WUSA Interview Prep

We will begin by asking you to share a little about yourself. This should be your 30-60 second elevator pitch: your year in school, what you’re studying, and campus or community involvement. This is an opportunity for us to really get to know you as an individual. We hope you can share meaningful aspects or insights into your life. Please note that STAE is looking for a diverse pool of applicants, so we want you to present your authentic and genuine self.

This question lets us know if you have read the position description. Before answering this question, you need to fully understand the WUSA position. You will also want to reflect on why you are applying for the role. Avoid cliché answers of “I want to help people.” Let the interviewers know more specifically why you want this position. This is an opportunity to explain not only why you want to be a WUSA but also what you can bring to the table. Did you have a positive experience with your WUSA that inspired you to apply? Please share anything and everything that can give us a keen insight into your motivations for applying to the position while also demonstrating that you understand the role. 

In this answer, the interviewers are trying to determine how you handle conflicts. As a student leader, you will be working many hours with people who will have different personalities and perspectives from your own and the interviewers want an honest assessment of how you handle these situations. Think about class projects or teams that you have been a part of, roommate conflicts, problems at work, or conflicts that have arisen with customers you have worked with in the past. Even if the example you give does not have a perfect ending or may show you were at fault, you can use this example to show what you have learned since then and the changes you will make in the future.

An important role of a WUSA is to direct their students to proper academic resources. Think about places or people you’ve gone for help or would go to if need be. The interviewers want to hear about your understanding of WashU’s resources and how students should access them, as well as the support you would provide for your students struggling with the academic transition. The adjustment from high school to college or from one higher education institution to another can be very tricky for many students. We want to hear about your experiences navigating your academic career at WashU since WUSAs play an important role in helping first-year, transfer, or exchange students access academic resources to find success on campus.

Have 1-2 questions prepared for us. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and what you will be doing throughout the year. Is there something unclear about the position that you want some clarity on?