Senator interviews tomorrow.. really tense!

beat navy

beat navy

5-Year Member
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Feb 3, 2010
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I know I shouldn't be nervous but I can't help it, and I know I'll feel the same when I wake up tomorow. Any tips?
 
Honestly, don't be nervous at all. I had 3 senator interviews the past month and all of them went well. It's ok to be a little nervous, it's only natural. However, you shouldn't dwell on the impending interview. Your best and most coherent answers will come when you're relaxed. Just be yourself and answer each question to the best of your ability. Address each interviewer as "ma'am" or "sir" and be polite. Obviously dress well and maintain a professional appearance. Always remember that the interviewers are there to help you, not hinder you. Don't panic if you freeze up on a question; some questions may require in-depth thinking.

Good luck tomorrow
 
I suggest bringing a copy of your resume, maybe even one for each member of the board of interviewers. While you most likely submitted a copy of your resume with your nomination packet, this can give you a chance to add things that have occured since you submitted the packet and it will show the nomination board you are serious and organized. It can also give you something to look through if they ask you about some of your academic or extracurricular achievements and your mind goes blank due to nervousness.

Also, if you've been awarded an LOA, I would scan it and attach a copy to the back of each resume. The MOC will probably already know about your LOA, but this will allow that magical piece of paper to catch their attention one more time. In short, you market your best product. An LOA shows that USMA thinks you have the stuff to be a cadet; I was told at one of my congressional interviews that out of my entire file, the LOA was the thing that spoke the loudest on my behalf to the nominations board.

Good luck! :thumb:
 
Everything people have suggested are great ideas, however, I would also suggest you take your Ipod or Nintendo DS for the car ride, and veggg. Text your friends on the ride. In other words divert your mind.

If you feel that you do better with practice sessions, ask your parents to pepper you with off the wall questions...books, news, etc.

You need to understand yourself and what is calming to you.

Just remember they know you are 17/18 yo. They don't expect you to be able to give the answer to why there is no peace treaty between Israel and Palestine.

If you walk in, and know you deserve to be there, not in a pompous way, but self assured, they will see that too.

There is nothing any of us can say to stop your legs from shaking, except for the fact that you may not believe it, but the fact that this matters so much to you it will shine through. Just remember nobody ever died from this experience :biglaugh:

My best wishes, thoughts and hopes.

Thank you for wanting to serve!
 
The best advice I can give you is to come with GOOD QUESTIONS. This shows them you are really interested and want to know more about WP and the Army, but don't ask questions that could be answered by a thirty second search on usma.edu.

Also, be sincere in your answers. Most of these guys have been on nomination boards for years and can smell a rehearsed answer a mile away. And don't list your grades and extracurricular activities- they have your file in front of them. Tell them how earning those grades and participating/leading those activities have shaped you.

Relax, dress for success, and good luck!
 
My son went yesterday for his interview. He tends to NOT read all the forums (different from myself), and I don't tell him alot because if he thinks about it too much he will be really nervous. He went to the north-end of the UP of Michigan for his interview, not expecting too much. He ended up before a panel of about 9 people including a sheriff, 2 Captains from the Navy and 1 from Army. If he had known that going in, he would have been a wreck. He said he answered everything well, made them laugh a few times, was told he did a good job at the end during the handshakes, and was done in about 15 minutes. He thought it went awesome. He didn't feel he had to have rehearsed answers because it's easy for him to talk about the Army and his motivation and his goals in life. So relax - you'll do fine!
 
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