of diversity and equity. Especially in today's political climate, I think it's so wonderful that NU's vision is to integrate psychology, diversity, and social justice.
  • Thank you! I wanted to send a quick note to let you know that I really enjoyed this interview experience. The variety of questions and faculty we were able to meet was great!
  • I felt honored to be in attendance for the CMHC April interview. Thank you for providing me with this invaluable opportunity to learn more about the CMHC program and meet with faculty.
  • I wanted to say thank you for your help today with the group interview process. I really enjoyed talking with the faculty and getting to know their experiences at NU. After the interview, it was clear for me that this is the program I want to pursue. Overall, I was very impressed with the importance each member placed on our own self-care while attending the program. It’s something I think is lacking within multiple professions but it’s very critical within the mental health field. I’m excited for what the future may hold for me at NU! 

While some students initially feel nervous about attending a virtual group interview with faculty, they quickly learn that this time together with other applicants and faculty is a valuable part of the application process and often helps applicants solidify whether our program is right for them.