Originally Posted by gotnurse333
Hi Chris, really excited for you cause getting into NP school is a major accomplishment! I saw your message while browsing through the site and was actually hoping someone else had replied with tips for the admissions interview. I'm applying to NP school soon myself. Perhaps you could offer some advice from your experience?
Again congrats on your admission! that's like being halfway there already! I'm very jealous! =)
Thank you for the accolades, I'm honored to be accepted and still a wee bit disbelieving. I honestly believe that if I will sit down, shut up and stay out of the way, God will put me where I belong, so I feel a little odd taking credit for accomplishing anything, but thank you!
About the interview, I was told by my mentor NP when I asked her the same questions, that the standard questions are pretty predictable. "Why do you want to be a nurse practitioner" is one, and "where do you see yourself in five years as a nurse practitioner" was another. They were interested in knowing what I wanted to do once I had graduated--what type of practice. They wanted to know if I was a member of any professional organizations, and if I do anything to give back to the profession and to my community. They were interested in knowing that I would represent the profession of nursing, particularly that of nurse practitioner, and the school in a good way, and that was related (I believe) both to my demeanor during the interview and to my plans for future practice.
In my case, this being Baylor, and Baylor being a faith-based school, there were questions, not about faith necessarily, but about things like missions and what drew me to nursing. They were looking for spiritual connection, and I am grateful it didn't have to be Baptist (I'm not). Since I have strong beliefs and have had some experiences in that vein, it was clear it was a good fit. I am actually looking forward to a situation where I can actively and openly intertwine my spiritual life with my academic one.
Back to you (LOL), to prepare yourself, you might become familiar with the mission statement of your intended school--the more you know about it the better you can prepare yourself--and then in the interview, be scrupulously honest. It shows! Make eye contact. Smile. Focus on what is being said--if you tend to be distracted after a few minutes (that's me), watch the interviewer's mouth as they speak. Very hard to get caught thinking about something else if you use that technique.
I shook the interviewer's hand when I arrived and told her how glad I was to be there (it was true, or I would not have said it, but I don't think it hurt either). Be open. Be relaxed--this can be a little scary because so much is riding on the interview, but if you practice breathing evenly before you actually go to the interview and (this will sound silly) practice sitting in a relaxed fashion, that will probably help you come across as sincere and collected. Put a chair about 6 or 8 feet from a mirror so you can see yourself, and actually practice sitting in a relaxed fashion. This is how the interviewer will see you--you can prepare so that you make the right impression.
I can't think of anything else right now, but these were the things that worked for me. I wish I had thought of some of this beforehand--I am actually listing some of those thoughts that come afterward and start with "gee, I wish I had done such and such." Luckily I wound up doing them without having thought about it in advance.
Good luck to you--and keep us posted! PM or email me if you like. It is always good to stay in close touch with someone on the same road as you.
Christine
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