10 Tips on Acing the UST Interview
After passing the USTET, the next step before you could actually enroll is the scheduled interview. Not all courses require it, but if you are to take up Nursing, Tourism, Physical Therapy and the like, passing the interview is as important as passing the entrance exam. So here are some points to help you increase the chances of passing the interview:
1. Good grooming.
A lot of folks say that the way you look reflects your personality. It might sound cliché but it is actually true. As you take the fist step into the interviewing room and greet the panel, the first thing they notice is basically how you look. Hence, it is very important to keep yourself looking neat and orderly.
- Get a good haircut for the gents, be sure to leave off those emo or F4 styles behind, at least for the interview. Suit yourself a clean cut, that way you’d look professional and orderly. (Even if you’re not.)
- For the girls, kindly put your hair tied up neatly. May it be clipped or plainly tied up in a ponytail. Do NOT get your hair done like you’re going on a debut or wedding. I actually saw someone during her interview sporting that grand hairdo, we called her “salon girl” ever since. Luckily, I still see her around which means she passed anyway.
- For the guys, please do shave your facial hair. You don’t want to look like Mr.Suave on your interview day, do you?
- Put some make up on. Of course, that item is for the girls. You might also consider putting on some make up but please, do yourself a favor and spare yourself from heavy make up. Again, you’re not attending a debut. You’re attending an interview. I don’t advise the not-so-girls to wear make-up though. For the guys, just keep your face shine and perspiration fee and you’re good to go.
2. Wear something decent
By wearing something decent, I mean you should avoid being over or under-dressed. The rule is pretty simple, you just have to wear a simple top, simple pants, and closed shoes. You don’t really have to go to UST wearing a semi-formal attire. Also, please do consider that you are applying in a pontifical and Catholic university, therefore, the rules of conservatism apply. Do NOT wear micro-mini-skirts, slippers, plunging necklines, and ultra-high heels. Again, be simple.
3. Observe courtesy
Those simple words and expressions do really mean a lot. Don’t forget to greet the panel with your good mornings, good afternoons, etc. Be sure that you also include the magic words “po” and “opo” when talking to the panel.
4. Observe Manners
GMRC 101:
- Knock at the door before going inside the room.
- Wait for the panelist’s cue to tell you to sit down.
5. Maintain eye contact
This part is also very important. Maintaining eye contact actually shows how sincere you are to your answers. Even if you have award winning answers, lack of eye contact actually kills it. After all, the interviewers are looking for substance, not your answers itself.
6. Smile
Now who could not be convinced with an applicant that smiles a lot? Smiling actually shows how confident you are. When I was being interviewed, I still pulled on with the smiling thingy even though the interviewer is already asking me tough questions. Its like being in a beauty pageant, be graceful even if under pressure.
7. Know the course you’re applying
This is actually basic preparation for any interview which is know what you’re applying for. Know how your course works, its relevance, and how it can help the society in general. Do not also limit yourself with what you actually know about the course, so do your own research.
Say for example, BS Nursing. All the while, I though nurses were just “helpers” of the doctors. After researching, Nursing actually covers a lot of areas such as community health, pharmacology, and so on.
8. Be prepared for questions regarding yourself, your faith, your family and current events.
Since you are applying to the Pontifical Catholic University of the Philippines, expect questions that would pertain to yourself, your family and your faith. Some questions I was asked during my interview were “Describe your family.”, “How would you describe yourself?”, “How do you develop faith?”, etc. Brush up also on the different contemporary social issues such as premarital sex, divorce, etc. and be prepared with your stand regarding these. (Of course, you also have to know the Church’s viewpoint regarding these issues.)
More or less, you now have a sneak preview on how they formulate questions.
Knowing the current events may also help since some of the questions may require you to relate your answers to these topics. Also don’t forget to prepare your answer on the why-did-you-take-up-this-course questions, they’re inevitable.
9. Be consistent with what you say
This is self explanatory. Be consistent with what you say. Be firm with your stand and what you believe in.
10. Never admit that you were just FORCED to the course you applied.
This is one thing that could either make or break you. As much as possible, never resort to admitting that you were just forced to take up the course you applied in, unless of course if you want to fail the interview.
One of my professors who used to conduct interviews herself once shared that once an applicant shares that he was just FORCED to take that course up, she automatically fails the student. Of course, they have to prioritize the ones who are really interested in the course and those who could pursue with the challenges the course has to offer.
i am a waiting list in academic placement for PT .is there any chance i can have a slot?
thanks a lot for this tips..
I also passed the UST Nursing Interview.. yey!.. 
)
Congratulations!!! (listen to the pop of a champagne bottle being opened)
saan ho ba makikita ang results ang UST interview sa physica therapy na course? taga-mindanao po kasi ako.di ko makita ang results sa UST website.
Hi Erika,
This is the link to UST’s results page: http://myuste.ust.edu.ph:8888/admission/results.jsp. Copy then paste that on to your URL bar and search using your applicant number and surname.
Yay! Congrats elvin! =) See you around the college. You should read my blog about the UST Nursing Freshman Guide at my blog, http://www.boyacads.blogspot.com.
Yes,I think you still can. I’ve read at the Varsitarian (official student publication of UST) that they’re not really looking at the hs grades, rather they base their standards on the USTET. But in other colleges with higher quotas, they really look into these things.=)
wow. i did this . Nursing interview. and i passed im so thankful. thanks:) being simple is what they want. being yourself is what ust looking for. an also intellectual. btw results in ust nursing was posted at ust last march 2010
my grades are somewhat low, can i still have the chance to study at ust?
My daughter passed her first choice –
chemical Engineering but she wanted to change it to BS information Technology solely for the reason that we now can’t afford Chem Engr ( it’s a five year course) and it would be best to take up a four year course which she is also intrested in.
Will UST allows her to change her course during the admission process? what are the requirements if so? where office should she inquire in the university regarding her course change?
i appreciate your assistance.
thanks,
Mary
@Mary,
Congratulations to you and your daughter. A change in degree program may be possible – but only if there’s room in the destination program (Information Technology in this case) and if the change is not made too late. That being said, you should ask the Faculty of Engineering directly if a transfer from BS Chem Eng’g to BS IT would be permitted in your daughter’s case.
Since both programs (Chem Eng’g and IT) are offered by the Faculty of Engineering, please visit or call this Faculty to inquire about its shifting policies and requirements. The following are the UST Faculty of Engineering’s contact information and the name of its administrators:
Administrators
Assoc. Prof. Josefin S. de Alban, Jr. (Dean)
Fr. Franklin F. Beltran, O.P. (Regent)
Asst. Prof. Carlos Ignacio P. Lugay (Faculty Secretary)
Assoc. Prof. Ricardo S. Balog (Asst. Dean)
Contact Info
Office Location: Roque Ruaño Buliding University of Santo Tomas España, Manila 1008
Telephone: (632) 406-1611 Loc. 8275; (632) 731-4041
You should probably ask for the Faculty Secretary or the Dean.
I passed USTET. pero ung kota ko po di qualified sa napili kong course. dun po sa acad. placement ko, napili ko po ung nutrition and dietetics sa college of education…sabi po dun punta daw po ko ng April 10 and check ko daw po ung name ko sa bulletin ng college of education if qualified po ko sa interview na gaganapin on April 20. required po ba sa course na nutrition and dietetics ang interview kpg academic placement po?
@mikee,
Congratulations on passing USTET!
Your best course of action is to ask the UST College of Education directly. That’s what I would do.
It stands to reason, however, that you should follow the instructions you were given. If these instructions say you have to pass an interview, then that’s what you have to do.
anytime po ba pwede pumunta sa UST College of Education? Balak ko po kasi sa Saturday (jan.30) Pagdating ko po dun, san po ko pupunta at sino po ung tatanungin ko?
ang kulit ko po nuh.haha.sorry po, gusto ko lng talaga mag aral sa UST. as in gusto ko po talaga.
@mikee,
That’s quite all right. We don’t mind.
In your place, I would call UST College of Education before I went there on a Saturday. Here’s the address and contact information for UST College of Education:
Contact Info
The administrators are the following (I would probably go for the college secretary):
Administrators
thank you po.
GODBLESS!
salamat.salamat.salamat
sana po makapasok ako sa UST.
magiging magkaklase tau pag natuloy k sa BSND s ust,,
@GM,
Good for you both.
what language should i speak ?
english or tagalog ?
@aj,
I doubt there’s a right answer to this. Even the interviewers would probably tell you they don’t have any special preference.
Here’s a general rule of thumb (this should also be useful in job application interviews): speak the language that the interviewer is using. In other words, if the interviewer asks you questions in English, it’s good form to respond in English. Likewise, if he/she asks you questions in Filipino, respond in Filipino.
This is no hard-and-fast rule, however. Some will tell you to use the language with which you’re most comfortable.
Just remember: you need to be fluent and eloquent whatever language you finally decide to use. The important thing is to get your point across – briefly and clearly.
English po ba or Tagalog ang mga tanung?
Good day! =) For sure tinitignan ang physical appearance, pero I dont think being super makinis really matters, you just have to look clean. For tourism, I think tinitignan nila, kasi samin sa nursing bawal masyado maliit, not familiar sa exact height pero I think they also reconsider shorter people kasi puberty pa nman daw and may chance pa lumaki.
http://www.boyacads.blogspot.com
@RJ,
Thanks for the insight, RJ!
hello! good day!
tanong ko lang po if tinigtignan ang physical appearance sa interview?
like sa Tourism po, dapat ba super kinis ung skin, face or underarms? ung height po tinitignan ba talaga?
thank you po! please help.
WEW.. My status was, I need to undergo interview and this is my first time..
pagdating naman po kasi sa mga ate at kuya ko po, mdli lng silang nkpasok..
and nung nbsa ko po to, nkadagdag po siya sa aking kaalaman..^^.. galing…
sana makapasa..
GOD BLESS po.. Good day..
BSN UST Interview
well, true… isa sa mga ci, binagsak ung isang applicant kasi mayabang xa… like gusto daw sana nya mag-law pero pinilit xa n mag-nursing nd parang minamaliit nya ung BSN… eh ung hs grade nmn daw mejo mababa
* tinatanong din if pre-med m b ung nursing
* they compute ur grades on the spot so habang may tym k pa taasan m n ang hs grades m (pero di q alam kung paano nakakaapekto ito s result)
* well just show ur interest nd have confidence
* PRAY IT REALLY WORKS!
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