My First (Graduate School) Interview

I woke up on the couch today to the smell of Sunday morning breakfast, coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches. Having collapsed in the living room after my flight, I have finally gotten back to Chicago, after a whirlwind tour of the east coast, with a very important stop in Wilmington, DE.

So, I interviewed at the Winterthur/University of Delaware conservation program last week. No big deal (it was a very big deal for me). I fear to tell too much, but I will reveal one thing, it is a really wonderful institution and considering that amount of fear and sleeplessness I suffered beforehand, I felt alright during/after the interview. My interview, well, we will see how that went. I felt alright, but I really don't want to jinx it, and its very competitive, and they only take ten people of the thirty they interview, and a thousand other things, so at this point, I will try as best as I can to NOT review and reassess every intimate detail of the hour long presentation/interview for the 9 members of the interview committee and continue on in conservation, working with my mentors and learning everything I can and trying to be the best pre-program conservation intern I can be and etc. etc. (and BREATHE) What I will talk about is the overall experience and vibe of the place.

First off...The Winterthur Program is beautiful, I believe I mentioned this when I visited on portfolio day, but it is located on amazing grounds, part of the Winterthur Estate, and this early in the spring, flowers were already blooming. It's really wonderful stuff. I was able to walk around a bit before my actual interview, and it calmed me down, the rolling hills and daffodils.

The people are really friendly. I was able to stay with a student, my host for the interview, who was then in charge of keeping me on time and at the right place, whenever I needed to go take an exam or test. So, ultimately, she was my personal guide and guru, and as a successful applicant, she gave me wonderful tips, that I have to say, really enabled me to relax and enjoy the experience.

The facilities are very nice. The instructors are extremely educated in their respective areas of expertise. Everyone there is passionate about conservation, something that's always inspirational to see.

Ultimately, the interview was intense, with a writing exam, a color blindness exam, a chemistry exam, a drawing exam and the interview itself. In many ways, this is a reflection of the program: they want to find the best students, and push those students to the limit. I mean this in the best way possible. The program is intensive, but ultimately, produces incredible conservators. Congrats to those who will be accepted. We shall see if I am lucky enough to be one of them.