Preparing for the IBA Undergraduate Interview

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Team IBA Today congratulates all of you for reaching the interview stage of your admission process into your dream university. You are one step closer to achieving your dreams. We are here again to help you get through this process conveniently as we prepare you for your interview.

First Impression Lasts Forever

When you walk into the interview room, the interviewers observe how you are dressed, and how you walk and greet them. During this stressful era as a potential IBA student, you will need to be reminded of the traditional presentation codes. Unlike the pandemic batch, your interviews will be conducted physically. These are the things you need to do to make a lasting first impression:

• Boys should wear a formal shirt, tie and pants as proper attire is appropriate.
• Girls have a choice to dress in formal western or eastern clothes, but keep it simple with solid colours and minimal designs.
• Make sure that your phone is switched off to avoid interruptions while you give the interview.
• Sit straight with a confident posture in front of the interviewers.
• Keep your facial expressions delighted and maintain a light-welcoming smile.
• Wait for the interviewers to address you upon which you can say this in reply, ‘I am good. How are all of you?’ This leaves a nice impression on the panel as you demonstrate your confidence.

What to do before an interview?

Re-read your personal statement

The interviewers will be asking a handful of questions about what you have written in your personal statement. They will inquire about the skills, achievements, and ambitions that you mentioned. They want to know the stories and learning behind them and what you were able to accomplish with them. Their question could be like, “Tell us about an achievement that you are most proud of“. Hence, go through your personal statement thoroughly to prepare yourself for all the possible questions. Ask yourself some potential questions and rehearse how you plan on presenting them while preparing for the undergraduate interview.

Research the program you have applied for

The interviewers are looking for the motivation as to why you have applied to their university in the particular program you have chosen. They will ask questions regarding what you know of the program and how will it be beneficial for you. You would need to explain the reasons for your choice, and what drives you toward that field. Hence, think well about why you chose that field when you are preparing for an undergraduate interview.

Know the subjects you have studied so far

It’s good to revise and have some command over the subjects you have been studying that are related to your chosen program at the university. This practice is very helpful while preparing for IBA undergraduate interview. Such as, if you have applied for a Computer Science major, the interviewers will most likely ask you a technology-related query. They might ask you to explain some basic or advanced concepts depending on what progress your grade sheets show. Or, if you applied for an economics major, the interviewers might ask, “Can you explain the concept of the Lorenz curve or the demand/supply law?“

Prepare answers to some expected questions

The best way to prepare for an interview is to list down a set of common questions that are asked in any undergraduate interview. For your ease, we have listed some down for you:

• Tell us about yourself.
• Tell us your three strengths and weaknesses.
• What are your hobbies?
• How and why is our university a good choice for you?
• Why should we select you over any other student? How are you different?
• Tell us about a time when you encountered a problem and how you approached it.
• How do you spend time in your daily life?

Keep your answers concise and to the point. Your answers should highlight positive traits about you. You do not need to go overboard in trying to impress the interviewers as they will figure it out. You should be honest, humble as well as creative in your answers.

Brush up on your general knowledge

The interviewers are looking for candidates who are the best fit for their university and are well-informed individuals.  Thus, they are most likely to ask questions regarding current affairs, social issues, economic affairs, and politics. Their aim is to assess your critical thinking skills. While you prepare for the interview, you can take help from the list of questions down below:

• What is Pakistan’s current and forecasted GDP?
• What are your thoughts on Pakistan’s current annual budget?
• A social cause in Pakistan that you feel most strongly about?
• What are your thoughts on the present government’s tactics to deal with the ongoing crisis?

Cherry tips for you:

• Do a mock interview with any of your friends.
• While preparing for the IBA undergraduate interview, practice your communication skills in front of a mirror. This will help you present yourselves better in front of the panel of interviewers.
• Read the newspaper for the day your interview is scheduled.
• Take a walk and drink water before your interview as it helps in soothing your anxiety.
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewers.
• Take a second’s pause before you answer a question. This helps you comprehend the question and form your answer accurately.
• If the interviewers ask what is your backup plan if you do not get into this university, your answer should be full of best hopes and confidence. You may say that you have applied to other universities but this is your first priority. You could also tell them that you are willing to take a year’s gap to try again in securing admission to this university. But only say this if you are sure about taking that gap year.

What not to do?

• Don’t shake your legs if you are nervous. Just slowly breathe in and out through your nose to calm your nerves.
• Don’t use lots of hand gestures, as it would obscure the interviewer’s view of you. Stay calm, and talk like you would in a natural manner.
• Don’t lie in answer to any question. If you do not know an answer, admit that and perhaps ask the interviewers to clarify their questions. This will help you demonstrate your ability how you approach a question.
• Don’t be over-confident or arrogant.
• Don’t be late for your interview.

Conclusion

These are not fixed terms and conditions on how interviews are conducted. This is a guide to prepare you for your undergraduate interview to the best of our knowledge. We were in the same place as you some time back, but you have a tougher challenge to put up with. We wish you all the best for your interview and hope that you can exceed all expectations for being admitted to your dream university.