How to Get Your #1 Choice for Exchange

Get the inside scoop from upper year students on exactly what to expect in the exchange interview, how to prepare, and get your #1 choice for exchange.

We asked fourth year Commerce students to respond to a series of questions related to their exchange interview experiences. Here's what they had to say:

1. Generally speaking, what did your exchange interview entail?

The common theme with this question was to take a deep breath and relax. The exchange interview is essentially a conversation about why you want to go to the school or destination you've expressed an interest in. The interview also provides the exchange office with a sense of your prior travel experience, how you may have dealt with culture shock in the past, and the goals you have for your exchange semester. All you need to demonstrate in the interview is that you have put some thought and effort into researching where you want to go and why. It is important to note that you do not need to know exactly where you want to go before your interview. That being said, indecisiveness is no excuse for not doing adequate research. If you are genuinely debating between two or three destinations, you should have a general understanding of those schools and their respective pros and cons. It helps to have your preferences narrowed down to a short list, a specific region or country, or even note the criteria you plan to use to rank your options (this will come in handy with the exchange destination matrix). Bounce your ideas off of the exchange advisors and use them as a resource. Ultimately this demonstrates that you have put thought and research into the decision, and getting the interviewer to do some of the talking takes up interview time!

2. What types of questions were you asked in your exchange interview?

The following questions reflect the nature of the questions you might be asked in your exchange interview:

1. Where do you want to go on exchange and why?

2. What goals do you hope to accomplish throughout your exchange semester?

3. To what extent have you travelled, worked, or studied abroad previously?

4. What experiences have helped shape you and prepare you for your exchange?

5. What research have you conducted thus far about your desired school or location?

3. How did you prepare for your exchange interview?

Our respondents provided a range of answers to this question. As with any interview, many upper years recommended anticipating questions and preparing answers to them in advance. A likely question is "Why do you want to go to...?", which fourth years suggested having a fairly thoughtful answer for. Many found the exchange essays on the exchange portal to be particularly helpful in learning about various schools, cities, and cultures. They also suggested speaking to upper years and acquiring in-depth, authentic perspectives on particular schools. Students can also visit university websites for more information. The schools that Smith partners with tend to have extensive international programs, and as such their study abroad resources can be extensive. It does not matter which form of research you choose to pursue, what matters is that you have thoughtfully and carefully considered your options.

4. On a scale of 1 to 10, how stressful was your exchange interview experience?

Mean intensity score: 3.45

Median intensity score: 3.00

Needless to say, planning for exchange can be overwhelming and stressful. While choosing an exchange destination may seem like a daunting decision, the interview should be the least of your worries. Simply demonstrate to the exchange office that you have done your homework, you have a general idea of where you want to go and why, and you'll pass with flying colours!

Written by Juliet