University Interview Preparation — Guide for Pakistani Students

Which Pakistani Universities Require Interviews?

Several Pakistani universities include interviews as part of their admissions process:

IBA Karachi: A structured interview following the entry test is mandatory for all shortlisted applicants. IBA interviews assess communication skills, analytical thinking, and personal motivation.

Aga Khan University (AKU): Interviews are required for all MBBS and nursing programme applicants after the AKU-ET. AKU interviews are intensive — typically a panel of two to three faculty members.

Habib University: Shortlisted applicants (including Yohsin Programme applicants) are invited for an interview.

LUMS (NOP): National Outreach Programme applicants may be invited for an interview as part of the financial aid assessment.

For international university applications (US, UK), some programmes at Oxford, Cambridge, and selective US universities include interviews — though these are less common for undergraduate admissions than at Pakistani institutions.

Common Interview Questions

Across Pakistani university admissions interviews, certain questions appear consistently:

• "Why do you want to study at [university]?"
• "Why did you choose this programme?"
• "Tell me about yourself."
• "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
• "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
• "Tell me about a challenge you have faced and how you handled it."
• "What books have you read recently?"
• "What do you know about [a current event or concept related to your field]?"

For AKU specifically: questions often probe your commitment to serving underserved communities, your motivation for medicine, and how you handle pressure. For IBA: analytical questions, current affairs, and business case scenarios are common.

How to Prepare

Research the university thoroughly. Know its programmes, faculty, values, and recent developments. An interviewer who asks "why IBA?" can immediately tell if you have done your research.

Prepare three to five stories. Think of specific experiences from your academic and personal life that demonstrate the qualities the university values — intellectual curiosity, resilience, community contribution, leadership. Prepare to tell these stories in 90 seconds each.

Practice out loud. Preparation that stays in your head does not count. Speak your answers aloud — to a mirror, to a family member, to a Daakhla mentor. Hearing yourself helps you identify where you slow down, lose confidence, or ramble.

Prepare questions to ask the interviewer. Ending an interview with "I have no questions" signals low engagement. Prepare two or three genuine questions about the programme, the research opportunities, or the community.

Virtual Interview Tips

Many admissions interviews are now conducted via video call. Technical preparation matters as much as content preparation.

• Test your internet connection, camera, and microphone the day before
• Use a plain, well-lit background — sit facing a window if possible
• Dress formally, as you would for an in-person interview
• Look at the camera, not the screen, when speaking — this simulates eye contact
• Have a backup plan (a phone on a data connection) if your primary internet fails

Log in five minutes early. If technical problems occur, stay calm — tell the interviewer immediately and problem-solve professionally. How you handle an unexpected complication is itself an answer to "how do you handle challenges?"

What Interviewers Are Really Assessing

Interviewers are not testing your knowledge. They are assessing whether you are:

Self-aware. Do you know why you want this? Can you talk honestly about your weaknesses alongside your strengths?

Intellectually curious. Do you engage with ideas? Can you hold a real conversation about your field of interest?

Resilient and grounded. Have you faced difficulty? How did you respond to it?

A fit for this community. Would other students and faculty benefit from having you here?

An interview is a conversation, not an examination. The best interviews feel like a genuine exchange of ideas. If you are performing rather than conversing, the interviewer will notice.