【2026 Application Cycle Update: Only video essay (the written reflection from last year has been removed); each program's questions are fixed, with 10 seconds to prepare and 120 seconds to record.】
The 24Fall application season has just begun, and the overall rise in standardized admission requirements has already left everyone at a loss.
The 24Fall application season has just begun, and the overall rise in standardized admission requirements has already left everyone at a loss...
University of Manchester Adds Interviews for 12 Majors
After leading G5 undergraduate programs all increased their written test requirements for admission, the difficulty of applying to Manchester undergraduate programs has climbed once again!
Last year, the University of Manchester's Electronic and Electrical Engineering program announced an additional interview requirement on its website. This year, Manchester has added interview requirements for 12 more undergraduate majors, accounting for nearly half of all programs!
However, since most undergraduate interviews are still informal alumni interviews, the overall tone remains relatively relaxed.
In contrast, graduate admissions interviews are completely different; they are much stricter in both format and content. They not only assess your language ability and logical thinking but also test your academic skills through the interview.
NYU SPS Adds a Timed Writing Component to Interviews
Even before the 24Fall applications started, NYU's SPS school had already quietly "stepped up" its interview assessment requirements.
In the latest 24Fall interview requirements updated by NYU SPS, a timed writing section has been added! The interview now includes a 15-minute timed writing exercise!
Not just answering questions, but also writing on the spot? When did SPS get so strict!
It can only be said that the era of using SPS as a safety choice with minimal effort is officially over, and applying to SPS without an interview and without stress is now ancient history.
In the 23Fall application cycle, NYU SPS had already quietly raised the difficulty for these programs by not only adding the Kira interview but also having the Kira interview replace the VEPT requirement for international applicants.
· MS Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting
· MS Human Capital Analytics and Technology (STEM)
· MS Human Resource Management and Development
· MS Marketing and Strategic Communications
· MS Public Relations and Corporate Communication
The interview questions were wildly imaginative and left people exclaiming at their strangeness—for example, "How would you determine how many people in New York City are talking on the phone right now?" or "How would you describe a flower to someone who has never seen or heard of one?"
Many students found it too difficult, saying they had no idea how to answer...
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Now with the added timed writing in 24Fall, the requirements can be described as even tougher! However, NYU SPS is not the first school to require a timed writing from applicants.
For example, USC's Rossier School of Education has long required students in its admissions interview to write a 350-to-700-word essay on a set topic within 45 minutes.
Without thorough preparation, you will only embarrass yourself during the interview.
Interviews Are Increasingly Valued by Universities
In this era of cut-throat competition over GPAs and test scores, more and more universities are adding interview components and raising their interview requirements.
This actually reflects how much importance schools are placing on students' true knowledge reserves, emergency response capabilities, and logical language skills.
Moreover, different schools have different interview formats. For example, Columbia SPS's interview process is more complicated: in addition to the video interview, applicants also have to undergo a personal interview with the admissions officer for selection.
Thus, in recent application cycles, we have seen many students with quite good backgrounds stumble at the final step—the interview—and miss out on their dream school offers, which is a real shame.
However, although interviews are full of randomness and uncontrollable factors, if we can figure out the various interview patterns in advance and prepare and practice ahead of time, we can still be invincible!
Summary of Common Study-Abroad Interview Formats
To prepare for the interview efficiently, you first need to understand the various interview methods used by overseas universities.
For most Master's applications abroad, there are three main types of interviews: Video Essay, Online Video Interview, and Face-to-Face Interview.
Video Essay
There are two common forms of Video Essay. One is the requirement for applicants to record their own video, in which they answer some questions posed by the school in English, and then upload the recorded video to the school.
For instance, NYU's MPS program requires applicants to complete and upload a Video Essay before submitting their online application. Applicants can see the questions in advance, prepare a script, and then record and upload the video.
The other form of Video Essay is through the Kira Talent platform, which is currently one of the most widely used interview platforms by universities.
Kira is somewhat similar to the TOEFL speaking section. The system displays questions in the form of video or text, and the applicant's entire response process is recorded on video for later review.
Although the exam format is similar, each school generally sets its own Kira interview questions, types, number of questions, and response time according to its own requirements to assess its applicants.
Kira is known for its deep question bank and frequent new questions; the questions are diverse and rich. So when going through Kira interview tips, you will often encounter all sorts of bizarre and amazing questions.
Experience Kira's fatal "Why" triple strike:
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If you were to solve a problem that is not of your own country, which one would you solve?
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If you could use one finger to eliminate a disease, which disease would you eliminate and why?
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If you could gain a short-term benefit but it would cause friction and conflict with your international trade partner in the long run, would you make that choice? Why?
And then there are even weirder questions from Imperial College Business School, asking you about "the difference between hair and skin" or "what animal would you most like to be"...
These questions are truly baffling. If you haven't seen them before, it's very difficult to prepare an excellent answer in just a few dozen seconds.
Online Video Interview
The second common interview type is the online video interview. School admissions officers use software like Skype or Zoom to conduct 1-on-1 live video interviews with applicants.
Normally after submitting the online application, you will receive an email invitation for the interview. It usually doesn't last very long; in most cases, it's over in 10-15 minutes!
Face to Face Interview
Some schools also hold offline interviews, usually at hotel conference halls in first-tier cities, and the invitations are typically sent out after you have submitted your online application.
However, offline interviews may include not only 1-on-1 sessions but also group interviews and written tests, where the interviewer first gives a question for group discussion and then asks everyone to express their opinions in turn.
How to Efficiently Overcome the Interview Challenge
Although the interview methods are diverse, regardless of the format, we can prepare in a targeted manner in advance!
To efficiently prepare for interviews, "Mian Jing" (interview insights) is naturally indispensable. Whether it's a human-to-human or human-to-machine interview, oral or written, as long as you have the real insights under your belt, you will no longer be afraid of interviews!
CheersYou（清柚教育） Exclusive Interview Question Bank (for enrolled students only)
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Additionally, mock interview practice before the actual "battle" is also very necessary.
For many students with poor nerves, even if they have prepared thoroughly beforehand, they may still get so nervous during the real interview that their mind goes blank.
If you have already practiced in a realistic setting, your mindset will naturally be much more relaxed during the actual interview, and you are more likely to perform at your true level!
CheersYou（清柚教育） Interview Preparation System (for enrolled students only)
The 24Fall application process has entered its most intense phase. CheersYou（清柚教育） once again reminds all students not to neglect interview preparation while working on other application materials.
Finally, we hope everyone can successfully receive their desired dream school admission offer in this application season!
