In this blog post, I will address GKS-related questions I've received on Instagram. Please refer to the latest GKS guidelines or contact your university and NIIED for the most accurate information. Note that all answers are based on my personal experience as a 2023 GKS awardee; therefore, specific dates and details may differ for the 2025 GKS post-application process. My aim is to provide 2025 GKS applicants with a general understanding of the post-application process and the information typically shared by NIIED and universities to assist successful applicants in preparing for their arrival in Korea.

1. How long did it take for you to receive an email from Dongguk after submission? Did they email everyone for an interview or only the shortlisted ones?

I applied to Dongguk University's Global MBA program back in 2023 and sent out my application documents on March 15. Then, on March 22, I emailed kgsp@dongguk.edu to ask whether my documents had arrived at the university successfully. Later, on March 31, I received an email from kgsp@dongguk.edu confirming that they had received my documents. However, I don't think that was a direct response to the email I sent on March 22 asking for confirmation that my documents arrived on time. It looked more like a mass email informing all Dongguk GKS applicants, whose documents had successfully arrived at the university, about when the first-round results would be announced. See the email below:

2. Was your interview conducted via phone call, video call or was it written (like an essay)?

In my experience (and that of many other 2023 Dongguk GKS applicants I talked to), we had a phone interview. My interview, specifically, lasted only around seven minutes.

3. If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of questions did they ask? Were they general questions based on your GKS essay or were there any unexpected/tricky ones?

No, I don’t mind you asking! I’m saying this for everyone reading this blog post. 🙂 Please comment down below if you have any other questions, or feel free to reach out to me via Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jey_inkorea/

Now, let’s move on to the answer. Honestly, I was surprised that the questions were almost too general. I don’t remember every single question word for word since it has been a long time, but they were all typical university admission interview questions, such as: 'Who is your role model?', 'Where do you see yourself in the next five years?', and 'Why did you choose Dongguk?'

I was expecting specific questions based on my personal statement or even worried that I might get challenging, major-related questions.

Now, is being asked only general questions necessarily a good thing? I wouldn’t say so. Sometimes, receiving specific questions based on your application can actually be beneficial, but only if you have carefully reviewed your essays, anticipated possible questions, and prepared for them in advance. That was the case for my interview with Sungkyunkwan University’s full-time MBA program back in 2022, when I applied to GKS for the first time.

When you’re well-prepared, specific questions can help trigger your memory, allowing you to recall key details from your essays, structure your answers more effectively, and stay focused throughout the interview.

On the other hand, if those specific questions are major-related and you have no prior academic or professional background in the field you want to study, they can shake your confidence and negatively impact your performance in the interview—potentially affecting the final result.

When interview questions are too general, we may still face certain challenges. In my opinion, broad questions make it harder to structure a clear answer and recall specific details from your essays that highlight your most impressive skills or significant experiences. Sometimes, your responses may end up too short, or you might ramble on because you’re unsure where to start and end.

However, you can still turn cliché questions into an advantage by following this one key piece of advice:

Thoroughly review and analyze your essays before the interview, making sure to identify the key stories, skills, and experiences that stand out, the *highlights* of your application. Choose the ones that truly define you—the ones you’d regret not mentioning, the ones that would keep you up at night if left unsaid, the ones you want the interviewer to remember you for. These should be the most personal and impactful aspects of your journey.

Next, choose at least one compelling reason why you are applying to Dongguk, or any other university you’re considering. To do this effectively, go beyond the generic reasons people typically give. Deepen your research and find a unique, personal connection to the university.

Most importantly, if you want to leave a lasting impression in your interview, develop an emotional connection with your chosen university.

For me, I was truly fascinated by the effort Dongguk University put into crafting its values and expressing them so beautifully on their website. As I explored further, I realized that my personal values closely aligned with Dongguk’s. This shared sense of purpose created a strong connection for me, even before the interview.

Then, take a sheet of A4 paper and create a list of keywords for the personal stories, experiences, and skills you don’t want to forget during the interview. Include the key reasons you feel connected to Dongguk, why you chose it, and how you can contribute to the university as an individual.

Avoid referring to your full personal statement or study plan during the interview. The sheer amount of text can be overwhelming and distracting. If you’ve thoroughly reviewed and analyzed your essays beforehand, a simple list of keywords in front of you will be more than enough.

Having these keywords at hand will not only help ease your anxiety but also act as a quick memory aid when recalling key points that set you apart from other applicants. This way, you can turn overly general questions into an advantage. Because with your prepared keywords, you won’t forget to highlight your most important skills and experiences.

When faced with general questions, you actually have more control over the interview process than the interviewer themselves. Since these questions are free-form rather than specific (which can sometimes feel restrictive), you have the opportunity to weave in key details about yourself that truly set you apart.

However, it’s crucial to keep your answers structured. As I mentioned earlier, broad questions can lead to disorganized responses if you’re not careful. To avoid this, go through your keywords one by one and identify which experiences or skills complement each other. Think about how you can seamlessly connect one experience to another, how you can craft a compelling story by integrating those elements together.

As you can see, both specific and general questions have their pros and cons. However, you can turn either type to your advantage if you take the time to anticipate potential challenging questions—both specific and general—and strategize how to tackle them effectively.

That said, avoid memorizing your answers. Instead, practice speaking them out loud and create keywords to help you recall key points naturally. Memorization can diminish the enthusiasm and authenticity in your responses, and it may even lead to underperformance. If you forget even one sentence from a memorized script, you might panic, disrupting your flow and affecting the overall impression of your interview. By focusing on structured preparation rather than rote memorization, you can ensure a more confident and engaging performance.