Admissions Interviews

International Development Studies (IDS) Co-op Program

How to prepare for interviews

 Interviews will be conducted by a panel that consists of the IDS Co-op Coordinator, CCDS
Faculty, and a senior student from the program.
 The interview will last approximately 25 minutes.
 The questions focus on your extra-curricular involvement, interest in international
development, the co-op placement, and academics.

How to prepare for your interview:

 Think about why you chose this program. How does your current and past work, volunteer, and
extra-curricular activities make you a strong candidate for the program?
 Identify specific situations from your previous experiences that may be worth speaking about.
 Be prepared to talk about your leadership activities and demonstrated interest in
international development.
 Practice! This will help you speak and reflect on situations in an organized and articulate
manner.
 It’s okay to be nervous. Take your time answering questions and don’t be afraid to ask for
clarification.
 Please review the CCDS website which provides an overview of the program, course
information, and details about the co-op placement including recent placement opportunities:
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/ccds/.

Where the interviews will take place

 Interviews will occur either in-person, on Skype, or via telephone.
 In-person interviews will take place in Room HL 412 in Highland Hall, 1265 Military Trail,
Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4. Please take a seat in the blue area just outside the hallway, a
staff member will bring you into the interview room at the appropriate time.
 Virtual interviews will occur on Skype. Please add utscidscoop to your Skype contacts, include
a message that states your full name, and be logged in at least 15 minutes prior to your
interview.
 Phone interviews will occur via the number indicated on your application. The Co-op IDS team
will call you at the designated interview time.

Next steps after the interview

 Admissions decisions and offers for the IDS Co-op Program will be made between February
and May. Final decisions for admission into the program will be made based on your academic
performance and the interview process.
 You will be automatically considered for an alternate program of study if we do not offer you
admission to Co-op IDS.
 To learn more about the program and campus, we strongly encourage you to attend the UTSC
Campus Showcase event, held on March 28, 2020. Please see the UTSC website for further
details: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/visit-campus

If you have any questions or are unable to attend the interview, please contact Myuri Komaragiri,
Assistant Program Coordinator, via telephone at +1 416 287 7214 or ids-coop@utsc.utoronto.ca